A place that had no significance on the tourism map even fifteen years ago has today earned a special place as an important tourist destination for Darjeeling visitors. Lamahatta Park is the name of this special place.
The year was 2012, the date was March 1st. Government administration officials were traveling by car from Darjeeling to Kalimpong via this route. At that time, some village women and men were returning to their settlements along the same path, herding cattle and carrying loads of wood on their heads.
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Seeing the long convoy of cars, they stood aside by the roadside. Suddenly one car stopped and a lady got out of the car and asked a young man sitting by the roadside, "What is the name of this place?" The answer came: Piplidhara. She heard from the boy that this was a cattle grazing field, and most of the people here belonged to the Lama community. After that, the lady went through various administrative steps and created a beautiful tourist center at this place. The hillside was decorated step by step with various flowering plants and a charming park was created.
That Piplidhara has today found its place on the country's tourism map as Lamahatta Park. Work began on May 12, 2012, and the park was inaugurated on January 29, 2013. The person who transformed this sleepy hill village into a picture-perfect hill tourist spot through her own efforts is our state's Honorable Chief Minister. That lady from that day was none other than our state's Honorable Chief Minister. Therefore, among the local people, this park's nickname is Mamata Park. This park has created quite good employment opportunities in this region. Many homestays have been established, besides food shops have opened and demand for local vehicles has also increased.
Lamahatta Park is an extraordinary hanging garden. It remains adorned with various flowers throughout the year. Standing in this park, one can see much of the expanse of Kanchenjunga. This park is at about 6,500 feet height, and 500 feet above the park's peak there is an extraordinary pond or water body. This pond is always covered in mist. There are smooth walking paths through tall pine forests. When you push through the mist and climb up to stand by this pond's edge, you will feel that there is no greater artist than nature.
Though there are many homestays near this park, I prefer to stay at Nawangbari homestay surrounded by tea gardens. Kanchenjunga can be seen from the front of this homestay. Behind the homestay, up the hill, is Lamahatta Park. To the left, Darjeeling is held like in a plate, and to the right, Sevok Bazaar is 19 km away. The road goes through Takdah tea garden. Around this park, several homestays have developed even 6 kilometers away. Border villages, Rana Gaon have also developed as tourist centers.
This homestay has adorned itself on 30 acres of land across the hillside slopes. This hill village is as beautiful as a picture. Takdah tea garden spreads across the entire hill, and in its midst is this homestay, named Nawangbari. One has to fall in love with its beauty. Kanchenjunga has entered into each of its rooms. The day begins by seeing its smile in the morning. Its cold body gets some warmth from the sun's touch. At noon, mist bathes it. In the evening, cool breeze sways the mind and body. At night, the moon and stars sit close to the ears and whisper stories of this beautiful princess.
The entire path goes through Takdah tea garden. Only rocky paths. This path is very beautiful. Green and green all around. Through it runs the red-yellow hilly rocky path. Occasionally, groups of hill girls carrying loads of wood on their heads, seeing city people, burst into laughter and disappear around the bend of the tea garden with shy glances.
Those who want to travel avoiding crowds can base themselves in Lamahatta and visit many spots. Barbotey hanging bridge is within 20 km from here. It takes 1 hour. This wooden hanging bridge built in 1916 is slowly sinking toward death today. This bridge made of iron rope and wood from the British era was the connecting link between two hills. Small vehicles also used to cross. Now no one is allowed to go on this bridge. This bridge is about three hundred feet long. The depth would be about a thousand feet.
Right beside this bridge is a Shiva temple, a very old temple, about 50 feet down from the road. The road is very broken and narrow. However, if one can reach there ignoring this hardship, the eyes will surely be fulfilled. Travel time takes two hours. Car fare is 300 rupees.
From Lamahatta, one can go out in the morning and visit Dawaipani. The road distance would be 10 km, taking half an hour. From Lamahatta to Tinchuley is 12 km. It takes 1 hour. Seeing Kanchenjunga from Gumbadara View Point fulfills the eyes. The beautiful flowing scene of Rangeet river along with the waves of tea gardens soothes mind and body. You can plan for a total of five days and four nights with two nights in Lamahatta, one night in Dawaipani and one night in Tinchuley.
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How to go and where to stay?
By train to New Jalpaiguri Station. From there by reserved car to Lamahatta. Fare is about 4 thousand rupees. From Darjeeling 2 thousand rupees, and from Dooars 3 thousand rupees fare.
By car, one can reach Lamahatta via National Highway 34 or Burdwan Morgram Baharampur, Farakka, Malda, Raiganj, Kishanganj, Siliguri Sevok Bazaar.
Stay and food at Nawangbari will cost 1,500 rupees per person per day.
