If you want to visit Kanchenjunga without the crowd of Tiger Hill, then today I am looking for a new village in Darjeeling, the village called Lepcha Jagat. This small village of only 25-30 families can be visited for a day as part of the Darjeeling tour. The height of Lepcha Jagat is 6956 feet above sea level
How to Reach and Fares to Lepcha Jagat?
Distances:
| Place name | Distance in Km |
| Darjeeling to Lepchajagat | 19 km |
| NJP to Lepchajagat | 75 km |
| Ghum to Lepchajagat | 7.5 km |
| Simana to Lepchajagat | 8 km |
| Lepchajagat to Sandakphu | 43 km |
| Lepchajagat to Siliguri | 73 km |
Car Fare To Reach Lepchajagat:
From NJP to Lepchajagat Big car rent is Rs. 3500-4000 and small car rental is within Rs. 3000. The car fare from Darjeeling is within Rs.1500. You may find shared cars at 250/- from NJP and Ghoom 60/-
Time taken to reach Lepcha Jagat:
| NJP to Lepchajagat | 3.30-4.00 hr |
| Darjeeling to Lepchajagat | 45 min |
| Ghum to Lepcha Jagat | 25 min |
Why Lepcha Jagat?
The unimaginable morning rush to see Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill requires a lot of trekking on your own. In this hill village, the view of Kanchenjunga in the morning will not disappoint you even if it is not like Tiger Hill.
This Lepchajagat consists of a few families of the Lepcha tribe and their homestays. Where there is a forest of tall pine trees. The village is located high above Darjeeling city and at one end of the village there is a viewpoint where one can spend a few hours sitting. Much of the Kanchenjunga range can be seen from here. Different birds can be seen here
What to See in Lepchajagat?
Lepcha Jagat View Point:
A staircase climbs through the forest of pine trees to reach the top of the Lepcha Jagat viewpoint. This staircase is made by placing stone pieces one after the other. If the sky is clear from the viewpoint, Kanchenjunga can be seen absolutely sparkling. Kanchenjunga scenery becomes more beautiful when the sky clears temporarily during monsoon.
However, due to leeche infestation during monsoons and also due to landslides in the hilly areas, tourist arrivals are rare. Darjeeling city can be seen on your right-hand side from the Lepcha Jagat viewpoint. If you go slowly towards the left-hand side, you will see the entire Kanchenjunga range. The Lepcha Jagat viewpoint also has seating and a swing.
A couple of hours can easily be spent here from October to March during which the entire Sleeping Buddha and the entire city of Darjeeling can be clearly seen. And during the rainy season, you will not know when the time will pass to see the hidden clouds and Kanchenjunga.
Pine Forest:
One of the attractions of the Lepcha world is the pine forest. The scene when the monsoon clouds seep in through the tall pine trees looks like something out of a movie. Take several photos among the pine trees. Which will be your lifetime assets
Forest Eco-Tourism
Special Attraction in Forest Durbin 1:
- Hawaghar View Point: It is a very old viewpoint since the British Period
- Ghum Rock
- Trekking Route: You can enjoy trekking here
- Lake
What is the Entry Fee at Forest Eco-Tourism?
For Adults: Rs. 20/-
For Children: Rs. 10/-
Precautions at Lapcha Jagat
But since it is a jungle, caution should be taken during monsoons as there is also leech infestation. And the cold is as in Tiger Hill.
So wear long shocks and an easy way to avoid leeches is to tuck the bottom of your trousers into the Socks. Wear boots and take heavy warm clothes as morning is very cold here
Where to Stay At Lepcha Jagat?
There are about 25 homestays here. But Kanchenjunga is not directly visible from all of them. I have given the name and phone number of the homestay. The most popular homestays are Salakha, Pakhrin, and WBFDC Bungalow
| Homestay Name | Contact No |
| Salakha Homestay | 7047676007 |
| Kanchan Kanya Homestay | 9593565309 |
| Lepchaview Homestay | 9832429486 |
| Lepchajagat Homestay | 9563501219 |
| Kailash Homestay | 9021284940 |
| Green Valley Homestay | 9832834365 |
| Silver pine Homestay | 8327253879 |
| Tamang Homestay | 9476455422 |
| Pine View Homestay | 9002610162 |
| Bhutia Homestay | 7047935044 |
| Renu Homestay | 9547212578 |
| Maratika Homestay | 9434431317 |
| Laligurash Homestay | 6295520778 |
| Pakhrin Homestay | 9051064510 |
| Alisha Homestay | 9476293017 |
| WBFDC www.wbfdc.com | 03323350064 |
Nearest Tourist places of Lepcha Jagat:
There are popular tourist places as well as offbeat places neat to it
| Tourist Spot | Distance in Km |
| Mirik | 27 km |
| Ghum Monastery | 10 km |
| Jore Pokhri | 5 km |
| Batasia Loop | 10 km |
| Pashupati Market | 15 km |
| Tabakoshi | 18 km |
| Chitray | 14 km |
You can also go to more off-beat spots of Darjeeling or you can go to Sikkim via Darjeeling.
Best Time To Visit Lepcha Jagat
As with any other place in Darjeeling, This place is ideal to visit between March to May and October to December considering weather conditions and visibility
Conclusion
Lepcha Jagat View Point is an alternative to Tiger Hill. Also, you will have a different feeling of staying in a simple Lepcha home. There is a different feel of staying in a homestay than a hotel that you will experience when you come here and every time the tourist leaves they arrange a farewell ceremony which will be a unique experience for you.
π ΅π °π On Lepcha Jagat
Q.1: What is Lepchajagat famous for?
Ans: Lepcha Jagat is a small village of Lepchas from where the View of Kanchenjunga is great. And whole of Darjeeling town can be seen
Q.2: What is the entry fee for Lepchajagat?
Ans: It is Rs. 20 for adults and Rs. 10 for children
Q. 3 Is Kanchenjunga visible from Lepchajagat?
Ans: On clear visibility here Kanchenjunga as well as the whole of Darjeeling can be Seen From here
Q.4: What animals are in Lepchajagat?
Ans: Occasionally leopards can be seen, though it is not expected of tourists. You can see hares
Q. 5 Is Lepchajagat higher than Darjeeling?
Ans: Yes. Lepcha Jagat is higher than Darjeeling
Q. 6 What trees are in Lepchha Jagat?
Ans: Pyne, Okk, Rhododendron, etc are popular trees here
Q.7: How much is the car fare from NJP to Lepchajagat?
Ans: The car fare from nJP to Lepcha is around 3500/
Q.8: What is the history of Lepchajagat?
Ans: In The British Period it became famous for Kanchenjunga views after a settlement with the Lepcha tribe
Q.9: Where is Lepcha Ghat?
Ans: Lepcha Ghat is nothing but it is a popular tourist destination Lepcha Jagat
Q.10: What is the height of Lepchajagat Darjeeling?
Ans: The altitude is 6956 ft and 2123 m. This place is 19 km away from Darjeeling
North Bengal's offbeat magic is my muse. I find adventure in whispering waterfalls, vibrant village life, and breathtaking Himalayan vistas. Join me as I delve deeper, seeking stories and experiences beyond the mainstream, from Darjeeling's tea havens to the unexplored corners of this incredible region