Sonada

It is a small hamlet midway between the two major towns of Darjeeling hills, Darjeeling and Kurseong. The small town of Sonada, at an altitude of 6146 feet, is a major station for the Darjeeling Himalayan railway. For most tourists who have travelled to Darjeeling through the main road, Sonada may seem like a crowded small town with a rail station, bus stop, market, and noisy people all around. But just go off the main road and you will find a different aspect of Sonada, peaceful and blissful.

Getting there

Sonada is located on the National Highway 110 that goes to Darjeeling from the plain. The road is better known as Hill Cart Road. Any vehicle travelling to Darjeeling town has to pass through Sonada making it one of the most easily accessible offbeat tourist destinations. Also, all DHR trains have a stoppage at Sonada, which can also be an interesting way to reach here.

To See

Tea Garden

There are several tea gardens around Sonada that produce some of the best tea in the world. Oaks, Rungmook, Ceder's, Milling, Moondakotee, Ring tong, Balasun, Margaret's Hope, and Kalej Valley are some of the famous tea gardens around here.

Chatakpur Village

Chatakpur village is famous for the panoramic view of Kanchenjunga. It's situated 7 km from Sonada. In this village, tourists can enjoy the natural beauty of the sunrise, and sunset over the snow-capped mountains.

Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill [2573 meters is a famous tourist hub that flocks here for viewing the sunrise. It's the highest point near Darjeeling. Tourists can reach tiger hill by travelling a distance of just about 15 km (45 minutes) from here.