Bagora is a small village near Kurseong on the old cart road. It is uniquely positioned on top of the Darjeeling-Kurseong ridge with an excellent view of the Terai plains, Kalimpong, and Sikkim hills as well as part of Mirik hills. It is also the critical point on the old cart road where several roads meet from all directions.
Located at an altitude of 7100 ft. Bagora is in the Kurseong sub-division of the Darjeeling district. It is surrounded by pine forests and rhododendron trees with a majestic view of Mt Kanchenjunga and River Teesta. It has got a base camp of the Air Force with a helipad in it. Bagora is known for its silence and people can spend their weekends here.
Activity
With little vehicle movement and few villages nearby, Bagora is the epitome of a peaceful hill station. Go for a walk in any direction and you are guaranteed to enjoy your time amidst nature. The Old cart road going towards Kurseong from here will soon take you to a Kali temple tucked away beside a small spring. A few km ahead reach Chimney, the place used to have a building constructed during the British time which has been destroyed over the years, all that remains of the building is the Chimney, and thus the village gets its name. Travel North from Bagora and soon you will be entering the forests of Singalila National Park. The forest is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. From the small market of Bagora, a trail goes through a forest of Dhupi and oak, and then through a place called Chaitapani, view of the sunset from a point in Chaitapani is simply awesome. You see the sun setting on the opposite mountain beyond the forests.
Places to see
Apart from the natural beauty of Bagora, people can visit local sights seen at Kurseong which is just 10 km from Bagora. Eagle’s Craig viewpoint, Ambootia Temple, Bhangzang Salamander Lake, Dowhill, and Giddapahar Seti Mata Temple are the main attractions in Kurseong. Tourists can visit a place called ‘Chatakpur’ which is a forest village and a gift of God. They can even go to Latpanchar, Sittong, and Mongpoo (Tagor’s House) on a day trip.
How to reach
Bagora is around a 60 km drive and takes 2.5 hours to reach NJP and is well connected with other major destinations in the hills. Guest may come to Dilaram, which is a village on the NH 110 also known as Hill Cart Road, take a sharp uphill road, and drive for another 2.5 km to reach Bagora. You can also reach Dilaram via Mana and Mahaldiram from Sittong or Latpanchar area. There is another route originating at Kurseong and reaching Bagora via the old cart road.
