Kolakham is a small village inside the Neora Valley National Park. The village is located about 9 km North-East of Lava in Kalimpong district. Rishyap, Lava, and Kolakham together form an equilateral triangle all of which are popular tourist destinations now for similar reasons, great mountain views, a peaceful village amidst nature surrounded by forests, and a great destination for nature and bird lovers.
Kolakham is a visual delight for nature lovers. Situated at an altitude of 6500 feet, it has emerged as one of the most beautiful offbeat destinations in the tourism circuit of West Bengal. Set amidst the lush green forest of Neora Valley National Park and overlooking the snow-capped Himalayan peaks this is a picturesque village. The rolling hills, deep valleys, and the floating mist and clouds in the backdrop of vast wilderness make it a dream destination for those who want to feel and explore the pristine beauty of nature. The village offers a completely peaceful environment to tourists.
Birds of Kolakham
The chirping of the birds, the noise of the wind, and the splish splash of the rain are the only sounds a traveller can experience. The Neora Valley national park is one of the most prominent birding hotspots in the area. The forests of Neora valley continue into Sikkim as Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, which is another popular birding area. As a result, Kolakham can be your ideal base for birding in the region. There is a great variety of birds available here which includes a variety of pheasants such as the beautiful Satyr Tragopan, Robin, Babbler, Laughingthrush, Scarlet, Finch, Partridge, and others. Kolakham and its surrounding area are ideal for watching birds for expert ornithologists as well as the greenhorns interested in birds.
Walking Trails
The village roads are dotted with Pine Oak or Cedar trees on both sides providing the shades often necessary for the nature trails in the village. There is warm sunshine also to invigorate your spirit. Village walks in Kolakham are a marvellous experience for nature lovers as the entire landscape is stunningly beautiful. Kolakham offers the opportunity to experience the thrill of Jungle trails. The surrounding forest of Neora Valley has a wide range of flora and fauna. Adventure enthusiasts can take some walks in Neora Valley Forest.
Kolakham to Choudapheri trail is an activity that nature lovers and bird enthusiasts will enjoy a lot. There is a trail connecting Lava with Kolakham through the forested ridge that must be undertaken with the guiding support of local villagers. A day trek to Rishyap is also an interesting option.
Less than 5km from Kolakham exists one of the most picturesque waterfalls in the region. Changi falls is strikingly beautiful. The last 1.5 km is not a motorable road. This is a walk in the dense forest. Tourists need to walk down 250 stairs to reach the fall. This is an exciting walk in the forest and then the view of the falls in the backdrop of a scenic landscape is a wonderful experience.
Places nearby
Lava, Rishyap, Pedong, and Charkhole are a few nearby destinations that can be visited from Kolakham. Lava is around 9km and Rishyap is around 15km.
How to reach
Njp is the nearest railway station and Bagdogra is the nearest airport. From NJP Kolakham is approximately 114 km and takes around 4 hrs to reach. Bagdogra is 117 km. Kolakham could be reached from Kalimpong. It is just a 2hr drive.
Climate
Kolakham is located in the hills. So the weather is much cooler than in the plains. Summer is not very warm and the maximum temperature rarely reaches 25-degree centigrade. Winter is very cold with the temperature hovering around 5 to 10 dc most of the time. Rain is common throughout the year with Monsoon months being especially wet.
