Lamahatta – A romantic tiny mountain village in the lap of nature.
Surrounded by Pine and Dhupi forests amidst picturesque terraced farmland, Lamahatta is a calm, quiet and romantic tiny mountain village in the lap of nature. Located at an altitude of 1700 meters (5000 feet)and around 23km from Darjeeling. It’s an ideal place for nature lovers as it offers solitude, picturesque beauty, and a feeling of being in the midst of nature. The word ‘Lamahatta’ is derived from the words “Lama” for Buddhist monks and “hatta” for the hut. So Lamahatta means an abode for the monk.
Although it's just a small village where farming and cattle rearing are the main sources of livelihood, Lamahatta has a large community of tribes like Sherpas, Yalmos, Tamangs, Bhutias, and Dukpas. They have all come together to join hands with the government to make Lamahatta an eco-tourism destination in 2012. The place with its vast stretch of Pine, Dhupi & Large Cardamom trees along with the looming Mount Kanchenjunga in the forefront has been wooing the heart of visitors.
Lamahatta Eco Park is a prime attraction of the destination. The Garden is spread over a vast expanse with a variety of seasonal flowers along with a vast display of a wide variety of Orchids. A wooden watchtower is there to get the best possible views around Lamahatta. The watchtower, the sight of prayer flags fluttering in the slight breeze, and the garden benches add to the beauty of the garden where one can enjoy nature very closely. On a clear day, you can see the snow peaks of Kanchenjunga, Tiger Hill, Namchi of Sikkim, Darjeeling town and its landscapes, river Teesta and Rangit can be enjoyed from this garden. An ideal place to relax and be in nature.
There is ample scope for a walk on a nature trail. One short trail leads to a small beautiful lake on a hilltop through some beautiful landscape. The other is a trail from Lamahatta to Takdah of around 8kms which goes through a maze of pine and Dhupi trees which leads to The Orchid Centre of Takdah, usually open in Feb-Apr. Trek to Gari Danda - an old fort on top of a hill which is about 3km away is also an adventure trail. Strolling along the cosmic and beautiful tea plantations is another attraction of Lamahatta. Some of the best Darjeeling tea plantations are here like Glenburn Tea Estate, Rongli Rangliot Tea Estate, and Takdha Tea Estate.
Visit the wonderful hamlet Tinchuley is 6kms from Lamahatta and is famous for the excellent views of Kanchenjunga and the numerous orange orchards.
Overall, Lamahatta offers a romantic environment. A flourishing garden filled with the alluring melodious chirping of exotic Himalayan birds, with its beautiful ambience where nature has perfectly settled and has blessed the whole surrounding, is a treat for visitors.
How to reach
Nearest Airport – Bagdogra (IXB)
Nearest Railway Station – New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
From Both the destination Bagdogra and NJP it is 75 kilometre (3 hours) drive to Lamahatta through some wonderful tea gardens, hilly landscapes, and small Darjeeling towns and villages.
