Latpanchar is a new tourist destination that is gaining fast popularity due to its unique location, grand view of the Himalayan range, and the flora and fauna in the surrounding area. The small village is located in the Kurseong division of the Darjeeling district. At an altitude of about 4000 feet, Latpanchar is about 48 km (2 hours) from New Jalpaiguri rail station and Bagdogra Airport.
Attractions
The most important attraction at Latpanchar is the grand view of the snow-capped peaks of the Kanchenjunga range. One can also see the Teesta River, Kalimpong hill area, Algara, Lava, Tode, Tangda, and the plains of Terai. The best part of the visit to Latpanchar is that you can enjoy the beauty of the hill without having to jostle among the tourist crowd.
Latpanchar is close to the core area of Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary. Among the animals found here are the rare mountain goat (serow), tigers, leopards, gaurs, wild boars, different kinds of deer and monkeys, jungle cats, porcupines, civets, monitor lizards, and snakes. Latpanchar is also famous for the medicinal plants it produces.
In the last few years, the area has come up very strongly as home to a few rare species of birds. Ornithology enthusiasts have started flocking here from all over India and abroad for unique bird species such as the Himalayan Pied Hornbill.
The lake of Namthing (Namthing Pokhari) - Situated at an altitude of 4250 ft above sea level, the beautiful lake is the natural habitat for several rare species. Namthing Lake is only the second place in the region where you can see the Himalayan Salamander in the wild, the only other place being Jorpokhri.
Latkothi - about 4 km from Latpanchar. The mountain road through the Cinchona, Sal, Teak & Pine trees reaches here to disclose the wonder of nature. You can spend a day in this place or may further visit the Kothi area with a special permit from the forest department. Colourful butterflies and birds will welcome you to the region.
Ahal Dara - This is the viewpoint from where you can watch the sunrise over the Himalayas. Ahal Dara has now become the spot for our resort Humro Home.
Getting There
Latpanchar can be reached from Kalijhora which is on the Highway connecting Sikkim with Bengal. From Kalijhora an uphill journey of about 13 km will take you to Latpanchar.
A second route to Latpanchar is through Sukna on the Hill Cart road. From Sukna a little-known road passes through little-known villages such as Chunabhatti, Shiv Khola, Simring, and Mahaldiram to reach Latpanchar about 42 km away. Though the total distance through this route is slightly lengthier, you may use this route for a more picturesque drive through the tea garden. You may also get a glimpse of the source of the Mahananda river from this route.
The third route to Latpanchar originates from Kurseong and passes through Bagora and joins the second route at Mahaldiram. There are other village roads such as one originating from the Lohapul area and passing through Lonku, Rolak, and Selphu villages to reach Latpanchar.
Consult our travel experts for the best route for you to follow before you embark on a journey to Latpanchar. You may do so by filling out the form at the bottom of this page with your queries and requirements.
Accommodation
Many accommodations have come up in and around Latpanchar now. The Latpanchar village itself is quite non-descript. However, there are several villages with homestays and eco-resorts within 2 to 5 kilometres of Latpanchar. Villages such as 6th Mile, Selphu, Sittong, Ghalaytar, Jholi Busty, Ahal Dara, etc. offer very nice accommodations for visiting tourists. You can check the Humro Home website where many such accommodations are displayed for booking.
