Lingsey is a distant village situated at an altitude of about 4800 feet in the district of Kalimpong in the North Bengal hills. The Mulkharka area is just above Lingsey village and is well known for its famous Mulkharka Lake. The area is on the border of Sikkim and Bengal. And unlike other parts of Sikkim where entry is through a check post, in this area, no check post has been put up at the time of writing this article. Hence tourists cross over from Bengal to Sikkim and vice versa even without knowing that they are crossing the interstate border.
The Lingsey – Mulkharka area is popular among tourists for a great view of the mountain range from here. Also, the area is a popular birding destination. The area is part of the popular silk route tour of Bengal – Sikkim. The well-known tourist destination of Aritar is just a 15 to 20 minutes drive from this area. The villages can be reached by driving about 48 kilometres from Kalimpong town and is an eco-friendly village wealthy in its culture and heritage.
This offbeat destination allows you to explore mountains, waterfalls, forests, lakes and herbal gardens. Lingsey Mulkharka area is the settlement of mainly three Himalayan tribes that are the Lepchas, the Bhutias and the Nepali with a unique combination of ethnic culture, heritage and architecture that can be experienced by the visitor. The villagers are known for their hospitality and cleanliness.
Getting There
One can reach this destination from NJP Railway Station / Bagdogra Airport which is about 104 kilometres. It is 48 kilometres from Kalimpong and 83 kilometres from Darjeeling. It is also well-linked with Gangtok and Pelling.
Weather
This paradise can be visited throughout the year but the preferable months would be March to May and September to December.
To See
Aritar Lake – About 6 to 7 kilometres from Lingsey village is the location of Aritar lake, one of the popular destinations of East Sikkim. So all the sightseeing of Aritar lake and its surrounding area can be done by staying at Lingsey.
Mulkharka Lake – It is about 4 kilometres from Lingsey village situated on the cliff and it reflects the shadow of Kanchenjunga. It is also a source of drinking water for Lingsey village.
Lepcha Monastery – It is one of the oldest monasteries in Darjeeling hills which is established in the 19th century and represents the culture and traditional life of the Lepcha tribe.
Sankhey Dhunga – It is a snail-shaped stone worshipped by the local people who believed that the sacred stone protects them from natural disasters.
Lepcha House – It is said that this structure was built without using a single nail.
Servang Waterfall – This 200 feet waterfall is regarded as one of the tallest in this region and surely a sight to watch.
Sherpa Monastery – This Buddhist monastery is worshipped by the Sherpa community.
Jhusing View Point – This lovely viewpoint gives you the sight of Lingsey village along with the majestic Kanchenjunga.
Bhutia Monastery – It is known as Sanga Choeling and is regarded as one of the sacred and oldest monasteries in this region.
The Sericulture Centre – This is the place for breeding silkworms and also provides training to the farmers so that they can breed silkworms and cultivate mulberry trees with proper skills.
To Do
Trekking is a very popular activity which can be done from this hamlet. It goes like Lingsey to Jhusing which is about 5 kilometres, Jhusing to Tagathang about 3 kilometres and Tagathang to Mulkharka about 3 kilometres.
Bird watching is another scope here as different varieties of birds are residing in this region along with rock climbing and enjoying their cultural activities.
Accommodation
There are homestay and lodge accommodations spread throughout the hills. The entire hill of the Aritar, Lingsey, and Reshi area is dotted with some very nice homestay accommodations. Get in touch with our expert team for a suggestion about the best homestay accommodation to stay in the area.
