The word Tinchuley means three 'Chullas' or ovens. Tinchuley is a small village near Darjeeling which has become famous in recent years due to the effort of local people in developing community tourism. The leading effort comes from the Gurung family who has developed the model of homestay to suit their condition.
WWF declared Tinchuley a model village for its effort in the improvement of the environment of Darjeeling and its adjoining areas with active participation from the local people. The people of Tinchuley have undertaken several eco-friendly projects including the building of forest nurseries, floriculture projects, bio-compost manure projects, vermicompost projects, and many other such projects.
The main attraction of this village is its Home Hospitality where one gets to eat bio-organic food and stay in the village.
Map of Tinchuley Area
Getting There
If you are coming from the West, i.e. places such as Kalimpong, Gangtok, or even Siliguri, the road via Teesta Bazar is the shortest. From Teesta Bazar, an obscure road with a steep ascent will take you to Tinchuley. From Tista Bazar the distance is just 15 km.
If you are not very comfortable with the steep ascent, you may take the alternative road through Rangli Rangliot Tea Garden and Takdah. This road is especially suitable for anyone coming from Dooars or Siliguri. The road starts from National Highway 31A at a village named Rambhi, about 12 km before Tista Bazar. From here Tinchuley is about 27 km away.
If you are travelling from the Darjeeling side, you will drive through Peshok road till the 6th Mile. Here take a right turn and follow the wooded road to reach Tinchuley via the Takdah cantonment area.
Things to See at Tinchuley village
The primary attraction of Tinchuley is its pristine natural beauty. The village is not on any of the main roads, and you can safely take a stroll on the main road without vehicles queuing up behind you. The peaceful nature of the village and pleasant weather has drawn Poets, writers, nature lovers, and photographers here. Don’t be surprised to find a writer spending a whole month in the village writing the next publication, or an ornithology enthusiast roaming around with binoculars around the neck. Overall Tinchuley is not a place for typical sightseeing points and a list of things to see. It is a place to relax, rejuvenate and soak in the mystical magic of the hills.
Tinchuley Sunrise Point - This place provides beautiful views of the surrounding mountains including the Tista valley. All major places in the region including Kalimpong as well as places in East and South Sikkim such as Namchi are visible from here.
Tinchuley Monastery - Revered by the locals, this small monastery is a must-see if you are in Tinchuley. Locals tell stories of a monk meditating in the monastery for 17 years.
Nearby places
Tinchuley is located very centrally with several small tourist destinations spread all around it.
Chotamangwa and Bara Mangwa – These are two popular villages in the same area as Tinchuley. Chota Mangwa is situated on the upper ridges of the hills just below Tinchuley. The distance from Tinchuley to Chota Mangwa is barely a kilometre or so. The Bara Mangwa village is further downhill on the same slope and is further 1 to 5 km away. Both villages are popular for their view of the Kalimpong hills and Tista. This area can easily be visited if you are staying at Tinchuley.
Takdah – This used to be a British cantonment and base for the cinchona plantation in the area. Several British Bungalows can be seen here. Most of these bungalows are now converted into Homestay accommodations. Tourists get to experience the unique opportunity of staying in a century-old British heritage Bungalow which is also the home of the local people. Takdah village is just about 2 km from Tinchuley and can be visited on foot as well.
Rangli Rangliot Tea Garden – One of the best tea gardens in Darjeeling hills is located about 4 km from here. Picture-perfect views of Tista Valley and the plains of Dooars and Terai can be seen from here.
Lamahatta – The Peshok road is physically not very far from the Tinchuley area. However, the road connecting Tinchuley to Peshok road and Lamahatta had not been in very good shape in the past. The road is under repair at the time of writing this article 2021 and it is expected that once the road is ready the travel time to Lamahatta from Tinchuley would be just about 20 minutes. The total distance from Tinchuley to Lamahatta is just about 6 km and the distance from the Gumbadara viewpoint of Tinchuley to Peshok road is less than 2 km. Thus this is also an area that can be easily explored from Tinchuley.
Where to Stay at Tinchuley
The accommodation in Tinchuley is mostly in Homestays and Home lodges. Although in the recent past some luxury accommodation has also come up in the area, most of the accommodation here is in the standard category. Our sister organization Humro Home is the largest network of Homestay and Home Lodges in the region and offers a variety of accommodation options at Tinchuley. You can visit the Humro Home website or get in touch with our team to know about the best accommodation options at Tichuley at present. You can fill up the form below and our representative will get in touch with you about information regarding the best accommodation at Tinchuley.
