Chatakpur is a small eco-friendly hamlet within the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. Located at an altitude of 7,887 feet, Chatakpur is surrounded by the stunning Kanchenjunga Mountain Range in the North and the gorgeous river Relly Khola in the south. The whole setting of this village is amidst overwhelming lush green forest. People generally indulge in organic farming and there are only 18 village homes in Chatakpur. During your trip to Darjeeling, do not miss out on visiting Chatakpur eco-village.

How to reach Chatakpur

Chatakpur is 80 km away from its nearest airport of Bagdogra and 65 km away from the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) train station. This wonderland is 26 km away from Darjeeling city and 17 km from Ghoom, nearest popular town. The only way to reach this village is by adventurous roads. There are 3 routes to reach here:

Kurseong-Dilaram-Bagora via the Hill Cart or Rohini Road.
Rambi-Mongpu-Jorebunglow and finally Sonada which is 7 km away from Chatakpur.
Darjeeling-Sonada (1-hour drive) and then to Chatakpur.

The last several kilometres of the road will get tougher and passes through dense jungles. Travel tip– Vehicles like Sumo, jeep, Bolero etc with good ground clearance are always recommended on these roads. Reserved vehicle fare from NJP/Bagdogra to Chatakpur would cost you around INR 5000 for the trip.

Attractions in and around Chatakpur

Tiger hill sunrise trek — Credits: Google images

Sundakphu- the dream destination for a trekking expedition is just a 10 minutes walk from the Chatakpur tourist cottages. Sunrise trek to the Tiger Hill is probably one of the top things to do in Darjeeling. This famous 5 am trek is just a 10 minutes walk from the tower of Chatakpur. One can have the best and closest views of the Kanchenjunga range from this offbeat village of Chatakpur.

You can go on light treks into the dense forests which are just 200 metres away from the eco-cottages here. If you are lucky, you can witness wild leopards, barking deer and even a Red Panda along with hundreds of birds unique to the Himalayan ranges.

Also Read: Batasia Loop, A Must- Visit During your Darjeeling Vacation

Best places to stay in Chatakpur

Chatakpur eco cottages — Credits: Google images

There are only 2 wooden eco-cottages set up by the forest department here with balconies on both the front and back sides. Each of the fully furnished cottages has 2 rooms with a double bed in each room. A maximum of 3 people can stay in a room. There cannot be a better place to be in solitude and enjoy the wilderness of the Himalayan range.

Also Read: These unique HomeStay experience in Darjeeling must not be missed

The cottages have enough blankets and quilts to counter the cold weather. In addition, you also have geysers for hot water, attached bathrooms and good electricity for your stay in Chatakpur. The package here includes all 3 meals plus morning tea during your stay. Eco Cottages for two people would cost around Rs. 3,300 + Tax with all meals per night.

Best time to visit Chatakpur

Your visit to Chatakpur can be all year round except for the monsoon season (July to mid-September) when the eco-cottages remain shut. The winter months of November to February can be extremely cold. Make sure to pack enough winter clothes for your trip to Chatakpur.

Also Read: Best Time to Visit Darjeeling

Chatakpur eco-village is a breathtaking place in the wilderness of the Kanchenjunga ranges. For more such offbeat places to visit during your trip to Darjeeling reach out to the travel experts at Pickyourtrail. Book your curated hand-picked North-East tour packages with Pickyourtrail.

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