Samsing-Suntalekhola - Highlight
- Suntalekhola, at a distance of 631 km from Kolkata and 78 km from Siliguri is is a small village beside the small stream called Suntale Khola
- Ideal place for bird watchers
- Spend your time enjoying the peace and tranquility of the place
- Best time to visit Samsing-Suntalekhola is from Oct to Feb. Avoid getting there during the monsoon months
Photo by Biswajit Majumdar, CC BY-SA 3.0
A drive through some of the best tea gardens of Dooars, set among undulating countryside, will take you to Samsing. It is a small hilly village and tourist spot in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal situated at an elevation of 3000 feet in the foothills of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts border. It is known for its beautiful landscape with green tea gardens, hills and forests, which attract a lot of tourists. The beautiful little hamlet is blessed with nature’s bounty; where small streams, natural forests, tea gardens come together to form a picture perfect landscape. Here you can find the fusion of hills, plains, rivers, forest, tea-garden and villages. In fact, it is a cute tea garden inhabited by lovely and helpful Nepalese people. Many local people are associated with tourism / tea / timber – related businesses.
Samsing is where the plains suddenly rise to transform into the mighty Himalaya. Samsing is where the forests of Neora valley reach the plain. Samsing is where river Murti opens up from the mountainous confinement to become one of the most adored rivers of Dooars. Samsing is where you will find your bliss. Away from the madness of the city, Samsing is a nice cool shady place, ideal for nature lovers. The journey to Samsing is a memorable one, as you slowly ride uphill through the most picturesque Dooars tea garden on the rolling hill slopes.
Samsing is divided into two parts; Samsing Basti, which includes Khash mahal and fari, and Samsing tea garden. Samsing Tea Estate is under the administration of Jalpaiguri district and Samsing Basti- comprises Sunder Basti, Khash mahal and Fari are under Darjeeling District Administration. It has also three divisions – top line, lower line and young tong division. Further, then the owner of the tea estate of Samsing were British companies
The region experiences a mild climate for many parts of the year and it is ideal for tourism. The three main seasons that can be experienced here are summer, monsoon and winter. Summers can be slightly warm during the peak period; however this is a good time to engage in outdoor activities. The winter season is during the months from December to February. The barometer can drop to a low of around 4 degrees Celsius and reach high of around 7 degrees Celsius during this season. It is enjoyable if you take necessary precautions. Although best time to visit is February to May
How to Reach
- By Air – The nearest airport to Samsing is the Bagdogra Airport. After reaching Bagdogra, you need to hire a car to reach Samsing
- By Rail – The nearest railway station is New Mal Junction. Kanchan Kanya Express is the only train that takes you to the New Mal Junction station directly from Kolkata. The train has a halt in New Jalpaiguri station as well. Other NJP bound trains can also be availed. There is a taxi stand just outside the station where from one can hire a taxi to Samsing
- By Road – Samsing is connected by road with Siliguri and other places in North Bengal. Various government and private buses and taxis are available from Siliguri to Samsing
Distance of Samsing-Suntalekhola from below places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Kolkata |
631 |
|
Siliguri |
78 |
|
New Alipurduar |
127 |
|
Gorumara National Park |
30 |
|
Lataguri |
30 |
|
Mal Junction |
25 |
What to See
Photo by Tanmoy Bhaduri, CC BY-SA 3.0
Suntalekhola
This is truly an offbeat destination in the Himalayan foothills of Dooars in the backdrop of glistering green and blue sky with touch of everlasting beauty. Trekking from Samsing to Suntalekhola will bring you closer to nature. The sinuous flow of mountain streams will whisper in your heart. The music of rusting leaves and the hide and seek of shadows with the trickling sunrays through the conifer leaves will take you to a pure and pristine world.It is a place where many tourists spend a day or two. The place is about four kilometres further up the road from Samsing. The road ends here close to a small stream named Suntalekhola (Suntaley means Orange and Khola means Stream). There are Forest Department’s cottages and a bicameral bungalow. You have to walk over a small hanging bridge to reach the forest resort here. Staying on the bank of the Suntalekhola you will listen to the eternal tunes of water. The picnicking on the bank of the Suntalekhola or drive through the steep serpentine way to Tree Fern Point and Mouchuki with only nature as your companion is worth remembering all the life. For the adventurous soul Samsing offers excellent terrain. Samsing is a gateway to the remote parts of Neora Valley National Park. The hills with green all around will never let you feel alone in this divine landscape
Photo by Sudeshnapal, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rocky Island
About 2 kms from Samsing, Rocky Island is a small eco-resort on the banks of river Murti. Today the whole area is referred to as Rocky Island. Even if you are not staying at the tented accommodation, you may well visit the riverside and spend a few hours amongst undisturbed nature at its best. This is about 2 km from Samsing. The view of the river and surrounding forests are excellent from Rocky Island but tourist amenities are basic
Fari Basti
Next to Suntalekhola is the small picturesque village of Fari Basti. The village has about 50 households and is very well maintained. Flower gardens are common in almost all households. Some of the households have started homestay for tourists with active support from NGOs. You can walk through the village and its paddy land
Photo by Annie, CC BY-SA 4.0
Murti
It is one of the most beautiful rivers of Dooars. The small river flows down from Neora Valley National Park and passes through Samsing and eventually meets Jaldhaka River near Gorumara National Park. The river is small enough to be crossed on foot during most of the year except the Monsoon months. At Samsing you can approach River Murti either at Rocky Island or near the old forest Bungalow
Trekking & Hiking
Several trek routes originate from Suntalekhola. The Neora Valley National Park is adjacent to this place and most treks are organised in the surrounding area of the National Park. Trekkers can take a steep ride to `Tree Fern Point` and `Mouchuki` for a great view of the Himalayas in one side and the plains of Dooars in the other. The hills of Bhutan and Zelep La, the pass connecting Tibet with India, can be seen from here. The most fascinating and thrilling trek leads to the untouched wilderness of Neora Valley National Park. Special permission of the forest department is required in order to organise this trek.
Other Details
>> What to Do
- Sit by the hilly terrains ran by a gurgling stream
- Rock climbing and hiking tours can be organized. A trip to nearby Jhalong or Bindu would also be great.
- The place is full of flying beauties. The sweet chirping of unknown colorful birds in the serene landscape is a refreshing break from the city life. Step out with a binocular and explore the treasure offered by the nature. Some of the major species include Grey Nightjar, Orange-bellied Leaf bird, Maroon Oriole, Grey chinned and Short-billed Minivets, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Slaty-backed Fork tail, Sultan Tit, Ashy Bulbul, Yellow-vented, Golden-spectacled and Chestnut crowned Warblers, Greater Neck laced Laughing thrush, Long-tailed Sibia, White-napped and Black-chinned Yuhinas.
>> Where to Eat
- Number of restaurants are scanty in Samsing. However, the hotels generally have adjacent restaurants which are more or less clean, hygienic and well equipped. They serve Bengali cuisine like Chicken Curry, Egg Curry, Rice, Dal, Finger Chips etc.
- Delicious Tibetan food like Momos and Thukpas are available in roadside eateries.
>> What to Buy
The place is not for the shopaholics and there is nothing special that you can buy from here. The nearest city is Siliguri where you can shop for your family and friends back at home.
>> Get Around
- To get around the place and visit other places of interests adjacent to Samsing, the only option for tourists is a vehicle on rental. You can ask the resort manager to arrange a vehicle for a drop to another place, for a day trip, for sightseeing or you can hire a vehicle on a full day basis.
