Lava is a small village in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal and is a popular name in West Bengal Tourism. This small village is a paradise for nature lovers, bird lovers, adventure enthusiasts, and photographers. Nestled amidst the lush green forests and surreal surroundings, this place is a perfect vacation spot if you are hunting for a peaceful and beautiful destination.
The best time to visit Lava is from October to April, during this time the weather is cold and great for sightseeing, trekking and exploring the village. The entire area of Kalimpong district has a fascinating topography comprising hills and beautiful streams that will rejuvenate your senses and soul.
History of Lava, West Bengal
Lava is located at a height of 7200 feet and is visible and connected from the towns of Sikkim. The population of Lava village is predominantly rural, and their main occupation is agriculture. Lava village also receives snowfall in winter, and the temperature goes below zero sometimes.
Major Attractions in and Around Lava
1. Rachela Pass
A popular trekking route, Rachela Pass is 12km from Lava. This trekking route is both difficult due to the steep route and beautiful because of mesmerizing views of the valley and forests. Many trekking enthusiasts often go on this adventurous route to experience the real beauty of the place.
Places to Visit Near Lava, West Bengal
1. Lava Monastery
Lava monastery is one of the top tourist places in Lava, a quaint hamlet in West Bengal. The monastery is surrounded by scenic vistas that are worth witnessing once in a lifetime. Ratna Krishi Bihar Buddhist Gumpa is the other name of the monastery located close to Neora Reservoir lake.
2. Neora Valley National Park
The national park established in 1986 is known for its rich biodiversity. Spread in an area of 88 square kilometers, this national park is home to many species of birds like Golden-Headed Black Finch, Minivets, Cuckoos, Parakeets, and animals including Black Bear, Pangolin, clouded Leopard, and Himalayan Tahr.
3. Loleygaon
Loleygaon is a small hamlet adorned with lush green forests, hills and treks, and trails. Tourists often arrive here to unwind and relax in the lap of nature or to indulge in some adventure like trekking or camping.
4. Pedong
If you are seeking adventure on a trip, then Pedong is the place to be as you can enjoy rock climbing, trekking, mountain biking, and a lot more here. Surrounded by pine forest in the backdrop of snow-capped ranges of Mount Kanchenjunga, Pedong is a must-visit destination for both nature and adventure lovers.
How to Reach Lava in West Bengal
To reach Lava you have to cover a distance of nearly 1550km via NH 27, 2380km via NH 27, 672km via NH 12, and 2600km via Srinagar Kanyakumari Highway from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, respectively. You can arrive here conveniently via airways, roadways, and railways. The best travel modes and routes have been listed below for your reference.
By Road. Traveling by roadways comes with two economical and comfortable options, out of which one is to drive till here in your car and the other is to get on a government or private tourist bus that runs from nearby cities and adjoining states at regular intervals.
By Rail. New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri railway stations are the two nearest stations to reach Lava, which are 100km and 99km away, respectively. Trains from all parts of the country arrive here, which means that you can plan a trip to lava from anywhere in India. After deboarding the train, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach the desired destination in Lava.
- From Delhi. Board Brahmaputra SPL from New Delhi station and deboard at New Jalpaiguri
- From Mumbai. Board LTT GHY SPL from Lokmanyatilak Terminus and deboard at New Jalpaiguri station
- From Kolkata. Board HWH GHY SPECIAL from Howrah Junction and deboard at New Jalpaiguri station.
- From Bengaluru. Board BNC GHY EXP from Bengaluru Cant and deboard at New Jalpaiguri station
By Air. Located in the west part of Siliguri, Bagdogra airport is the nearest to reach Lava village. The airport manages the arrival and departure of domestic and international flights. From the airport, you may hire a taxi or get on a local bus to cover another 110km via Rishi Road to reach Lava. Mentioned below is the compilation of non-stop flights to Bagdogra airport along with the airfare estimate.
- From Delhi. Board non-stop AirAsia or AirIndia flight from Delhi. The airfare starts from INR 3500
- From Mumbai. Board SpiceJet or IndiGo flight from Mumbai. The airfare starts from INR 5,000
- From Kolkata. Board GoAir or AirIndia flight from Kolkata. The airfare starts from INR 3000
- From Bengaluru. Board AirAsia flight from Bengaluru. The airfare starts from INR 5,000
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.