Most Detailed Guide about Chatakpur On Internet.

Chatakpur Travel Guide.

Most Detailed Guide On Internet Ever.

Many people who want to give-up the luxury of the city life and settle in remote places, very close to nature and earth and adore it. Or atleast for spend some quality time in Lap of mother nature. And this blog is especially made for these nature lovers as I am again up with a new offbeat destination in lap of Himalaya, nowhere other than our very own State, West Bengal. And Yes you guessed it right, in the district of Darjeeling.

 The mane of the place is Chatakpur. Yes, Chatakpur Village. A small village in the Darjeeling Hills, made up of 18-20 Families. What's especial Here? Let's Find out..!

So let me tell you how it became a tourist destination from such a small village where farming and animal husbandry was the only source of earning. Chatakpur was created when the area was an wooden cave and people used to smuggle timber. The area was under forest dept. of WB. In order to stop these illegal activities, the forest department took an initiative to transform the place into an eco-tourism destination. The villagers were made main part of this to make tourism as an alternative livelihood besides agriculture. Which would help in increase their earning, bring money to their hand and reduce the illegal smuggling of timber from the area.

Now, Chatakpur is a small forest village with a less than two-dozen of huts and less than a hundred of inhabitants. This makes it one of the most exclusive tourist destination in the region.

Chatakpur is a tiny village located inside Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary at an altitude of 7,887 ft. in the district of Darjeeling in West Bengal. It has established itself as a new tourist destination in recent year. In the North Bordered by Majestic Kanchanjunga and by river Relly Khola in South. though the village existed since pre-independence, it was discovered as tourist destination only a few years back.

Now coming to the point for which you most of you have likely came here. "What will we do after we reach there?". So, the  most interesting thing that I foun to do here, is trekking. Chatakpur has a good number of small trekking trails, of which the most famous and beautiful is the "Chatakpur - Tiger Hill Trails". Most of you have heard of Famous Tiger Hill and probably would have visited. But, even if you have visited, taking the trail from Chatakpur will be a way to explore the old place in a new way. The Silence of the path will be a refreshing change away from the cityscape. All you could hear is sound of birds, stranger to most of us and beckoning of huge Pine, Fir and Rhododendron trees in the desolate and lonely Forest. All I could hear were birdsong and the strange sounds of cattle and animals. If you are lucky enough, the view of Kanchanjangha in a clear day will be cherry on the cake and will pay off more for your hard work of trekking. It's one of my favourite things to do in Chatakpur. 

There is also a viewpoint in Chatakpur. Believe me, the views of Kanchenjunga from there is even superior than that of Tiger Hill. On a clear day the view will just fascinate you. Several hours can be passed just sitting there at the view point. 

You can go for a walk around the village. There is also a pond nearby Know as Pokhri. Its also considered holy by the local people. It is believed that you should not visit the place in group and must not make any noise as the deity residing there gets disturbed. May be a myth, but never try to hurt the beliefs of the straightforward and simple village peoples. 

That's not the end there is even more to see in this small village. At night from your Homestay you can spectate the eye soothing scenery of the Darjeeling city at night. Far in the hills, the glowing lights of the city alike the fireflies will mystify your eyes.

If you are there in the winter months, it's a bonus for you. In the morning you will find all the green lands of the previous day turned into white with layer of snow. Which is formed due to the extreme low temperature of the place. Though Darjeeling also have almost equal temperature but such snowy experience is missing from there due to the lack of natural landscape and more of city styled business. 

That's all about the history and the things what you can do after you visiting this fairyland comparable village. 

Okay, so coming to this point I must warn you at the very beginning that the last 4 Km of the road to this village is not in a very good condition and the journey be a bit hectic. If you are a regular traveller to North Bengal or if you are reader of my blogs you may have understood till now how to reach. As you expected, being in the Darjeeling Subdivision you have to reach NJP railway station or Bagdogra Airport and a booked cab  which will take you to the checkpoint of the Village at the cost of ₹3000-3500 for a 4 seater cab and ₹3500-4000 for a 8 seater.

Being a tourist destination developed with the motive to promote eco-tourism and provide better earning to the villagers by the Forest Department, you have to take ticket to enter the village. it will cost you ₹120 Per Head Per Day. 

Where To Stay and Expenditure:

There are almost 19 Families in whole Chatakpur Eco Village and almost every village have a Homestay Now. As Mentioned earlier, Chatakpur has two Divisions- Upper Chatakpur and Lower Chatakpur. I will suggest you to stay in Upper Chatakpur, as you will get much superior view than Lower Chatakpur. The homestay generally charge ₹1300-1500 Per Head Per day including Breakfast, Dinner and Lunch. 

Again I would mention, if you are visiting Chatakpur, the one thing you can't afford to miss the Sunrise from Chatakpur. When the sun will drench Kanchanjangha with its reddish color, its unimaginable beauty can't be expressed in words. 

Price Breakdown (For 2 People 2 Days):

Car Fare (NJP-NJP):              3500x2         = 7000/-

Homestay(2 Day 2 Person):   2x(2x1300)  = 5200/-

                                                            Total: 11200/- 

                                                     Per Head: 5600/-