Road to Mirik and onward to Darjeeling

NJP/Bagdogra to Darjeeling Via Mirik

Many tourists have asked me the question ... why take the road via Mirik to reach Darjeeling? After all it's a longer route. Well, I love to take this route when I visit Darjeeling or at least on my return. If you plan to visit Mirik, you will need to take this route anyway. But even otherwise for visiting Darjeeling, this route offers something special.

Yes, it's true that the route to Darjeeling via Mirik is longer and takes about 1 hour more compared to the normal route via Hill Cart Road or Rohini. It takes about one and half hours by car up to Mirik and another two and half hours to Darjeeling. So with a break in between, it will take about 4.5 hours to reach Darjeeling by this route from Bagdogra airport or NJP station. But this longer journey is worth the time & money.

The route passes through scenic tea gardens, actually several of them, beautiful viewpoints (probably the best in Darjeeling area to view tea gardens & landscapes), Indo-Nepal border with a viewpoint, nice quaint villages and more.

Route from Bagdogra/NJP up to Mirik

If you start from Bagdogra Airport and take a taxi towards Mirik, the driver will tend to take a route via Panighatta. This road is shorter by some 10kms. The first section of the route goes by scenic Tirhana Tea Gardens in the plains and then through the Khaprail village up to Panighatta. Then for about 1.5kms, the road goes through a forest and then along the Balasun river bank and eventually crosses the river over Balasun Bridge to finally meet with the main route. The Balasun river virtually has dried up here.

Balasun River

The stretch through the forest is quite lonely. Earlier, there was virtually no road here. However, the last 1.5kms stretch of the route has been done up in 2016 and the entire route via Panighatta is now quite nice and much better than the alternative route via Matigara.

Bridge over Balasun River

You cross this bridge when coming via Panighatta

There is an alternative route via Matigara (a small township) which is located on the main highway (NH-31). Many drivers take this route as well. At Matigara, you will turn into a road that goes towards Simulbari. The first route via Panighatta also meets this road near Simulbari.

However, if you are coming from NJP, the driver will usually take a route via Sukna as that turns out to be shorter than the rest. This route from NJP will come initially through Siliguri township, then take Hill Cart Road towards Sukna, and then take a left turn passing through Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary's forested area and the Sukna Military camp area and finally joining the common point at Simulbari. As you approach Similubari, you will see the beautiful Simulbari Tea gardens. But you are still on the lower plains.

Soon you will start the uphill journey after you cross Dudhiya (another settlement along the way with a busy roadside market). In fact Dudhiya is the last point after which the uphill drive starts. One of the reasons some prefer to take the route via Mirik is because the gradient on this route is quite less compared to the other routes. So if you or someone in your family have problems with steep winding roads, then this route can be a better choice. But don't think that this is going to be like a flat city road anyway. There are several sharp turns along the way.

As you start your uphill journey through this route, you will soon pass by beautiful tea gardens on the hill slopes. Some of such tea estates includes Tingling & Shingbuli, Phuguri etc. 8kms before reaching Mirik, you will come to one of my most favorite View Points in Darjeeling area, known as Tingling Viewpoint. You get stunning view of the Tingling Tea Estate from here. The view Point is also known as Sourenee View Point because of the nearby Sourenee Tea Estate. The view of the gardens on undulating slopes of the mountains is just awesome.

Tingling/Sourenee View Point

Just below the Viewing Platform (which is accessible by a short staircase), you will find the Sourenee Tea Showroom. This is where you can get authentic packaged tea of Sourenee Tea Estate. There are chairs where you can sit and enjoy the views outside.

Tea Garden View from Tingling Viewpoint

See the winding road coming up from lower plains

Adjacent to the Tingling Viewpoint, there is a small restaurant which sells tea and snacks. There are tables and chairs where you can relax and enjoy the food. The charming lady at the counter is quite efficient. Go to the backside balcony of the restaurant and you will get unabated awesome views of the tea gardens from there.

Tea Garden View

1km from the Tingling View Point you will pass by the village of Sourenee. Watch the villagers and the children on the road, the many tiny stalls as you pass the village.

The lady at the Tingling Viewpoint restaurant

Soon you will reach Mirik Township, whose main attraction is the Mirik Lake, also known as the Sumendu Lake. This is where you can take a break for a while before proceeding for Darjeeling. If you have time and want to do some local sightseeing at Mirik, then do not miss out on the Bokar Monastery which is perched at a higher elevation and only a 4-5 minute drive from the Mirik Lake area. Go through Mirik Sightseeing to get details about all the attractions in and around Mirik and how to go about avisiting them.

But note that, other than a quick break or two, the taxi drivers from Bagdogra or NJP will not usually be ready to make any other intermediate stops or take any detour for local sightseeing unless you have discussed out the matter with them in advance and agreed on an extra fare. If you do plan to do a local a sightseeing at Mirik on your way to Darjeeling, then booking a cab through a Siliguri tour operator would be a better option.

For lunch, the Restaurant at Jagjeet Hotel in Mirik would be a good choice. They serve Indian (including South Indian) and Chinese food. The prices are reasonable and the food is nice. You will also get clean washrooms here. They also have a small departmental store on one side of the restaurant where you can buy any essentials or package snacks, biscuits, etc.

Route from Mirik up to Darjeeling

From Mirik, it takes another 2 and half hours to reach Darjeeling town by road. On the way you will pass through the lovely Gopal Dhara Tea Estate... there is a nice tea stall here on the roadside which is run by the tea estate where you can relish a cup of fresh Darjeeling tea and also buy packets of good quality tea.

Gopaldhara Tea Estate

Further up you will pass through the Indo-Nepal Border where the Pasupatinath Market is located, then a nice open viewing area known as Simana where the local ladies set up temporary stalls selling snacks, candies, souvenirs and trinkets which they bring from Nepal.

Simana View Point

You will then pass through the township of Sukhiapokhri, followed by the quaint village known as Lepchajagat, and then reach Ghum (that has the highest railway station in India). At Ghum, the route meets with Hill Cart Road (NH-110) and Darjeeling town is only 8kms from there.

I have described the route and rest of the journey between Mirik and Darjeeling in detail in my article Darjeeling to Mirik Day Trip (however, you should reverse the sequence of the journey because it narrates from the other way, i.e. from Darjeeling to Mirik).

Visit Transport Fares to know about fares to reach Mirik and Darjeeling.

1) How to reach Darjeeling

2) Roads leading to Darjeeling

Visitors' Reviews/Comments

Puja Pal (June 2019)

Hi thanks for detailed information about Darjeeling and near-abouts. I have planned to visit Darjeeling via Mirik with Kalimpong in this month (June 2019). I have visited Darjeeling before with the help of your suggestions and guidelines. You are a worthy tour planner and a lovely guide for us. I am sharing my current plan please help me out.

DAY 1- NJP/SILIGURI to DARJEELING via MIRIK (we like to cover Mirik lake, Pashupati market and Simana)

DAY 2- DARJEELING to KALIMPONG for half day tour and return

DAY 3- Visit Mall and surroundings and return to NJP.

I just want to know is it possible to cover the whole trip by shared jeep and is this plan going to work? As I am a solo traveler what suggestions are best for me? Thank you so much for you time and kindness...

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) June 2019

Hi, Darjeeling via Mirik by shared jeep and sightseeing along the way is technically possible but is not quite practical. You need to change shared jeep/taxi several times along the way and timings could be an issue (i.e. you may have to wait for long till you get the next shared jeep) and you won't get one easily after 3pm. But shared jeeps do ply along that route (some go up to Mirik, others to Sukhia, Ghum or Darjeeling). Pashupati market requires a long walk from the border (1 km one way) and takes substantial amount of time.... if you try shared jeep on this route, I suggest you skip Pashupati market. There is no shared jeep tour from Darjeeling to Kalimpong... you can however take a shared jeep to Kalimpong, then a private taxi for half day tour and get back by a shared jeep/taxi. Return to NJP is always doable by shared jeep.

Mathivannan (March 2018)

Dear Sir, We will be landing at Bagdogra around 1.15 p.m. Will it be ok if we take the Mirik route to reach Darjeeling. While enroute will it be possible to see Nepal Border market and other places like Lakes?

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018

Mirik lake will be on the way and you can spend a few minutes there. The main Pashupati market at Indo/Nepal border is about 1km walk from the border and you won't have enough time for that, although there are few shops near the border which you might be able to visit depending on how you manage your time. The shops close down by sunset. Note that pre-paid taxi fare from Bagdogra airport does not cover all these local sightseeing and you need to pay extra to the driver for such stops.

Rupesh (May 2017)

Sir, is there direct taxis running from New Jalpaiguri or Siliguri to Darjeeling via Mirik?

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) May 2017

No, there is no direct shared taxi in that route, but you can go up to Mirik and then take another one from there up to Darjeeling or Ghum.

Ashok Mujumdar (March 2016)

Dear Raj, We are visiting Darjeeling and Sikkim from 19th to 28th May. We are coming to Bagdogra by air and directly proceeding to Mirik and same day to Darjeeling. Please guide me are there any sweet marts on the way to Mirik where I can buy some namkeen and sweets. If so name of the shop. or are there any shop in Mirik ? Because I do not want to carry any thing from Bombay.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2016

Hello, The restaurant at Jagjit hotel in Mirik has a shop where you can buy such snack items.

Sunandan Pal (March 2015)

Sir, we a group of 7 college friends are going to Darjeeling on coming 24th march. We heard of the scenic beauty of the route to Darjeeling via Mirik. We will arrive NJP around 10 am by HWH-NJP AC chair car express. My questions are:-

1)will there be any problems if we plan to take a shared car from NJP to Mirik, having done local sightseeing then take another shared car to Darjeeling. If not how will we go for local sightseeing, is any car or auto available for that on private or sharing basis.

2)if we take prepaid taxi will the driver allow for local sightseeing at Mirik on extra cash payment and how much the amount could be approximately.

3)how much time usually it may take if we go for this plan to reach Darjeeling from NJP.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2015

Take a shared jeep from NJP up to Mirik (about 1.5 hours). Spend some time at the lake area, do some paddle boating if you want, walk up to the Mirik Monastery (about 25 minutes from the lake), then come down and have your lunch. Post lunch, take another shared jeep for Darjeeling (usually available up to 3pm from the stand near the lake). Otherwise take a private sumo (will take about 2.5 hours to reach Darjeeling). Ask the driver that you will stop at Simana (Indo Nepal border viewing area). Pre-paid taxis from NJP may not agree to do sightseeing at Mirik or along the way, and even if they do, the charges can be quite high. But if you can take a private vehicle from NJP, you can cover an additional point located 8kms before Mirik ... Timling View Point, one of the best places to view tea gardens. This won't be possible with a shared jeep.

Major Naim (October 2014)

Dear Raj, At the very outset I like to thank you for your informative answers. This is Major Naim from Bangladesh. I will be visiting Darjeeling After 10th of October. My Plan is to return through Mirik while coming back to New Jalpaiguri. I will be accompanied by my wife &kid. If I am hiring a taxi from Darjeeling via Mirik to NJP will it wait for long in Mirik until my total visit time (around 2-3 hrs)? As we are Bangali so, we like to have lunch in Krisnanagar in Surojit & Boudi's hotel. Now if I want to avail any shared jeep/bus for going to NJP for that is there any cab stand in Mirik? What should be the last time for moving out from Mirik? Is there any bus/ shared taxi available to Mirik? Or it is better to hire a taxi upto Mirik to watch various view point like Jorpokhri, Market, Simana, Gopaldhara Tea Estate etc? Your guidance in this regard will be highly appreciated. Thanx.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) October 2014

Hello, Shared jeeps are available between Darjeeling & Mirik, and Mirik & NJP. But they stuff in 12-14 people in a jeep in high season and it can get extremely uncomfortable unless you are used to such travels. Private taxi is a much better option, but in high season they can charge a lot. You can keep the cab waiting at Mirik but will need to negotiate a waiting charge which won't be small either. There are taxi stands in Mirik, both at the main market as well as at Krishnanagar area (near the lake). You will get shared jeeps also from these stands. If it can be afforded, I would recommend that you take a small private cab from Darjeeling, negotiate the rate and stop at Jorpokhri, Simana, (skip Pashupati market .... all trash), Mirik, Tingling view point (8kms from Mirik) etc.

Surojit's Kolkata Hotel in Mirik is unfortunately no longer a great place to have Bengali food. My last week's experience was quite bad. He is charging exorbitant amount for less than average quality food and low portions.... basically encashing on opportunities. I have also observed him misbehaving with guests. You can try the restaurant located adjacent to it on its left (Annapurna), although I haven't tried the food there but heard many tourists are now preferring that.

Nilanjana Choudhuri (May 2014)

Hi, I have read your blog where you have suggested to visit Mirik on the way to Darjeeling from NJP or the other way round etc. but can you just suggest me where to keep the luggage when I would be visiting mirik on my way to Darjeeling from Siliguri or NJP. In this case I would like to inform you that i would be taking a shared jeep from NJP to Mirik and then Mirik to Darjeeling. this would be a cheaper option to me. would you kindly give me the details regarding this. I would be reaching NJP by Darjeeling mail.

Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) May 2014

You should not plan Mirik day sightseeing while on your way to or from Darjeeling on a shared jeep with heavy luggage. Nobody will keep your luggage. You can plan such visits only when you are taking a private taxi so that you can keep your luggage in the boot.

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