 Situated
at an altitude of 7200 feet, Lava is famous for its proximity
to the Neora Valley National
Park and its beautiful view of the Jelep La and Reche
La passes.
Lava is about 32 km east of Kalimpong.
Oak and fir trees welcome the visitor at Lava. It is also
known for its leaches. During the rainy season vegetation
around the place remains covered with leaches.
Most people who visit Lava combine their
tour with Loleygaon and Rishop
which are nearby offbeat destinations. You may also combine
Sikkim, Darjeeling
or Dooars tour in the same.
Reaching Lava
The small town can be reached either through Dooars
via Gorubathan. This
road is known as Damdim road as the road takes a turn from
National Highway 31 at Damdim. The other road is through Kalimpong
town and Algara. Both roads meet at Lava.
Distance from nearby places
to Kalimpong – 32 kms
to Lolegaon – 24 kms
to Rishop – 12 kms
to Siliguri – 100 kms
Walks around
Lava offers some nice walks for nature lovers. You
can walk towards the Neora
Valley National Park, this area has good vegetation. If
you want to go for serious jungle trek, the Neora valley trek
also originates in this area, but you would need to take permission
from forest department before entering the core area of the
forest. You may also go for a hike towards Maneydara
village which is about 5 kms walk from the town. Another
route takes you to Rishop, a more
recent tourist destination. Rishop is close to 12 kms by car,
but the trekking distance is about 5 kms.
Birding Options
The area is a bird watchers paradise, you can seen
a variety of birds including Satyr Tragopan, Broad-billed
Warbler, Blue-fronted Robin, Rusty-bellied Shortwing, Yellow-throated
Fulvetta, Scarlet Finch and many other varieties around here.
General tourist attractions
Common tourist places around Lava include Ratnarishi
Gumpha, Neora Lake, Silviculture Research Centre, and Chhangey
falls. Treks to the Neora valley starts from Lava. Apart from
long treks across the valley, small treks are also possible
in the region. Common treks include trek to Tiffin Dara, Aluabari
etc.
Where to stay
Over the last two decades as the popularity of the
place increased, Lava fast changed from a tranquil village
to a hotel town. The small village surrounded by forests have
a very large number of hotels. Almost all of them are budget
accommodation and village home converted into tourist hotels
with basic amenities. The natural beauty of the place has
also taken a beating due to the proliferation of hotels in
the limited area. We prefer the WBFDC accommodation at Lava
for our guests. You can book this accommodation with us as
part of a complete tour package to Lava.
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