Introduction
Lolegaon or Loleygaon is a small village in the Kalimpong
sub-division. It used to be a tranquil village with great
views of the Kanchnjunga. During the early 1990's forest department
with the help of some voluntary organizations started promoting
the village as an eco-tourism destination. The founders of
naturebeyond were also part of the initiative. By late 90`s
Lolegaon came up to become one of the oft visited tourist
destinations of the Kalimpong Hills.
The small village is also commonly referred
to by locals as Kaffer. Lolegaon is located at a distance
of about 24 km from Lava. Travel time may be well over an
hour depending on the road condition. Altitude of the place
is about 5,500 ft.
What to See
The primary attraction of Lolegaon lies in its serene
and tranquil environment. Although the place has become a
common tourist destination now, it is still not commercialized
by large influx of tourists. You can still get to walk in
the nearby forests without jostling with other tourists.
The place offers panoramic view of the
Kanchenjunga range. On a clear day large part of the snow
capped mountain is visible.
 Visitors
interested in Bird watching could have a field day here, wide
variety of birds can be seen in the area and Lava-Lolegaon
sector is one of the most attractive birding destination in
this region.
Nearby hilltop Jhandi Dara offers beautiful
views at sunrise. The place is about 4/5 kilometers from Lolegaon
and early morning visit to Jhanidi Dara can offer you spectacular
views on a clear day.
Forest department has earmarked a part of
the forest as Heritage forest. This is another attraction
for tourists. There is a unique 'Canopy Walk' over the century
old mossy Oak and Cypress.
Weather
Summer temperature (April - May) vary between 15
and 25 degree Celsius. Winter temperature (December - February)
between 7 and 15 degree. Loelygaon witnesses heavy rainfall
and an umbrella may be useful any time of the year.
How to Reach
There are primarily two ways of reaching here. One is through
Kalimpong and then onwards to Algara. The other route is through
Dooars, which passes through Gorubathan and Lava. Both the
roads meet about couple of kms ahead of Lava. From this point
you have to take a turn and drive another 22 kms to reach
Lolegaon. |
