Sittong is a spread of villages (Sittong I, II and III, Latpanchar, Shelpu, Mahaldiram) on the slopes between Kurseong and the Teesta, home to Lepcha and other hill families. There are no hotels, only homestays that charge per person with all meals. You come for the orange harvest from November to January, the Kanchenjunga view from Ahaldara, the 350-year-old mud-and-bamboo Lepcha monastery, and quiet. It is 35 km from Darjeeling but a world away from its traffic. There is no direct shared transport: hire a small car from NJP or Bagdogra, about two and a half hours. Two nights is right.
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When to go
November to January is orange season, peaking in December, when the cinchona directorate holds an orange festival. March to May and October-November give the clearest Kanchenjunga views. June to September is monsoon: landslide risk, cloud, and bad interior roads, though Namthing Pokhri is only full of water in August and September and dry by the end of October.
Sittong right now and the next 7 days
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Sittong on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Sittong · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 27 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
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Sittong in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Walk the orange orchards2 h · ₹50 each · November to January. Some gardens charge a small entry fee, around ₹50 with a local guide at one orchard. Ask before entering.
- 13:30Lunch break
- 14:30Namthing Pokhri1 h · free · Fenced pine-forest lake, one of only two known homes of the endangered Himalayan salamander. Do not go near the water. Dry from late October.
- 05:45Ahaldara viewpoint at sunrise2 h · ₹10 each · Kanchenjunga on a clear morning. ₹10 per person on foot from the check post, or ₹50 per car. Short 150 m climb from the car stop.
- 08:45Lepcha mud monastery1 h · free · Mud-and-bamboo gompa, over 350 years old, run by the Lepcha Buddhist community and a single lama. No fee; leave a donation.
- 10:15Lepcha Falls and Jogighat bridgeHalf day · free · Forest trail to the falls, then the 74 m bridge over the Riyang toward Mungpoo.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Birding at LatpancharHalf day · price to check · On the edge of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Homestays can find a local guide; fee not confirmed. Sanctuary entry needs forest permission.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Sittong
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Reserved small car Cheapest
₹3,000About ₹2,500-3,500 for the whole car (WagonR or Dzire class). About 55-64 km depending on route. No prepaid taxi counter at Bagdogra; ask your homestay to send a car.
Shared jeep
Check fareShared jeeps leave NJP and the Siliguri bus terminus when full. Fare not confirmed; ask at the stand. No shared jeeps run from NJP direct to Sittong.
Toy train
Check fareThe NJP-Darjeeling train (52541) leaves NJP around 10 am and stops at Kurseong. Slow but beautiful. Check the fare and timing on IRCTC.
Reserved car Last leg
₹1,750About 24-28 km. From about ₹1,750 per car. Village shared taxis run once or twice a day and mostly carry locals.
Getting around once you're there
Sightseeing car for the day
₹2,700About ₹2,700 for a small car covering Mahaldiram, Ahaldara, Namthing Pokhri, the Lepcha monastery, Jogighat bridge and Mungpoo. Book through your homestay.
On foot
FreeOrchard lanes, Lepcha Falls (10-15 minutes on a forest trail) and the walk round Namthing Pokhri. No street lights; be back before dark.
Village shared taxi
Check priceOnce or twice a day to Kurseong, Dilaram or Bagora. Ask your host for the time; fare not confirmed.
Where to stay in Sittong
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Homestay, all meals
₹2,800/nightMost charge per person per day with four meals: about ₹1,300-1,500 a head. Price shown is for two. Call the host; many are not on booking sites.
Better homestay
₹3,500/nightNamed homestays list ₹1,450-1,750 a head with meals. Ask for a Kanchenjunga-facing room.
Cottage
₹5,000/nightThe top end runs ₹2,100-2,800 per person with meals. No hotels or resorts in the valley.
What to eat, and what it costs
Homestay meals: rice, dal, local greens, egg or chicken
Check priceBreakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner are in the homestay rate. Barbecue and bonfire cost extra.
Tea and momos at Ghalaytar bazaar
Check priceFew eateries. The page lists no prices; carry small notes.
Oranges straight from the orchard
Check priceAsk the owner before picking. Buy by the dozen in December and January.
Things to do in Sittong
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Walk the orange orchards
₹50November to January. Some gardens charge a small entry fee, around ₹50 with a local guide at one orchard. Ask before entering.
Ahaldara viewpoint at sunrise
₹10Kanchenjunga on a clear morning. ₹10 per person on foot from the check post, or ₹50 per car. Short 150 m climb from the car stop.
Namthing Pokhri
FreeFenced pine-forest lake, one of only two known homes of the endangered Himalayan salamander. Do not go near the water. Dry from late October.
Lepcha mud monastery
FreeMud-and-bamboo gompa, over 350 years old, run by the Lepcha Buddhist community and a single lama. No fee; leave a donation.
Lepcha Falls and Jogighat bridge
FreeForest trail to the falls, then the 74 m bridge over the Riyang toward Mungpoo.
Birding at Latpanchar
Check priceOn the edge of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Homestays can find a local guide; fee not confirmed. Sanctuary entry needs forest permission.
Day trips and next stops
Mungpoo: Tagore's house and the quinine factory
Check fareCar
Kurseong
₹1,750Car or village shared taxi
Darjeeling
₹2,400Car via Bagora
Kalimpong
₹3,000Car via Rambi Bazaar
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- No shared transport runs direct from NJP or Siliguri. Book the car through your homestay and arrive before dark: interior roads are unlit and some are rough.
- June to September brings landslides and road cuts on the Kurseong and Kalijhora roads. Do not plan a tight connection in the monsoon.
- Namthing Pokhri is a protected salamander habitat. Stay outside the fence, and never take animals or plants.
Ways to spend less
- Come in December: oranges on every tree, the orange festival, and Kanchenjunga usually clear.
- Pay the per-head homestay rate with all meals. It works out cheaper than a Darjeeling hotel plus restaurant meals.
- Share the ₹2,700 sightseeing car with another family from your homestay.
Before-you-go checklist
Sittong in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Sittong?
Jan, Nov–Dec is the best time. November to January is orange season, peaking in December, when the cinchona directorate holds an orange festival. March to May and October-November give the clearest Kanchenjunga views. June to September is monsoon: landslide risk, cloud, and bad interior roads, though Namthing Pokhri is only full of water in August and September and dry by the end of October.
How do I reach Sittong?
Reserved small car: NJP station or Bagdogra (IXB) → Sittong, 2.5-3 h, about ₹3,000 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Sittong cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹5,100 on a shoestring, ₹9,600 mid-range or ₹13,500 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is reserved small car (NJP station or Bagdogra (IXB) → Sittong) at about ₹3,000 each way.
How many days do you need in Sittong?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Walk the orange orchards, Namthing Pokhri, Ahaldara viewpoint at sunrise, Lepcha mud monastery without rushing.
Is Sittong good for families or solo travellers?
Sittong works best for couples, groups, families.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Sittong?
Easy: homestay kitchens cook rice, dal and vegetables every day, and will skip meat if you say so when you book. Vegan is workable; ask them to leave out ghee, butter and milk tea.
Will my phone and cards work in Sittong?
Jio and Airtel work in places but drop out in lower valleys and forest roads. Homestay Wi-Fi is unreliable. Almost nowhere in the valley. Bring all the cash you need. Homestays and drivers take cash, some UPI.
Sources and last check
Checked 25 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO advise-against areas are J&K, India-Pakistan border and Manipur only; West Bengal/Darjeeling not listed
- darjeeling-tourism.comDistances NJP/Bagdogra/Darjeeling/Kurseong/Kalimpong; reserved taxi ₹3,000-3,500 (Aug 2022); no shared taxis NJP/Siliguri to Sittong; village shared taxis once or twice a day; altitude ~4,000 ft; homestays per person with all meals; no hotels; orange season Nov-Jan; Lepcha monastery 350+ years; Lepcha Falls; Jogighat bridge 74 m
- darjeeling-tourism.comAhaldara ₹50 per car / ₹10 per person on foot (cinchona counter); Maitra Rai orchard ₹50 per person with guide; sightseeing car ~₹2,700 per day (fare updated Mar 2022); Namthing Pokhri fenced salamander habitat, full Aug-Sep, dry by end Oct; Mangpu 6 km past Jogighat; Latpanchar on edge of Mahananda WLS
- offbeatpeak.comUpdated 4 Oct 2026 (tariffs checked 15 Sep 2026): homestays ₹1,300-1,500 pp with meals, named homestays ₹1,450-2,800 pp; car fares NJP/Bagdogra ₹2,500-3,500, Kurseong ₹1,750+, Darjeeling ₹2,100-2,600, Kalimpong ₹3,000+; no dependable ATM; patchy Jio/Airtel; no permit needed; monsoon landslide risk
- darjeelingoffbeat.comHomestays ₹1,200-1,800 per person per day including food (updated 14 Aug 2026); no direct bus NJP-Sittong
- en.wikipedia.orgCoordinates 26.937N 88.367E; Kurseong CD block; Orange Festival by the Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants each December
- etrain.infoNJP-Darjeeling DHR train 52541 departs NJP around 10:10 and stops at Kurseong
- darjeeling-tourism.comShared jeeps from Siliguri bus terminus leave when full; NBSTC mini buses
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Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 27 October 2026 · Photo: Sri Debapriya Hore · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Auli Raha (অলি রাহা) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Auli Raha (অলি রাহা) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Biswajit Majumdar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Indrajit Das · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
