Kolakham: A Hidden Paradise
Kolakham is a beautiful hamlet located in Kalimpong district in the state of West Bengal. It is a small village in Neora Valley National Park.
It is located at an altitude of 6500 feet above sea level, 38 km from Kalimpong and 7 km from Lava.
The whole village is covered with green pine trees. Staying one night in this Village is a thrilling experience. If you want to stay in Neora Valley National Park, you have to stay in this village.
Kolakham is a village in the rai community where 60 Nepali families live. These families have built many small homestays here for the stay of tourists.
Mount Kanchenjunga can be seen very well and clearly from Kolakaham. This is a perfect place for those who like an adventure with nature in mind.
Kolakham Village
kolakham sightseeing
Village tour-This village is full of natural beauty. You can come to this place and walk around once to enjoy the natural beauty of the village.
Changey Waterfall- It is an interesting tourist spot in this area. You have to down trek 1 km to see the waterfalls. Many outdoor tourists also visit here just to see these waterfalls.
Neora Valley National Park Safari- Permission must be obtained from the Lava check post for the Neora Valley National Park safari. The cost is around Rs 230 per person and Rs 1500 for a car approximately. Vehicles are allowed to move up to 13 km zero point inside the forest. And the safari time is one hour.
Lava, Rishyap, and Lolegaon tour- Lava, Rishyap, and Lolegaon are very close to Kolakham. You can rent a car and take these shots.
kolakham activities
Trekking- The Rachel Pass Trek is one of the famous treks in the region. Another name for this trek is Neora Valley River Trekking. Rachela pass at the highest peak in the Neora Valley National Park. From the top of Rachela Pass, you can see Mount Singalila with spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga.
Bird Watching- More than 250 birds have been identified here. This is a paradise for bird lovers. The best time for bird watching is October to February.
Relaxing- Many come to the mountains just to relax. This place is perfect for them. You can’t understand when two or three days will pass while enjoying the view of Kanchenjunga and its natural beauty.
Kanchenjunga view from Kolakham
How to reach Kolakham
BY AIR – Nearest airport is Bagdogra which is only 14 km away from Siliguri And 116 km from Kolakham. There are regular flights from Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati to Bagdogra. There are many prepaid cars available from outside the airport to go to Kolakham.
BY ROAD – Many private cars are available from NJP and Siliguri to reach Kolakham. The distance from NJP to Kolakham is 108 km and it takes about 4 hours. There are two roads to get here, one is via Kalimpong, and the other is through Garubathan.
BY RAIL – There are two railway stations near Kolakham, one is New Jalpaiguri which is 108 km and the other is New Mal Junction which is 65 km from Kolakham. Private and shere cars are available from outside both stations.
If anyone wants to come to Kolakham by shere car then he has to come to Lava first. Then you have to take a private car from Lava to Kolakham. The distance from Lava to Kolakham is about 7 km and the car rent is around 500 to 800 rupees.
And when you come back from Kolakham, you will also get a Shere car. Every morning some Shere vehicles leave here for Kalimpong. You can book a seat from the previous day.
Best time to visit Kolakham
October to February is the best time to visit if you want to see the clear Kanchenjunga. And if you want to go to the mountains to get relief from the heat of the city, the best time to visit Kolakham is from March to May. Kolakhama can be visited all year round because the mountains can be enjoyed in different ways at different times.
Kolakham Homestay
kolakham accommodation
The people of this village have built many beautiful homestays for the stay of tourists.
The homestay here is mainly made of wood. All rooms have attached baths. And they keep the rooms very clean.
Most of the accommodations here are for including food and lodging. It takes approximately 1000 to 1500 rupees per person per day.
If you tell them in advance on homestay, they will arrange a campfire and barbeque also.
If you book a homestay in Kolakham, try to book the homestay on the left side and if not, try to book the homestay on the top right side, then Kanchenjunga can be seen clearly.
Kolakham temperature
Winters [Nov to Feb]- 0 to 10 degrees
Summer [March to May]- 18 to 28 degrees
Monsoon [June to Aug] – 15 to 25 degrees
Autumn [Sep to Oct]- 10 to 20 degrees