Mirik

Mirik is a hill station near Darjeeling in West Bengal. If you are visiting Darjeeling, you can hardly get past Mirik. The place is only 49 km from Darjeeling and 52km from Bagdogra / NJP and can be reached from either place quite easily. Mirik is 1767 meters above sea level and has charming weather throughout the year.

You may either stay at Mirik and explore the area around you or visit Mirik as part of a day trip from Darjeeling. Some tourists also visit Mirik only while driving down from Darjeeling on their way to Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri rail station. However, the day visitors or the tourists who visit Mirik only on their way to other places miss the essence of Mirik. You will end up spending a couple of hours beside the Mirik Lake Samendu or having lunch at the local restaurant. To enjoy Mirik, you need to stay here overnight, and the longer the better.

Drive from Darjeeling to Mirik

The 40 km drive from Mirik to Darjeeling is one of the best you can have in the region. About half the route is through the Nepal border and almost the entire route is through forests of Pine, fir and chestnut oak forest. The beautiful road passes through the small hamlets of Sukiapokhari, Pashupati,  and Simana. You will also pass by Lepchajagat which has become a tourist destination in its own right. You can stop over at Pashupati and enter Nepal here. The Pashupati market in Nepal is an attraction for tourists which markets Nepalese as well as cheap Chinese products. There are also some picturesque tea gardens on this route such as the Gopaldhara tea garden and the Thurbo tea garden. If you love nature in its pristine beauty, the Darjeeling – Mirik drive is one you must enjoy during your trip.

Things to See and Do

Lake Samendu popularly known as Mirik Lake is about 1.25 km long and a 3.5 km road surrounds the lake. The lake is the major attraction of Mirik. Swimming in the lake is not advisable since the wastewater from the town falls into this lake. At the backdrop of the lake, you will get an idyllic view of Mt. Kanchenjunga and the green lustre of Oak, Chestnut, and Maple. Boating in this lake placid is a must to soothe the soul of a weary traveller. A stroll around the lake is highly recommended. You can also go for a horse ride around the lake.

The Mirik Lake is an artificial lake created during the 1970s by the West Bengal government to make Mirik an attractive tourist destination. And it has worked wonders for the small town and its tourism. There is an arched bridge over the lake and a large ground where all sorts of tourism activity from horse ride to feeding the fish takes place. Most hotels are situated around the lake so are the taxi stand and typical tourism infrastructure.

Tingling View Point / Kawlay Dara Viewpoint - About 8 km south of Mirik towards Siliguri is the Tingling viewpoint. From here you can view the tea gardens carpeted tea plantation. Many of the best tea garden pictures you will see online are taken here. The viewpoint is surrounded by three tea gardens. One can get a sweeping view of the plains as well as the snow-capped mountains from this viewpoint. The sunrise and sunset from here is a visual delight. The viewpoint is about 30 30-minute walk from the tourist hub.

Rang Bhang River - Another interesting point to visit near Mirik is Tama Koshi beside the Rang Bhang River. It is about 7 km from Mirik town. Drive about 2 km from Mirik towards Darjeeling and you will reach the Thurbo tea estate factory. From here take a downhill drive on your right and 5 km ahead is the Rang Bhang riverbed. You can visit the two temples here and spend a good time picnicking around the Rang Bhang River. If you are a little adventurous, you may try a trek from Mirik down here. The trek is ideal for bird enthusiasts.

Mirik Monastery - The Bokar Ngedon Chokhor Ling Monastery of Mirik, in short, referred to as Bokar Monastery or simply Mirik Monastery is another tourist attraction here. The monastery was founded in 1986. From the monastery, you can have a nice view of Mirik town and Mirik Lake.

Helipad & Swiss Cottage - The hilltop helipad offers a panoramic view of the town and Samendu Lake. You can see Kanchenjunga Mirik Lake and the entire Mirik town from here. Locals also flock here for the great view. There are Swiss cottages nearby which previously used to be known as Orange Country retreats. This used to be the best place to stay in Mirik, but unfortunately, the accommodation is not operational for several years now.

Mirik Bazaar - The Mirik Bazaar is just north of the lake, since most of the tourist activities centre around the south side of the lake, many tourists miss the Mirik Bazaar. If you are interested in the local people experiencing their culture, a visit to the non-touristic bazaar is a must. The market is a hub of activity as locals from the tea gardens and villages all around Mirik flock here from dawn to dusk.

Mirik Orange village – From Mirik Bazar a small village road goes east towards the Pahilo gaon area. This area is famous for producing oranges, cardamom etc. You may take a walk in the village among the gardens for an authentic experience of non-touristic Mirik. Most experiential travellers also prefer to stay in this area where a number of homestays have developed with good infrastructure.

Weather

The climate of Mirik is very pleasant and the temperature rarely crosses 30 degrees during the summers. Winters are cold but the temperature never goes below freezing point. During summer light woollen is required and winters require heavy woolen. Evenings are always cold even though during summer daytime you may go out comfortably in cotton shirts. The rainy season is quite heavy here but the area is less prone to landslides compared to some other destinations in the area. Carrying an Umbrella or raincoat is highly recommended as rains are not unusual even during the non-rainy season.

Accommodation

At Mirik you may either stay in the hotel or in Homestay. Most Hotels are located towards the south of Mirik Lake. The area is a little crowded with almost every building here housing a hotel unit. The major advantage of staying here is the proximity to Mirik Lake as well as getting and meeting other tourists. Vehicles for going to other places are also easily available in this area. If you want to book a hotel in this area, fill up the form on this page and our helpdesk executives of HURMO TOURS will suggest a hotel according to your preference. Note that luxury hotels are not available in Mirik town.

For tourists looking for a little seclusion or a better travel experience, the homestays in the Pahilo gaon area are a much better option. We highly recommend Humro Home Mirik which is about 2 km from Mirik Bazar and one of the first accommodations in the area. You may read more about Humro Home Mirik in the link here.

The Homestays of the area offer excellent hospitality with a personal touch. The comfort level is also quite comparable to a good hotel. It is easier to organize special interest activities such as Birding, Trekking, Angling etc from these homestays.