Ravangla

Temi Tea Garden || Ralang Monasteries || Okhrey || Mangbrue Gompa & view point || Menam (10,800 feet) || Bonn Monastery || Kewzing || Kheunpheling Carpet center / || Simon and Hongri || Uttarey || Varsey Trek || Tumlong || Samdruptse / Ngadak & Ahalay || Rayong Sunrise View Point || Tourist Places around Ravangla ||

Ravangla

General Introduction – Nearly 134 kilometers from Siliguri, 64 kilometers from Gangtok, nearly 55 kilometers from Pelling and 40 kilometers from Namchi, this small settlement of Ravangla is half way between Gangtok to Yuksom route. It is surrounded by hills with forest cover and one can view the Himalayan range from here. It has pleasant climate with breathtaking and panoramic views of the Himalayan range including mount kachanjunga, mount Pandim, mount Siniolchu, mount Kabru, etc.  It is an ideal place for short treks, bird watching and leisure holiday. There are villages of either the Bhutia or of Lepcha settlement. These people are religious minded, god fearing, warm and with nice manners. It is a perfect destination with natural diversity. Caves, exotic flora, fauna and the majestic snow peaked mountains makes a unique settings. Other attraction is waterfalls, picturesque tea gardens, old monasteries and hotspot for tourist. Bird watching and leisure holidays are two of the finest monastery. Bonn Monastery, Ralong Monastery, old historical market of Kewzing are some of the major attractions which are worth visiting. Sikkim has one and only one tea estate called Temi tea estate, a beautiful tea garden of the state producing quality tea. Ravangla is a perfect destination for Home stay. There are so many options like cave exploration, soft treks, waterfalls, tea gardens, quaint villages are some of the attractions of the region. Kewzing, Bonn Monastery, Ralong Monastery, Borong Hot springs, Maenam Peak are nearby. Some of the nearby monastery are Kewzing Monastery 5 kilometers from Ravangla.Yangyang Monastery 10 kilometers from Ravangla, Tashiding Monastery 39 kilometers from Ravangla and Namchi monastery are also worth visiting.  There is a nice trek route through three of the finest monastery for a couple of days starting from Rabangla - Trek Tashiding - 14 kilometers - 3 to 4 hours - Trek or drive up to Simon Monastery - Trek Hongri Monastery - 5 to 6 hours - Hongri Monastery trek to Yuksom for -  9 kilometers - 5 to 6 hours.

There is another interesting trek nearby from Ravangla. One has to travel to Jorethang, Sombari, Hilley, Uttaray and Varsey. The route is scenic and the trek is moderate. It is best done in March - April or October – November. The visit to Ugen Thon Meon Ling monastery is worth it. From Jorethang there is a route to Gorkhey – Ribdi or Rimbik – Ramam – Maneybhanjan – Darjeeling or Mirik in West Bengal. Or from Gorkhey - Falut - Sandakphu etc all these places are in West Bengal.

Places of Tourist Interest

• Rayong Sunrise View Point
• Temi Tea Garden
• Ralang Monasteries
• Borong Cha - chu
• Okhrey
• Ralang hot spring
• Mangbrue Gompa & view point
• Menam (10,800 feet)
• Tashiding Monastery
• Tendong
• Bonn Monastery
• Kewzing
• Kheunpheling Carpet center
• Namchi
• Tashiding
• Simon  and  Hongri
• Yuksom Trek
• Uttarey Trek
• Varsey Trek
• Tumlong

Connectivity 

Airways – Gangtok and Pelling has the nearest helipads served by Helicopter, but helicopter has to be chartered. Nearest and major airport from Ravangla is Bagdogra Airport (IXB) nearly 135 kilometers and is 4 hours drive from Ravangla via Jorethang. Bagdogra airport is served by regular Indian, Spice jet, Kingfisher, and Jet Airways flights from Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi.

Railways– The nearest and major railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is nearly 110 kilometers away and is 4 ½ hours drive. New Jalpaiguri station is well connected with the rest of India. There is regular train service to Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Jaipur, Bangalore, Chennai, etc are available from there. NJP is well connected to the rest of India.

Roadways– Roads are good and the vast network of road in Sikkim is well connected with the rest of the destinations of the region. Gangtok is nearly 65 kilometers away from Ravangla. Approximately 70 kilometers from Kalimpong and 90 kilometers from Darjeeling, Ravangla is ideally located in West Sikkim and close to Pelling (55 Kilometers), 90 kilometers from Yuksom and nearly 40 kilometers from Namchi. The roads are picturesque. Private vehicle ply at regular interval to all the tourist destinations but it is advisable to hire a vehicle.. 

Tags: Ravangls, Hongri Monastery, Tashiding, Simon Monastery, Jorethang, Sombari, Hilley, Uttaray, Varsey, Uttaray, Gorkhey – Ribdi or Rimbik, Borong, Ralang, Yuksom, Ribdi, Ramam, Namchi, Bonn Monastery, Temi Tea, Kewzing, Maenem, Tendong, Mangbrue, Hill