Rongo - This small settlement is situated on top of a hill at an altitude of 4500 feet near Bhutan boarder. It was earlier the headquarter of Cinchona Plantation under Kalimpong subdivision. A tiny hamlet with a market, post office and few houses. Rongo used to be a significant place for Cinchona plantation and growing medicinal plants. Now Cinchona plantation is gradually giving way to rubber plantation. Rongo offers fine  views of adjoining hills, dense forests and river valley of Jaldhaka. One can reach from Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station viar Siliguri along national highway 31 i.e. Dooars crossing Chalsa and turning left at Khunia More via Chapramari, Sepchu, Gairibas. From Gairibas an uneven motorable road turns towards left to Rongo nearly 7 kilometres to Rongo. It is one of the doorway to the Neora Valley National Park. The destination offers bird’s eye view of a vast plains of Dooars with tea gardens and forests.One of the popular trek in the Neora Valley Park begins from Mouchuki to Rechela - uppermost point of the Park. The most daring trek in North Bengal takes at least three days to Rechela through Bhotegarh and Thusum covering the dense forest and end up in Pedong or Lava.

 

 

Parren - It is a sleepy village on the edge of Neora Valley National Park. Known for its landscape and scenic beauty with few cottages surrounded by hills and forest. This village have orange plantation is one of the destinations mainly because of the passive and beautiful range of Himalaya on one side of the road and Bhutan hills on the other side. It is one of the doorway to the Neora Valley National Park. The destination offers bird’s eye view of a vast plains of Dooars with tea gardens and forests. One of the popular trek in the Neora Valley Park begins from Parren via Today to Rechela - uppermost point of the Park. The most daring trek in North Bengal takes at least three days to Rechela through Bhotegarh and Thusum covering the dense forest and end up in Pedong or Lava.One can reach from Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station viar Siliguri along national highway 31 i.e. Dooars crossing Chalsa and turning left at Khunia More via Chapramari, Sepchu, Gairibas. Parren does not feature as one of the popular tourist destinations of North Bengal but the natural beauty and the hospitality of the local people draws many a travel enthusiasts to this lesser known hill station.

 

 

Todey - This is a small hamlet consisting of few huts close to Parren and Bindu. It is situated nearly 18 kilometres from Parren. Road is motorable with four wheel drive. Situated in the forested area and is a village of Tamang Community. The place is known for its serene landscape and orange and cardamom plantation. It is a place for people who are interested with offbeat location and bit of trekking. It is a nice place for birding . One can spot birds like Eurasian Wryneck, Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper, Hodgson's Redstart, Slaty - backed Forktail, Little Forktail, Rufous - necked Laughing thrush are some of the recorded species found here. One can start the popular trek in the Neora Valley Park starting from either Parren via Today to Rechela or from Todey. One can reach from Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station viar Siliguri along national highway 31 i.e. Dooars crossing Chalsa and turning left at Khunia More via Chapramari, Sepchu, Gairibas. Today does not feature as one of the popular tourist destinations of North Bengal but the natural beauty and the hospitality of the local people draws many a travel enthusiasts to this lesser known hill station.

 

Tags: Rongo, Parren, Todey, Tangtey, Dooars off beat places