Lava sits at roughly 2,200 m in the Kalimpong hills, about 30 km from Kalimpong town, and feels like a different country from the plains below. Pine and broadleaf forest closes in on the road, mist drifts through the small bazaar, and winters are cold enough that this is one of the few places in West Bengal to see snow. It is best known as the gateway to Neora Valley National Park, an 88 sq km reserve famed for red pandas and birds.
The village itself is small. Its centre of gravity is Kagyu Thekchen Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery opened in 1990, and a forest compound with the Forest Department's range office, where permits for the national park are issued. Beyond Lava, a ring of forest villages carries most of the sightseeing: Kolakham and Changey Falls on one side, Rishop and Tiffin Dara on another, and Loleygaon with its canopy walk further off.
Lava rewards a slow plan. Two nights is the sensible minimum, three or more if you want to bird or trek. Cloud and rain control what you will see, so build in slack and do not promise anyone the mountains. For older travellers the main challenges are cold, altitude and rough roads, which a good jeep driver and a warm layer solve better than any amount of planning.
Before you plan
Lava at a glance
- Best months
- October to April for clear viewsOctober to April for clear views; December to March is best for birds. Mid-June to September is monsoon, with leeches, slides and park closures.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 nights minimum2 nights minimum; 3 or more for birding or trekking
- Airport
- BagdograBagdogra (IXB), about 110 km away; Pakyong (IXP) in Sikkim is about 75–80 km by Wikipedia's figures
- Railway station
- New JalpaiguriNew Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the main railhead; Malbazar Junction is about 58 km away
- Getting around
- Jeeps and shared taxis from Lava and…Jeeps and shared taxis from Lava and Kalimpong; a high-clearance jeep is needed for Kolakham and Changey Falls
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹2,500–₹6,000 per person per…Roughly ₹2,500–₹6,000 per person per day including a simple stay, meals and jeeps; eco-camps cost more
- Senior comfort
- Challenging: altitudeChallenging: altitude, cold, rough roads and slopes; the monastery and village are easy, forest sights are not
- Language
- Nepali, Lepcha, Tibetan and Bengali…Nepali, Lepcha, Tibetan and Bengali locally; Hindi and English understood by hosts and guides
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Lava: January, October, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Lava itinerary
One good day
1 day in Lava
Start early at the forest range office to ask about permits and access, then spend an hour at Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery. Take a jeep to Kolakham for views and a village walk, and, if you are fit and the road is dry, go on to Changey Falls. Return to Lava by late afternoon, since the roads are rough and light fades early.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Lava
Arrive, visit the monastery and the forest office, and walk around the village. Take an easy forest stroll and have dinner at your stay, since restaurants are few.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Lava
Settle in, visit Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery, and ask at the forest office about permit hours for the next day.
Day-by-day plan →
