Mirik is a famous hill station in West Bengal, a small town in the Darjeeling district with an altitude of 1767m above sea level. This hill station is 49 kilometers from Darjeeling and 55 kilometers from Siliguri. Mirik Bazaar was a commercial area for people from neighboring villages and tea estates, and they came here to trade and buy their needy items. Present-day Mirik Garden was a playground for British officers who came here to play polo. The development of this area was started in 1974 under the ministry of Siddhartha Shankar Ray. In this guide, we will give you an overview of the attractions and beauty aspects of the hill station and list the top 15 places to visit near Mirik. Plan your next trip to this beautiful landscape with Salam Travellers.
| Key | Value |
| Location | Mirik, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India |
| Elevation | 1,495 m (4,905 ft) |
| Population (2011) | Town: 11,363; Metro: 58,000 |
| Languages | Official: Nepali, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Darjeeling |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Kurseong |
[Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirik]
Why is Mirik famous?
The town is famous among tourists due to its green landscapes, tea estates, cardamom and orange plantations, and boating facilities. You can view the town’s scenic beauty and enjoy trekking on tracks in Mirik, surrounded by green trees. Mirik is also known for its pleasant climate, making it a popular summer retreat for people seeking respite from the heat. Additionally, the town is home to the Sumendu Lake, a major attraction where visitors can indulge in boating and enjoy picturesque views of the surrounding hills. Here are the top 15 places to visit near Mirik:
1. Rameetay Dhara
Rameetay Dhara is nestled in the Gitingy Tea Garden of West Bengal, 1.68km from Tindharia railway station and within walking distance from Sumendu Lake. The weather in this place is quite pleasant, as it reaches a peak of 30°C in the summer and falls to 0°C during the winter.
This place gives a panoramic view of the Himalayan hills, Kanchenjunga, and the valley. Snow-covered mountains have captivating views to see. People come to enjoy the beauty of this place, which becomes double at sunrise and sunset moments.
2. The Mirik Lake
Mirik Lake is also called Sumendu Lake and is within walking distance of the main Mirik town. This lake has a calm environment and is a great picnic spot where you can enjoy it with your family and friends in a pollution-free environment. This place is famous due to its beauty and is 1.25 kilometers long. This place has pine trees and snow-covered mountains on one side, and on the other side, it has green ground.
Both places are joined by a 60-foot bridge built at this lake for tourists to walk and enjoy its beauty. This bridge is called the Indreni Pull. You can enjoy horseback riding on the grounds of the lake. The boating facility is also easily accessible at this lake. The lake is so beautiful that you can’t get bored even after spending the whole day there. And that is the reason its on top of my list of 15 Places to Visit Near Mirik.
3. Pashupati Nagar
Pashupati Bazaar is a busy bazaar in Pashupati Nagar, 15km from Mirik and 29km from Darjeeling. This market is located on the Nepal border, and due to having a borderline, there is strict checking at security checkpoints. This market is famous due to its electronic gadgets that are imported and available at cheap prices.
Moreover, visitors can also buy different products from this market according to their needs, such as woolen caps and other woolen clothes, jackets, perfumes, cosmetics, gloves, socks, footwear, and other household items. The products are imported from Thailand. The Pashupati market opens from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. the whole week and remains closed on Sunday.
4. Orange Orchards
An orange orchard is the most significant plantation of oranges and is spread all around cities. This is an off-beat place in Mirik, and you can enjoy its beauty in a pollution-free, pristine environment. The best time to visit orange orchards is when they are in full bloom. At this time, these oranges look lit with orange bulbs, and visitors can capture beautiful pictures in the background of trees full of oranges.
5. Bunkulung
The place is 1- or 1.5-hours’ drive from Bagdogra and 18 km from Mirik. This is another off-beat attraction for tourists, and they have many reasons to visit. One of the main reasons is its easy accessibility. People who came from Kolkata and who are living in Siliguri villages came to enjoy the pristine beauty of this place.
6. Boker Monastery
Boker Monastery is a Buddhist monastery that depicts Chinese architecture. This place is 1km from Mirik Lake and just 2km from the Mirik bus stop. It is one of the biggest monasteries in India and a religious place for Buddhist visitors. To learn about Bodh Dharma, this place is ideal and has natural beauty. Due to its location on the tip of the hill, scenes of sunset and sunrise can be enjoyed at this monastery.
7. Kurseong
An orange orchard is the most significant plantation of oranges and is spread all around cities. This is an off-beat place in Mirik, and you can enjoy its beauty in a pollution-free, pristine environment. The best time to visit orange orchards is when they are in full bloom. At this time, these oranges look lit with orange bulbs, and visitors can capture beautiful pictures in the background of trees full of oranges.
5. Bunkulung
The place is 1- or 1.5-hours’ drive from Bagdogra and 18 km from Mirik. This is another off-beat attraction for tourists, and they have many reasons to visit. One of the main reasons is its easy accessibility. People who came from Kolkata and who are living in Siliguri villages came to enjoy the pristine beauty of this place.
6. Boker Monastery
Boker Monastery is a Buddhist monastery that depicts Chinese architecture. This place is 1km from Mirik Lake and just 2km from the Mirik bus stop. It is one of the biggest monasteries in India and a religious place for Buddhist visitors. To learn about Bodh Dharma, this place is ideal and has natural beauty. Due to its location on the tip of the hill, scenes of sunset and sunrise can be enjoyed at this monastery.
7. Kurseong
Kurseong is essential due to the Himalayan hills and mountains. Desai Festival, Makar Sankranti, and Christmas are the main attractive festivals. October to February are moderate months to visit this place, as mountains receive snowfall in the evening and you can enjoy chilly winter evenings. Talking about natural walks, clicking photographs of beautiful surroundings, and playing in the snow are the activities to get involved in.
Also Read: How To Plan Sikkim Trip, Three Days From Patna
8. Neora Valley National Park
Another great place on my top 15 Places to Visit Near Mirik list is the Neora National Park. The Himalayan hills and forests are famous for their rich flora and fauna. Neora National Park in Kalimpong, Darjeeling district, is one of the most significant biological zones in the Northeast. You can go sightseeing in Red Panda National Park. It has diverse flora and fauna in the forest.
The forest is so rich in growth that sun rays can hardly touch the ground, and most of its area is still unexplored. Trekking enthusiasts come to the park to explore its unknown zones. Wild orchids blooming have splendid colors; their patterns can hypnotize visitors with their beauty. The park opens from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. the whole week, but on Sunday, its closing time is noon.
9. Singlilla National Park
Situated on Singlilla Ridge at the Indo-Nepalan border and at an elevation of 2300m above sea level, this park is also one of the most famous tourist spots. Due to having Himalayan forests on its premises, the park is a habitat for many mammals, such as barking deer, yellow martens, loaded leopards, and black panthers. Sandakphu Top, the highest peak in West Bengal and the world’s third-highest peak, is also in this park. This park is open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
10. Tingling Viewpoint
Situated on Singlilla Ridge at the Indo-Nepalan border and at an elevation of 2300m above sea level, this park is also one of the most famous tourist spots. Due to having Himalayan forests on its premises, the park is a habitat for many mammals, such as barking deer, yellow martens, loaded leopards, and black panthers. Sandakphu Top, the highest peak in West Bengal and the world’s third-highest peak, is also in this park. This park is open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
10. Tingling Viewpoint
The tingling viewpoint is 9 km from Mirik, and visitors can quickly get access by hiring a cab. This is a beautiful and popular spot to visit, and its name is tingling due to its location. Three tea gardens surround the attraction, and Sourenee village is on one side. Due to its greenery and mesmerizing beauty, the place is one of the best tourist attractions. This place is also known as Kawlay Dara. From it, the viewpoints of Mirik Lake, Mirik Valley, and tea gardens can be observed.
Tea gardens have a green beauty with a beautiful contrast of white snow and blue sky. The place has a pleasant atmosphere, and you can click on beautiful photographs with rich beauty as a background. This place also has stalls where visitors can buy packaged tea from Sourenee Tea Estate. A small eatery canteen is also available here to enjoy some snacks with tea. Visitation hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
11. Don Bosco Church
Don Bosco Church is another popular place and famous among devotees. This church is 1.5 km from Mirik bus stand and 5.5 km from Kurseong railway station. This beautiful Roman Catholic Church is beside Don Bosco School in Mirik. The church is an attractive place due to its beauty and is one of the most famous religious spots.
Architectural beauty is the main reason to visit this church; it can be seen anywhere in Mirik. This carved shrine is sacred for devotees and is nestled in beautiful surroundings. In front of the church, a garden is also established, with beautiful flowers and various plants. This garden enhances the church’s and other architecture’s beauty and is also well-maintained by church management. You can visit this church from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
12. Azalea Waterfall, Kharbani
Kharbani is a settlement in the Mirik sector, and Azalea waterfall is a top off-beat tourist attraction in Kharbani. This waterfall is 42.6km from the Siliguri junction, and to reach it by air, Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport. This place could be more famous, but it is beautiful. You will get lost in the beauty of this place, as dense forests surround it and there are many herbs and shrubs that have medicinal effects.
Visitors come to this waterfall to enjoy it with friends and family, and due to the lack of visitors, its surroundings are still unpolluted. Green trees surround its 3.5km trek, and reaching this waterfall takes 1 to 2 hours. People also love to bathe in this waterfall because the water is clean, and they dip in it to forget all their worries.
13. Manju Park
Manjushree Park is under the Mirik tourism center and is a popular picnic destination. Twister Park is the best place to get a break from the hectic routine of city life. The park is also suitable for children, as it has ample space to play. The lush green gardens and rare vegetation enhance the park’s natural beauty.
14. Kalej valley
Kalej Valley is also a beautiful tea tourism attraction in West Bengal. Visitors can also visit the tea factory on one side of the valley. The British gave the valley the name Kalej Valley due to a bird that lives in this valley, the Kaliz Pheasant. Apart from that, this valley is also a habitat for other birds such as Rufous Sibia, White Browed Shrike Babbler, Himalayan Bulbul, Great Barbet, Drongo Emerson Gear, White Capped Water Red Start, and many others. This valley is a paradise for bird lovers. Its divine nature attracts tourists, and it has everything on this earth.
15. Rainbow Waterfall
Rainbow Waterfall is just 2km from Kalej Valley, a pristine waterfall estate surrounded by deep forests. As depicted by the name, the great attraction of this waterfall is the formation of the rainbow at the falling point of a waterfall in Mandir Gaon village. This is the most stunning waterfall in West Bengal. You can click photographs at this spot, and the waterfall route is also interesting for trekkers, as they can take the trekking option to reach here. One unique feature of this waterfall is that its water is so pure and clear. It is suitable for drinking.
How many days are enough to visit Mirik?
Two nights and three days are enough to explore the beauty of Mirik. As you reach here, the winding roads with drop-back views of mountains and green hills will give you a memorable experience for visiting this town.
What is the highest peak of Mirik?
Mirik has an elevation of 4905 feet above sea level and many top hill points that present beautiful views of Kanchenjunga Peak. Boker Monastery is the highest hill point in Mirik and has 5801 feet of elevation.
Also read: Top 10 Things to Do in North Sikkim
What is the meaning of Mirik?
Mirik’s word is pronounced as Mir-Yok, meaning a hill station burned in the fire. Due to its divine beauty and snow-covered mountains, Mirik is also called the second Kashmir in India.
What is the name of the Mirik Tea Garden?
Gopal Dhara tea estate is in the CD block of Mirik. You can see the workers the whole year, working to pick ripe leaves of tea or watering the bushes.
Who made Mirik Lake?
Mirik Lake is an artificial lake that the West Bengal government built in the 1970s. The purpose of developing this lake was to make Mirik attractive to tourists.
Get ready for an awesome summer retreat in the Himalayas.
Mirik is a beautiful town to visit, and it is known as the second Kashmir in India due to its pristine beauty and natural landscapes. Here, you can enjoy abundant natural beauty and indulge in various activities like trekking, boating, and horseback riding. The off-beat places will give you enough time to spend in nature’s company. You can also buy imported souvenirs during your trip. So, pack your luggage and get ready to explore all these 15 places to visit near Mirik and the rich flora and fauna of forests on the Himalayan hills. Mirik town is the best place to escape natural beauty and enjoy a picnic with the family.
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