Dawaipani whistle stop-sound of silence
Dawaipani (দাবাইপানি) is small Himalayan village under mesmerizing Darjeeling district in West Bengal. The village is situated on the opposite hill of Darjeeling town, the queen of hills. It is located about 15 km away from Darjeeling town by road. It is emplaced at an altitude of 6,500 ft, surrounded by thick Himalayan forests.
Nearest junction is Jor-bungalow, just 7 km away from this beautiful destination. The place where one can take the breath on the lap of nature; this village consists of only a few houses. This village is a paradise for bird lovers; bird watching is one of the best activities in Dawaipani.
This tiny hamlet offers you a breathtaking view of Mt. Kanchenjunga (Sleeping Buddha), and clear view of Namchi, West Sikkim (Chardham or Samdruptse), and spectacular view of Darjeeling town. At night in the clear sky Darjeeling town looks like millions of stars in the galaxy.
Dawaipani meaning in local language is Medicated (Dawai) water (Pani), the name derived from the local river (Khola) which passes through the village at the bottom of the hill. This village is surrounded by few renowned tea estates like Glenburn Tea estate, Lamahatta Tea estate, Takdah Tea estate and lush green pine trees.
How to reach Dawaipani
From NJP or Siliguri, it is about 70-75 km. From Bagdogra airport, the distance is 78 km. One can reach here either through the NH 10 (Bengal – Sikkim Highway) or NH 110 (Siliguri – Darjeeling highway).
If you follow NH10 route, then you have to come to Teesta bazaar and then take uphill Peshok road to reach a road crossing close to 6th Mile crossing. If you want to go via the NH110 route, then you have to go to the Peshok road from Jorebungalow and reach the same road crossing. From the road crossing, you have to move north for a few kilometers to reach the village.
Special attractions of Dawaipani
This place is a haven for trekkers and hikers. Even photographers and birdwatchers have a blast as the forests provide natural cover and are home to a large variety of birds. It is a pleasure to get acquainted with Himalayan birds that dwell only in the high altitudes and cannot be seen in the plains.
Sightseeing of Dawaipani
The village is surrounding by a few renowned tea estates like Glenburn Tea estate, Lamahatta Tea estate and Takdah Tea estate. A visit to any of these tea estates can be a rewarding experience. It offers the best opportunity to see the tea being picked and processed and to try fresh tea straight from the gardens. The area is blessed with the natural beauty of winding lanes, misty hills, and forests full of exotic plants and wildlife.
Darjeeling town is just an hour away. A day-long trip can be arranged to visit the Queen of Hill stations for some sight-seeing, dining or shopping. Dawaipani is also close to a few other popular hill stations including Lamhatta, Sittong and Kalimpong.
Time to visit at Dawaipani
Dawaipani is situated at a high altitude. It has a cool climate all-round the year. The monsoons are treacherous here as Dawaipani receives very heavy rainfall in the months of July and August. So, except for these months, you can plan your visit any time of the year. One warning: Do not forget to brace yourself with heavy woolens while visiting Dawaipani.
Dawaipani Vlog by Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya
Professor Somnath Bhattacharyya teaches in The Heritage Academy, computer science department. He is a nature lover and poet. Prof. SB loves to capture moments as a vlogger. He is from Burdwan, West Bengal, India
Very informative video. It’s very beneficial.
Thank you so much.
Rajesh Mitra
lovely experience
Asadharon laglo, anekbar Darjeeling gechi, majhe majhemajhei jai kintu ebar abossoi Dawaipani jabo, lekha, chobi r video sobtai khub akorshoniyo, anek dhonyobad Sri Somnath Bhattacharyya ar Sri parichay Chakraborti ke , khub bhalo laglo?
Jabar ichha roilo
want to go Dawaipani once.
Thank you ‘clickstory’ for giving the opportunity to share my experience here
Thank you Professor. We want to see your vlog more n more.