ECHEY GAON, an Organic Village Tourism spot, about 15 km. from Kalimpong at a height of 5,800 ft. is emerging as a new destination for nature-lovers who want to spend few days in the lap of Himalaya. A truly village atmosphere with panaromic view of mountains with the cheerful simple village people. Kanchenjunga range could be seen clearly from dawn to dusk from here. From NJP station it will take 3 hours to reach ECHEY GAON (ICHEY GAON) by a car, in Kalimpong-Ramdura-Rangpo route. Temperature in winter varies from 2 - 8 degree celsius.
 |
| KHAWAS HOME STAY owned by Mr. D.K. Khawas |
Accommodation is available at Echey Gaon on Home Stay basis. Few home stays have been set up among those Khawas Home Stay is the best one. Mr. D.K. Khawas, alias DK, Mob no.8670242128 may be contacted for Khawas Home Stay. Very much warm and homely reception we have got while we stayed there during 23rd to 26th December, 2012. Window View of Kanchenjunga from Khawas Home Stay is a main attraction. Spending 2/3 days in the landscaped beautiful village in the midst of lush green mountains and forests recharges our mind. Twinkling of lights in the hills of Darjeeling, Ravangla, Sikkim is viewed from the home stay in the evening.
 | |
|
 |
| Village Home |
Sillery Gaon is just at the other side of Echey Gaon separated by a hill. A thrilling and enjoyable jungle trek of about 2.5 km. through Echey Forest reaches Sillery Gaon touching Ramitey View Point, from where entire range of peaks and several bends of River Teesta can be seen. Many beautiful known and unknown flowers and plants attracts one's attention.
 |
| Trekking to Sillery Gaon from Echey Gaon |
 |
| Jungle Trek |
 |
| Trek to Ramitey View Point |
 |
| Art by God Found in the jungle |
 |
| Thrilling Trekking in dense Echey Forest |
 |
| Damaidana (red) and Basak (blue) plant |
 |
| Ranges from Ramitey View Point |
 |
| Teesta from Ramitey View Point |
Reaching Sillery Gaon we took a cup of tea with snacks in the cottage of Renu Didi. Now it's time to return to Echey Gaon. We started for return to Echey through the jungle path other than that we came. D.K. Khawas (DK) was our captain. We walked through dense bush, narrow jungles, ups and downs, pine forest, in this trek of abour 5 hours. Novice can enjoy this walk and also get inspiration for trekking.
 |
| Return to Echey Gaon |
 |
| Our Captain DK |
 |
| Pine Forest |
 |
| Approaching Sillery Gaon from Ramitey |
 |
| Sillery Gaon |
 |
| Sunset from Echey Gaon |
 |
| Echey Forest |
 |
| Snake Lily at Echey Forest |
 |
| Simple Living of Village People |
On 25th December Mr. DK arranged a X-mas party with Bonfire where his family members, neighbours and other tourists participated. That evening is very memorable to us and we enjoyed it with nepalese folk songs and dance. The villagers are very much pleasing for their simplicity with smiling face always. Their hospitality could never be compared with.
 | |
|
 |
| Enjoying Bonfire on X-mas Day |
 |
| DANCE, DANCE, DANCE.............. |
 |
| Hari Dada, an hidden talent |
 |
| Dance by Hari Dada |
Hari Dada, a man of hidden talent and right hand to DK, also entertained us by evergreen hindi film songs of Kishore Kumar, Md. Rafi, Mukesh and others and Nepalese songs. Never miss his performance of songs and dance.
 |
| DK with his Sister, Mother & Wife |
 |
| DK's sister dancing with Nepalese Folk
|
Day after the beautiful bonfire, ie. on 26th we left with a sweet memories of Echey Gaon departing warm hospitality of DKs family and his neighbours. All the family members bid farewell to from the top by waving their hands as we were approaching downwards where our car was kept for us. Mr. DK accompanied us upto our next destination Reshi Khola.
 |
| DK's son with GrandMa |
 |
| New Cottage of Khawas Home Stay |
In March what will be weather there?
ReplyDeleteit will be fine, sunny weather there.
Deletehow will be the weather in mid-oct ?????
ReplyDeletesir,i have send u a mail,pl chk and reply me,if u feel like.
debasish sengupta
9433573030
Normally weather in this area remains fine with clear sky and not much cold in mid-October. You will enjoy with good weather at the end of rains in hills. The road to Echey Gaon from Kalimpong is not so much steep and no such remarkable hairpin bends is there. From NJP it takes 3 to 3 and half hours to reach Echey Gaon. If your son has vomiting tendency my suggestion is to keep medicine after consulting with a doctor. Otherwise the journey is very pleasant and hope you will enjoy the new conception of Village Tourism at Echey Gaon.
DeleteCongratulation Soumen Jee for Village Tourism
ReplyDeleteKeep continue
MY PLEASURE.
DeleteIt was nice reading your review. We are planning for a short tour this winter, five of us friends. It would be really helpful if you could kindly tell me the rates of the homestays available over there. Thanks in advance, Sir.
ReplyDeleteThanks for going through my blog which makes you interested for this place. The rate of homestay was Rs.600 per head per day in last December. You may talk to Mr. DK over phone to know availability of accommodation and also current rates of homestay whether there is any change or not.
DeleteHope your trip to Echey Gaon will be delightful and you will enjoy a perfect Village Tourism in Hill.
Thanks a lot, Sir. I too am looking forward to a wonderful experience. Will feel free to ask you anything if required. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteDear Soumen,
ReplyDeleteWish you a very warm & prosperous Happy Diwali.
We, a group of 6 friends are planning to travel Ichhe Gaon, sillery gaon, Rishikhola, Rishop from 28 Dec,2013 to 3 Jan,2014.
The blog site http://echeygaon.blogspot.in/ is very useful & informative. I have contacted Mr. D K Khawas over the phone & he told me he can arrange our accommodation on that time time period if we transfer some amount of money in his bank account. So can you please clarify some of our doubts like:
1. Is it really necessary to book accommodation in advance for those places?
2. Shall we trust Mr. Khawas & transfer some amount of money in advance as he asked?
Please suggest.
Regards,
Kaushik
Cell: 09836830609
Kolkata
Dear Kaushik,
ReplyDeleteFeeling very much excited knowing your trip during last week of
december b'coz last year we went to Echey Gaon during this period and
enjoyed very much in the cold. You have to book accommodation in
advance as these places are getting popularity day by day. Moreover
these places are in the Silk Route tourism and a large number of
tourist travel in the silk route during winter. we had also booked
accommodation 3/4 months ago and we also transferred a token amount as
advance in the bank account given by Mr. DK.
You may refer me to Mr. DK. DK and his family is very much simple and
their warmth hospitality makes your stay more charming .
Thanx
Soumen
Thank you sir for making our place remarkable and famous. i am very glad and happy to see our hometown in net/website it is something like a dream coming true and ya there has been lot of change in our society because of tourism and good people like you come and stay and leave us a remarkable footsteps and we hope to give more happiness,good service to all the visitors who enters the hill stations of west bengal.
ReplyDeleteThank you for going through my blog. Truly say I fall in love with Echey Gaon for its beauty, nature, people with their hospitality. Again on 26th April this year I went there on the way back from Sandakfu-Falut trip and stayed at DK's homestay (Khawas Home Stay). This time I enjoyed rain in hills on 27th April. It was very charming with the movement of clouds surrounding me.
DeleteBy the by, may I know, do you resides at Echey Village, near DK's homestay ?
I wish I will go again there and stay there for more days in the village atmosphere.
Thanks
no actually i dont belong to that place but i had been and spent many days in Echey Gaon during my childhood days, so when i saw ur blog it just recall my sweet memories... and im from Kagay its 20km from Echey Gaon
DeleteThank u very much for such a beautiful and helpful description of your trip... Can you please tell me about the temperature of that place in the first week of October....
ReplyDeleteVery much glad to know that you have gone through my blog and it is helpful to you. I went Echey Gaon during Christmas holiday in 2012 and we got fine weather with clear sky. Temperature was 7-8 degree Celsius in daytime and 4-5 degree in the evening. I think in the first week of October it will be 14-15 degree and 7-8 degree in daytime and evening respectively and overall weather will be fine and enjoyable.
Delete