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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Trekking to Sillery Gaon from Echey Gaon |
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| Jungle Trek |
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| Trek to Ramitey View Point |
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| Art by God Found in the jungle |
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| Thrilling Trekking in dense Echey Forest |
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| Damaidana (red) and Basak (blue) plant |
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| Ranges from Ramitey View Point |
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| 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.
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| Return to Echey Gaon |
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| Our Captain DK |
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| Pine Forest |
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| Approaching Sillery Gaon from Ramitey |
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| Sillery Gaon |
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| Sunset from Echey Gaon |
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| Echey Forest |
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| Snake Lily at Echey Forest |
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| 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.
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| Enjoying Bonfire on X-mas Day |
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| DANCE, DANCE, DANCE.............. |
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| Hari Dada, an hidden talent |
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| 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.
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| DK with his Sister, Mother & Wife |
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| DK's sister dancing with Nepalese Folk
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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.
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| DK's son with GrandMa |
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| New Cottage of Khawas Home Stay |
