Darjeeling is bestowed with several peacefully settled areas and villages. Chatakpur is a tiny tranquil eco-village perched at an elevation of 7887 ft inside the Senchal Reserve Forest. This village is sparsely populated and tucked gently on a hilltop above the quaint Sonada town. 

This lush green mountain village with the backdrop of the stunning Himalayan range makes the perfect destination for visitors to rest and relax. There are a total of 20 houses in the village out of which 19 have been turned into homestays, with 2-3 rooms for guests. Chatakpur offers several activities to indulge such as hiking, cycling, bird watching, village and jungle walk, short treks, organic farming, and night jeep safaris. 

Homestays at Chatakpur Village, Darjeeling 

Since Chatakpur falls within the wildlife sanctuary, the locals wanted to make the village an eco-village and invite eco-tourism in their locality; that is how it all started.

There are plenty of rare and common Himalayan birds in this area and birding can be done while hiking, jungle walks, or trekking.

“Travelers can choose whatever activity they feel like getting involved in. Some choose to try everything and some indulge in a few. But there is no one who can resist the charm and the call of this astonishing tiny village,” says Binod Rai, a tour guide in Upper Chatakpur village. 

Chatakpur Village during the winters

Hiking at Chatakpur village 

Hiking is done in and around the village, and you can come across many Himalayan medicinal plants and trees while at it. You can ask the guide for more information, who is well-versed in it.

Some of the hiking points in this area are Sunrise Point and the Viewpoint nearby. “Hiking on the hilly slopes and through the jungle while listening to the sounds of crickets can help calm any tired soul,” adds Binod.

Trekking

The starting point for trekking at Chatakpur village depends on the place of accommodation. If it’s any of the homestays in the village itself, the starting point is Chatakpur with a trek towards Mangpo in Darjeeling. This trek route is approximately 10 km and it takes around 3-3.5 hours to complete. If you choose to trek to Sonada from Chatakpur village, which is 7 km away, it takes less time. 

Another popular trekking route is from Chatakpur to Tiger Hill. “The fun does not only stop at feasting your eyes in the picturesque views of nature and trekking through jungles and offbeat trails. Some choose to set camping tents at Mangpo and Sonada and spend a night beneath a starry sky,” says Binod. However, if you don’t like camping, there are several homestays available at these places where you can spend the night.

Short treks – If you are not interested in these trekking routes, you can go for short treks from Chatakpur village at Pokhari and viewpoints nearby.

Chatakpur Village Viewpoint - a photographer's heaven.

Cycling  

For those of you who want to cycle around the village or head towards Ghoom (one of the popular cycling routes) via Dab Road, Jorebangla, Binod provides mountain bikes with the necessary equipment. Also, a tour guide is provided for cyclists. Can’t cycle? No problem—you can get a cab and enjoy the ride in and around the village or on the road to Ghoom.

Night Safari 

“Night jeep (Bolero) safari is one of the most interesting things to do here,” says Binod. The night safari starts from 7 pm to 9 pm; and a distance of 10 km is covered within the sanctuary. The tourists can spot several wild animals, and the maximum passengers at a time allowed in one vehicle are 5. 

“We get tourists mostly from Kolkata and just a few foreigners. We would be glad to welcome locals also. Whenever we get any guests, we feel really happy and try our best to give them beautiful memories,” adds Binod. 

The best time to go hiking and trekking is between October-December and cycling and other activities can be done throughout the year except for monsoon. The best season for bird watching is in March and October.

If you are someone who is interested in spending time at Chatakpur, book a trip with TourGenie.