Rishop Travel Guide
Rishop or Rishyap is located at a distance of 32 km from Kalimpong at an altitude 5591 feet above the sea level. The Himalayan hamlet is definitely one of the most stunning creations of nature and still untouched. A splendid sight of Himalayas is visible from Rishop. One can get a view of the Tin Simana, Gangtok, Nathula Pass and Kanchenjunga. It is a tranquil, small rural settlement of the Lepcha community in the mountainous landscape. During your Rishop tour, spend one night at this place to get a complete feel.
Rishop actually forms an integral part of the well-known Neora Valley at the foothills of Tiffin Dara. Although it’s a relatively new tourist destination compared to several others in the vicinity, it is still a virgin spot clothed in forests of pine, birch, fir, colorful rhododendrons and orchids with a wonderful view of the vast range of Kanchenjunga and many other Himalayan snow peaks. This is exactly what the name ‘Rishyap’ stands for – ‘Mountain Peaks and Forests’.
At night you will get amazing sights of the sparkling lights of Gangtok and the small town of Pedong. And that is all what you can expect to get there. You won’t get any city or town life. Which means no restaurants, drinks, food stores or shopping. It’s only the nature. The village is located close to Lava.
The undiluted charm of staying in a hill village among chirping birds and waking up with the view of the Majestic Kanchenjunga is the primary reason behind the popularity of Rishyap. Apart from that, a visitor can also see the Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal mountains including Zelep la from Rishyap. Nathula, the famous Into-Chinese boarder that has been opened up for trade, is also visible from here.
How to Reach Rishop
- Air— Bagdogra is the nearest airport. New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati have regular connectivity to Bagdogra. Rishop is 105 km from here. You can hire a car to reach Rishop from Bagdogra.
- Rail—New Jalpaiguri is the nearest rail head. It is well-connected with Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata. Rishop is 105 km from here. You can hire a car to reach Lolegaon from New Jalpaiguri station.
- Road—Reach Siliguri by road. Rishop is at a distance of 105 km from Siliguri and 80 km from Darjeeling.
Distance of Rishop from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Kolkata |
660 |
|
Siliguri |
105 |
|
Darjeeling |
80 |
|
Kalimpong |
32 |
|
Lava |
5 |
|
Lolegaon |
51 |
Weather
Rishop Temperature:
- Summer (Apr to Jun) — Temperatures are mild and range between (6°C) to (24°C)
- Monsoon (Jul to Sep) — Regular rainfall happens. This is not a good season for tourists
- Winter (Oct to Mar) — Temperatures are low and range between (0°C) to (18°C)
- Best Season to Visit — April to May and Oct to Dec are the best season for tourism
Places to See During Rishop Tour
Tiffin Dara is a view point for watching sunrise & sunset and about 1.5 km of uphill trek from the base of Rishop. You walk through the forests of birch, fir, pine and rhododendrons as you hear the chirping of the birds. It’s a narrow forested trail and should be avoided during the monsoon.
There are few places along the way where bamboo made benches are provided where you can take rest before you start climbing again. Likely there will be some stray mountain dogs accompanying you and showing you the way. It takes about 40 to 45 minutes trek to the top. The top is like a flat rocky platform created as a view point. On a clear day your hard work will be rewarded with a panoramic view of all the Himalayan peaks. During sunset you can see the gold capped peaks with a play of rainbow colors. Try to carry trekking stick
Other than Rishop itself, another popular settlement in Neora Valley is the small sleepy village called Kolakham which is about 20 km away from here. Near to that is the wonderful Changey waterfall which gushes down from high above. Vehicles can’t reach all the way up to the fall. You will need to walk down a narrow pathway for about 1.5 km to get to the waterfall. But once there, it’s a heavenly feel among nature and roaring sound of the spouting water
Pedong is another small village that takes around 45 min to reach by car. Main attraction of Pedong is the nearby Damsang Fort. This fort was built in 1690 and is in ruins now. Damsang was once the site of war between the Lepcha and Bhutia. Importance of Pedong is that it is the gateway to Tibet from India through Zelep La Pass
Other Details
What to Do
1. Rishop tour is a perfect one-day holiday plan. There is no city/town life here, just a small village with spectacular views of the third largest mountain peak of the world (Kanchenjunga) and its range. So expect just that – plan your vacation keeping in mind the full moon, and reach Rishop by evening. At night with limited artificial light, the hamlet looks heavenly in moonlight – almost every lodge will have an open courtyard where you can sit in open air and relax.
2. If you are lucky and there is no cloud between you and Kanchenjunga, then you are in for the most memorable visual of your life! In case you happen to be an amateur astronomer, then the clear sky of Rishop will add significantly to your experience.
3. Get up before dawn, and back to the courtyard with camera. The best chances to see the Kanchenjunga range would be in the first hour from sunrise – later on clouds may obstruct the view.
4. Have breakfast and trek to Tiffin Dara view point (2 kms uphill). Back to Rishop, have lunch and trek downhill to Lava.
Where to Eat
During Rishop tour, meals are served in the lodge (may be part of package or charged separately – confirm when booking), as there are no dedicated restaurants in the hamlet. But you won’t need one, as you get decent food in the lodges, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Packed food like soft drinks, chips, biscuits etc. is also available in the lodges.
What to Buy
During Rishop tour, tourists won’t get much option that you can buy as a souvenir
Get Around
Hired cars are best options for getting around during your Rishop tour. If you are fond of walking, you can trek along
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