TABAKOSHI, MIRIK, – 58 KMS FROM SILIGURI

• Weekend Tour

Tabakoshi is located beside the warbling and meandering Rangbhang River at the foothills where Sagmaru Tea Garden and Gopaldhara Tea Garden meet. This fairy tale village resort decked with all modern facilities exudes the charms of a rustic stay. A path from the resort leads to the rocky riverbed through the orange orchards and disappears into the tea gardens and forests in the distance. Riverside trekking over boulders followed by a dip into the chilly waters of the Rangbhang River would embalm your tired soul and inspire you to start afresh.

Places to see in Tabakoshi: The first thing that comes to sight, when you reach Tabakoshi is a nature park, the Shiva temple on the banks of the Rangbhang River and the old bridge over it. The Rangbhang River crashes with the boulders in every turn and snakes through the tea gardens, orange orchards and valleys here.

Nearby attractions of Tabakoshi: The famous Sumendu Lake also known as Mirik Lake is around 06 kms from Tabakoshi. The Bokar Monastery in Mirik, and all the attractions in and around Mirik like Devi Sthan, the temple of Shri Mangal Dham and the viewpoints like Rai Dhap are all located within 12 kms of Tabakoshi. Darjeeling is around 32 kms from here and guests can take day trips from Tabakoshi to Darjeeling and back enjoying the famous sightseeing spots like Lepchajagat, Ghoom, Batasia Loop, Gorkha Memorial, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Mall, Darjeeling Zoo and off course the Toy Train (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway).

Things to do in Tabakoshi: The village resort is located at the meeting point of Gopaldhara Tea Garden, Sagmaru Tea Garden and Mangarjang Tea Garden, so a walk through these tea gardens watching the tea pickers working relentlessly would be a pleasant activity. Taking a dip into the Rangbhang River and basking on the boulders, soaking the winter sun is another fascinating experience. Bird watching in the mornings and Barbecue in the evenings are few other things you can do.

Best time to visit Tabakoshi: You can visit this place anytime of the year. Located at an altitude of around 2000 feet ASL and being a riverside destination and connected by good roads, this place is one of the best places in the mountains during monsoons. The rains give the whole valley a cover of lush green with the dark clouds rolling over the horizon. The winters, as usual brings the chill and the sparkling weather.

How to reach Taba Koshi: You can take shared cars to Mirik from NJP / Siliguri and then hire a car to reach Tabakoshi. The resort also provides pick-up and drop services.

Lodging and Food at Tabakoshi: There are 06 rooms in total and none of the rooms are identical. There are waterfront cottages, tree houses and Gurkha Traditional bamboo cottages. The centre piece of the resort is a water body with live fish and a small bridge crisscrossing it. Interesting installations are to be found in every corner of the resort like a grotto with Lord Buddha and Mother Mary, bamboo fountains, flower beds made of wastage bottles, tables made of car tyres and a whole lot of root carvings and very interestingly a 30-year-old Yamaha RX100 is also on show. You can also spot the antlers and an impressive collection of foreign notes and coins of the owner in the gazebos. A private path leads to the Rangbhang River from the Taba koshi resort only. The food is essentially home-cooked Indian cuisine served in a separate traditionally designed dining hall, but some guests surely prefer their breakfast to be served on the manicured lawn.