Lava, a small hill station is located in West Bengal and is tucked away in the riches of the Himalayas. Praised for its beautiful sceneries, dense forests, and calm atmosphere, it is an excellent place for recreational outdoorsmen and adventurers. The Kanchenjunga mountain range and monasteries are some of the attractions available as many places to visit in Lava depending on travellers’ preference. Regardless of what you are in search of serenity, exhilaration, or panoramic view, you are assured of being fascinated by what Lava has to offer.
10 Places To Visit In Lava, West Bengal
You can discover the best tourist attractions and places to visit in Lava, which is endowed with natural scenic beauty and calmness.
1. Lava Monastery / Buddhist Monastery
Photo: Joydeep / Wikimedia Commons
Lava Monastery also known as Sanghacholing Monastery is a peaceful place for meditation located in the middle part of Lava. Located in a peaceful setting with hills and mountains in the background, this place is covered with greenery all around. The guests can relax and find some quiet time in the yard, and at the same time nervously watch the daily routine of monks. This building has rather thick walls and it has beautiful constructions, on the walls there are various murals illustrating the teachings of Buddhism. It must be one of the most relaxing places where tourists can practise mindfulness, learn about Buddhism, and spend some time for introspection.
Major Attractions: Spiritual practices, Monastic architecture, Scenic views
Best Time To Visit: March to June
Location: Near Lava town centre
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 hours
2. Neora Valley National Park
Photo: Saswatamandal / Wikimedia Commons
Neora Valley National Park is a bio-sore near Lava which is an important connecting place as far as biodiversity is concerned. This is one of the largest national parks that covers a landscape of more or less 88 square kilometres. Being a national park, it harbours many endangered forms of wildlife and canopy-dwelling wildlife forms such as the Red Panda and some species of butterflies. It is known for its greenery of forests that offer so much pleasure during trekking because of the beautiful scenery. Currently, the park boasts many trails that allow having a view of different cliffs, valleys, or even the Himalayan rear. It has become one of the most popular places that a visitor should not fail to visit in Lava.
Major Attractions: Wildlife spotting, Trekking trails, Scenic views
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Location: Adjacent to Lava town
Ideal Trip Duration: Full-day visit
3. Rishop
Photo: Saswatamandal / Wikimedia Commons
Rishop is a beautiful village located at a fairly short driving distance from Lava and has the added advantage of providing a view of the Kanchenjunga mountain range. This is one of the most picturesque areas and ideal for those trekkers and those who love nature and solitude. The Rishop has mostly grasslands, vegetation cover, and a quiet environment perfect for a vacation. The public can relax for a walk or a hike, or they can even pack a lunch and spend some time outdoors.
Major Attractions: Scenic viewpoints, Trekking, Nature walks
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Location: 2 km from Lava
Ideal Trip Duration: 2-3 hours
4. Chatakpur
Photo: Devender71641 / Wikimedia Commons
Chatakpur is the least explored place to visit near Lava and gives a mesmerising view of hills and valleys. This quiet village is now surrounded by magnificent greenery with very low noise and dust levels, making it a perfect place to escape from the noisy and dirty modern life. Tourists can take nature walks in the forests and have a cross-eye view of the animals and plants within the area. It is also good news for birdwatching because many species of birds can be found in this village. The place is also perfect for photography and is surrounded by so much natural beauty and serenity at Chatakpur.
Major Attractions: Nature trails, Birdwatching, Scenic beauty
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Location: 5 km from Lava
Ideal Trip Duration: 2-3 hours
5. Lolegaon
Photo: কিংশুক পার্থ / Wikimedia Commons
Lolegaon is a village located around 20 km off Lava and is particularly well known for the scenic beauty of the area and quiet nature. This place is endowed with thick tracts of photographs and beautiful vegetation which make it a nice place for trekking. Lolegaon is famous for the famous Canopy Walk, wherein a pedestrian bridge is erected along the forest cover, and tourists can walk from twig to twig watching the forest canopy from below. It is useful for people who want to spend time surrounded by nature without the noise of the bustling world. Lolegaon is therefore one of the most beautiful places to visit in Lava.
Major Attractions: Canopy Walk, Nature trails, Scenic views
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Location: 20 km from Lava
Ideal Trip Duration: Full-day trip
6. Kalimpong
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons
Even though Kalimpong is a little farther from Lava it is one of the prettiest and scenic hill stations. Kalimpong, the nearest place 50 km away from Darjeeling, has beautiful gardens, a monastery, and a majestic view of Mount Kneesh. While the town is widely famous for its active and bright horticultural sites, it is also rather calm and relaxed. Some of the places that tourists can visit are Durpin Dara Hill and Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery. Kalimpong is also popular for local products, handicrafts, and original Tibetan products which makes it quite a shopping paradise.
Major Attractions: Gardens, Monasteries, Scenic viewpoints
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Location: 50 km from Lava
Ideal Trip Duration: Full-day trip
7. Lava Market
Photo: Jose Murillo / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Lava Village Market is ideal for discovering the local flavour and the art of local artisans. It provides more standards such as Tibetan and Bhutanese hand-made products, local specialties, commodities, and so on when travellers visit here. Browse through stalls selling woollen products that have been hand-made, bamboo items, and fresh organic foods produced in the neighbouring farms. The last thing that attracts more visitors is that they can interact with friendly local vendors and taste some local snacks.
Major Attractions: Local crafts, Tibetan items, Organic produce
Best Time To Visit: Year-round
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 hours
8. Takdah
Photo: Amitabha Gupta / Wikimedia Commons
Takdah is one of the beautiful and small hill stations which is located about 30 km from Lava and famous for its tea gardens and surrounding beautiful environment. The following locations are perfect for a serene holiday for those who love nature and those who seek quiet time. The visitors can also tour the tea-growing farms and also have splendid feelings of the mountainous region. Takdah is also well known for its abundance of biodiversity and visitors can engage in bird watching and trekking besides boating.
Major Attractions: Tea gardens, Scenic viewpoints, Nature walks
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Location: 30 km from Lava
Ideal Trip Duration: Half-day trip
9. Lava Village
Photo: Biswajit Majumdar / Wikimedia Commons
Lava Village depicts local cultures and traditions and is a beautiful village that was developed from the volcanic flows. Sitting in the background of the Himalayas, this village offers a firsthand impression of the life of the people living in the hills. People are welcome to visit the local wooden houses, talk to the residents, and try the non-vegetarian dishes. The village is a perfect spot for trekking and visiting the attractions in the area, making it wonderful for those who want to learn more about the village’s customs.
Major Attractions: Local culture, Trekking base, Scenic views
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 hours
10. Changey Waterfall
Photo: Rathin Dey / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Changey Waterfall is another amazing waterfall that is a short jungle trek of 30 minutes from Lava Village. The falls descend a hill of rocks and take a misty outlook that is best suited for relaxation or taking nature pictures. A moderately easy hike will take the visitor to the waterfall, and along the trail, the visitors can be advised to go bird watching and expect to see varieties of plant species. It is a very calm place, especially for visitors who would want to spend a few hours admiring the natural aspect of Lava at Changey Waterfall.
Major Attractions: Scenic waterfall, Birdwatching, Nature trails
Best Time To Visit: March to June, September to November
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 hours
Lava in West Bengal is a paradise for tourists, especially those who love nature and want to explore the cultural intensity of the region. At Lava, tourists can visit monasteries as well as practice yoga, explore historical architecture on the outskirts of the national park, have a picnic by waterfalls, or go on a safari in the middle of the tropical jungle. Regardless of whether you pursue adventure, loneliness, or spiritual affinity with nature, Lava creates the perfect scenery for all your travelling dreams. Book a holiday to this scenic destination with TripXL!
Cover Photo: Saswatamandal / Wikimedia Commons