The only problem with the Sikkimese village of Darap is that it will make you want to stay forever. It’s pretty, this postcard-perfect village where every house is adorned with flower pots. No matter where you are in Darap, you will be rewarded with breath-taking views of the wooded mountainside peppered with clutches of brightly painted houses. On lucky mornings, you might get a glimpse of the sun-kissed Khangchendzonga or witness bright rainbows arching over the deep valley! Far from the maddening crowd, Darap is truly an offbeat destination in Sikkim.
Though it is located only 8 km from Pelling, West Sikkim’s tourist hub, Darap is still relatively unknown. Most visitors who travel to Darap are preparing to trek the high-altitude Goecha La or the Dzongri trail. Some come to this offbeat destination in Sikkim to seek solitude. Internet is slow which means you can get a break from your mobile phone. There’s little in terms of sight-seeing but a lot to experience for discerning travellers.
The word Darap comes from “Tan-lop” which means flat land in the local language. Darap is home to some 300 families, most of who belong to the Limboo community. Livelihood is agrarian but with increasing tourist influx, a few families have opened their houses as homestays. The locals till their small parcels of land, sell their produce in the local market, run community stores or eateries, or commute to Pelling or Geyzing for work.
We hope we can come back soon and rent a cosy room! There’s nothing like living the slow life in this offbeat corner of Sikkim. We will watch the Khangchendzonga every morning and go for long walks. Perhaps we can have our little kitchen garden. And maybe some chickens. And of course, a furry mountain dog!
Also read: Plan a trip to little-known destinations in West Sikkim with the Complete West Sikkim Travel Guide.
How to Reach Darap
Darap is 144 km from New Jalpaiguri Railway Station and 146 km from Bagdogra International Airport. You can reserve a cab for INR 4000-6000 or take a shared taxi to Pelling or Geyzing. From Pelling, reserve a cab for INR 300 or take a Yuksom-bound shared cab. Or, if you are in the mood, hike to Darap from Pelling. The roads are good for the most part and the views are mesmerizing but there’s a landslide-prone area between Geyzing and Jorethang and that stretch can be a very bumpy ride.
If travelling to Darap from Gangtok, book a seat in a shared taxi to Jorethang, Pelling, or Geyzing and then onwards to Darap. State-run buses run between Gangtok and Jorethang multiple times in a day.
Also read: Spending a few days in Gangtok on your way to West Sikkim? Use our guide: 2 Days in Gangtok: Mountains, Monasteries, and Sikkimese Food.
Best Time for Travelling to Darap
October to May– autumn, winter, and spring– are the best seasons to visit Darap. Autumn brings clear skies; it is the best time to get a glimpse of the Khangchendzonga. It does not snow in Darap in winter but the surrounding mountainside is blanketed in snow creating a magical scenery. In spring, the village erupts with wildflowers. The rhododendrons bloom and birds and butterflies flit with abandon.
Avoid the monsoons as the roads are prone to landslides.
Things to Do in Darap
Though close to touristy Pelling, Darap is nothing like it. In this little-known offbeat Sikkimese destination, learn about the local community, get a taste of fresh produce, go on treks, or simply walk around the village.
Explore the village
Go on a guided village walk or walk on your own around the village at leisure. There are shops and some houses along the main drag but most of the rural communities have settled higher in the mountain. To reach them, you have to climb up staircases that have been hewn into the mountainside. Terraces have been cut to cultivate maize, paddy, potatoes, peas, and other crops. The major crop is black cardamom. Though Sikkim produces the largest amount of this spice in the country, it isn’t used widely in the local cuisine. You can see the locals toiling in their fields or feeding the livestock. Stop to chat or extend your help, if you may.
In spring, there are flowers all around the place. Every house in the village is decorated with little flower pots. Life is slow and simple here. Women in brightly coloured cardigans leave bottles of pickles and ears of corn in the sun. Girls with bright, red ribbons in their hair walk to school. Kids play football in the street. Roosters strut their plumage outside their coops. In the little market, you can see locals stopping to greet shopkeepers. The atmosphere is convivial; everyone knows everyone and everyone has time for everyone.
Also read: Where next? How about a few days in Rinchenpong? See Rinchenpong, Sikkim, Travel Guide for more information.
See the Limbooni Falls
A short walk from the town centre is Limbooni Falls. Come monsoon, and it transforms into a growling monster leaping off rocks! When we visited, it was a narrow thread of water cascading down the mountainside but what caught our attention was a board that prohibited trucks from being washed in the waterfall. So if you are travelling to Darap in a truck, you know where not to wash it!
Visit the Kurumpangphey tribal village
Tucked in the mountains like a little secret is the Kurumpangphey tribal village. It’s a short distance from Darap on the way to Rimbi. In the village, you can witness the local lifestyle and interact with the locals to learn more about the Limboos, their culture, and traditions. Look out for a small signpost and climb down the staircase hewn into the mountainside. Be respectful and ask before taking photographs.
Go on a day trip to Rimbi
4 km from Darap on the way to Yuksom is another lovely village named Rimbi, known for its orange orchards and waterfall. You can get on a shared taxi or hike. The road to Rimbi is beautiful and the views of the wooded hillside with pretty villages will drain away all your fatigue.
Also read: Read about our experience of trekking in the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary.
Visit Khecheopalri Lake
18 km from Darap, in a land blessed by Guru Padmasambhava, is the sacred Khecheopalri Lake. It is a part of the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit along with the Rabdentse Ruins, and the Dubdi, Pemayangtse, Sangachoeling, Tashiding monasteries. Legend says that birds pick up leaves the moment they fall into the lake and the surface of the lake always resembles a clear mirror. We had to give it a miss because of the incessant rain.
Trek to Rani Dhunga
We had to give this a miss too because of inclement weather but the Rani Dhunga trek is one of the most popular day treks in the area and features in most offbeat Darap travel guides. It starts from the Sangachoeling monastery and threads through a jungle in which rhododendrons bloom in the spring to reach a rocky outcrop known as Rani Dhunga, the Queen’s rock. Local folklore says Sita, the queen of Ayodhya in the Ramayana, visited this area. Be aware that in the wet season, the trail is muddy and slippery, and leeches are common.
Also read: Visit the holy Khecheopalri Lake and Yuksom on a day trip from Yuksom. Use our Yuksom, Sikkim, Travel Guide to plan your trip.
Where to Stay in Darap
One of the best things about travelling in the mountains of Sikkim is the many homestays where you can stay and immerse in the local culture. Darap is no exception! There are some wonderful homestays in Darap where you can stay with locals and try local food.
Daragaon Village Retreat
This charming homestay is run by Mr Shiva Gurung, his family, and their two Lhasa puppies. You enter the main seating area by walking across a wooden bridge; in the pool below, bright red fishes laze without care. Teetee, the puppy, is an amazing creature who will come running to greet every guest and receive cuddles. There are flowers everywhere in the Gurung house! Wildflowers, magnolias, nasturtiums, petunias…it’s a riot of colours. The house, built in traditional Sikkimese style, is surrounded by fields of potatoes, green peas, and mustard. In the kitchen garden, spring onions, carrots, tomatoes, and fennel grow and guests are treated to fresh, organic produce. The Gurung family is vegetarian but you can request eggs and chicken curry. Mrs Gurung is an excellent cook and you must not miss her aloo parantha! Tariffs vary according to season.
Sukhim Limboo Homestay
Another homestay near the Daragaon Village Retreat, the Sukhim Limboo Homestay, is well-known for its hospitality. Expect clean rooms, hot water in the bathroom, and delicious home-cooked local dishes.
Cherry Village Resort
Located on the Pelling-Rimbi road, the Cherry Village Resort is a cluster of 5 wooden cottages and other buildings in the midst of trees. Expect similar amenities as the Daragaon Village Retreat and Sukhim Limboo Homestay. If you have your own vehicle, consider staying here as parking is available. Indoor games like table tennis and snooker are available for guests. It’s a short walk from the main market of Darap.
What to Eat & Drink in Darap
No travel guide to Darap would be complete without mentioning the abundance of organic produce here! Life in Darap is simple and the food is rustic and flavourful. Unlike in other parts of India, spices are used sparingly and you can taste the freshness of the produce.
Organic farm-fresh produce
Nothing tastes more heavenly than farm-fresh produce and Darap is a delight for vegetarians and vegans! Most of the homestays grow their own produce and will treat you to farm-fresh vegetables. You can see fields carved into the hillside and greenhouses looming like smokey structures in the mist. Locals cultivate potatoes, green peas, tomatoes, carrots, fennel, mustard, maize, and other crops. Try wilted mustard greens, potatoes cooked with carrots, cabbage stir-fry, and wild ferns. In spring, wild berries spring all over the hills; make sure you know what you are eating because some are poisonous. Mushrooms are available too if foraging piques your interest.
Limboo dishes
The Limboos are a predominantly vegetarian community and have a large repertoire of dishes cooked with seasonal produce. Dishes are lightly spiced and you can taste the flavours of the vegetables and the moods of the earth, the nuances of the season in these dishes. We were treated to a delicious dip of locally churned cheese folded with ground Dallo chilli peppers. We loved it so much, we ate it with paranthas and noodles! We also tried millet and banana pancakes. Unlike flour pancakes, their texture was not silky but we loved the rustic taste. Try fried fiddlehead fern, nettle soup, and pickled chillies. A dish made with fermented spinach is also widely popular in these parts. And if you are lucky, you can get a taste of the elusive pickled orchid!
Local beer
We tried Danny Denzongpa’s Hit beer at Okhrey and at Darap, we tried the Dansberg from the same brewery. The slightly acidic beer has a small head, low bitterness, and a thin mouthfeel.
Chang
A fermented drink made of millets, Chang is an acquired taste. We couldn’t try it because it was not in season but definitely give it a try, straight from the bamboo tube it is fermented in, if you can find it. Best sipped in the glow of a bonfire!
Responsible Travel In India: Darap Travel Guide
Trust us, it’s not hard!
- Do not buy plastic water bottles. Your homestay will provide filtered drinking water (it’s safe, trust us!). Carry a refillable bottle and fill it whenever you need.
- Plastic bags have been banned in Sikkim. If you are carrying any, do not dispose of them unmindfully.
- Smoking in public is prohibited in Sikkim. Respect local laws and refrain from doing so. And please do not litter your homestay and the surrounding garden with cigarette butts as some tourists do. Ask for an ashtray.
- Refrain from buying packaged food like chips. Pick fruits instead to snack on or try local snacks at street food stalls. If you do buy packaged food, ensure that you dispose of the packaging thoughtfully. Do not litter; ask locals about the system of garbage segregation and disposal in place.
- Ask before you photograph locals. It’s not respectful to thrust your camera lens into someone’s face.
- Water crisis is a common problem all over India. Do not waste water.
Sikkim is becoming more and more popular on the tourism map but Darap continues to be an offbeat destination, a hidden gem! We recommend staying in Darap instead of in Pelling and exploring destinations like Rimbi and Yuksom from here. Plus you can always take a shared taxi or hike to Pelling anytime! Shiva at the Daragaon Village Retreat shares a list of things to do for visitors staying for a week and we can’t wait to go back and try the week-long itinerary on his Darap travel guide!
Leave a Reply