Lava ( altitude 7200 ft. ) is a centre of business and communication. The people are well behaved and soft spoken. It is a cool, calm, small place of hills & jungles.

 

Best time to visit:

Please avoid monsoon. The best season is post monsoon i.e. October and November when north-wind begins to blow. In this season it is expected to have a clear sky, bright sunlight, huge greeneries and clear view of snow capped mountain range. But if you want to enjoy  flowers select pre-monsoon season.

 

How to reach:

There is no public transport to reach here. So hire private vehicle from NJP, Siliguri or Bagdogra. Come here via Kalimpong or Gorubathan. Moving cost is high. Normal sharing journey is also available.

 

Distance from nearest places:

Siliguri –  3 hrs.
Darjeeling –  3 hrs. 30 mts.
Kalimpong –  1 hr.
Gangtok –  3 hrs. 30 mts.

 

What to do:

Enjoy clouds & clouds & clouds. Beside it, trek here & there and engage in shopping. You can walk long and long followed by ups & down hill roads and take pleasure in nature – full of different flowers, orchids, birds, clouds, pine trees etc.

 

Place of interest:

Lava Monastery:

Lava Jamgyong Monastery was set up in 1987. It is remain covered with fog throughout the year. Monks residing in this region concentrate upon topics of Buddhist literature.

 

Apart from this, Forest Nursery and Nature interpreter centre is also be visited.

 

Nearby places:

Gumbadara:

It is a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and there is a graceful statue of Lord Buddha. Reach here by road ( 6 km ) and then by narrow up hill trek ( 1 km ).

 Changey falls:

Changey falls ( 50 mtrs ht. ) is rapidly growing into a must-showing-destination from Lava. Here extreme calmness with huge waterfall sound makes a wonderful contrast. Some rare birds are visible here.

Neora Valley national park:

Neora valley national park  is situated at the conjunction of West Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan. Tourists are attracted by its natural beauty. Come here through a deep silent forest of pine, birch, fir and orchids with companion of chirps. It is enriched with beautiful flowers and the species like red panda, clouded leopard, Himalayan Thor, Indian Gaur & the Himalayan black bear and different birds such as flycatchers, Hill Maynas & owls. Butterflies and insects and many colourful orchids also add beauty to this park. In this park sunlight cannot touch ground. It is an adventurous place for the nature lovers and trekkers.

 

Travel trips:

Carry warm clothes including wind cheater. Beside it bring torch, insect killing spray and mosquito killing cream with you.