If you are looking for a quiet weekend retreat, Tinchuley is the place for you. Situated around 80km from Siliguri and 90km from New Jalpaiguri station, this lesser-known hamlet is an ideal holiday destination for those looking to enjoy the pristine beauty of the hills.

The word Tinchuley means three chullas or ovens. The three hilltops here resemble three chullas, hence the name.

The hamlet itself is worth a visit. Every house has an adjoining garden decorated with colourful plants. The villagers also grow vegetables and rear chickens in a perfect example of self-sustenance.

We went there on a three-day trip and stayed at Gurung Guest House, a homestay run by a local Gurung family. The host, Dipendra Gurung, took us around the hamlet and also helped us taste locally brewed liquor — Rakshi (colourless wine) and Chaang (thick beer)!

On the first day we walked in the forest, listened to the sound made by a million acacia insects, interspersed with the ripples of water from a spring, and then went down to the tea gardens nearby.

The landscape here — the play of colours with the lush green tea plantation in the foreground and the blue sky in the background — is any photographer’s delight. We also visited the Gumba Dara Cave Point the same day, for which we hired a car as it’s a bit further off.

Next morning, we woke up early to catch the sunrise from the viewpoint — an elevated platform atop a dozen steps, about five minutes away from the guesthouse. The view of the sun’s rays falling on the mountains and the valleys will surely take your breath away. And if luck favours, you can get a clear sight of the majestic Kanchenjunga. We weren’t so lucky as the sun played truant and we had to be satisfied with a vision of the mountain peak, but it was awe-inspiring nonetheless.

After spending some time at the viewpoint, you can also pay a visit to the tranquil Tinchuley Monastery nearby.

From Tinchuley, you can plan a half-day trip to Darjeeling or Kalimpong, both around 35km away. You can also go to Takdah or Mungpoo which are 18-20km away.

We went to Darjeeling to check out the renovated 19th century St. Andrew’s Church. The church has stunning stained glass windows which make it a must-visit spot for anyone visiting the queen of hills. After a sumptuous lunch at Glenary’s and some shopping, we returned to the guesthouse in the evening.

On Day 3, since we had to take the night train back to Calcutta, we visited the Orange Garden at Bara Mangwa village and bought fantastic pickles and marmalade from there. We also went to Tribeni, the site of the confluence of rivers Teesta and Rangeet, on our way to NJP station. Tribeni is a beautiful place where you can see anglers out on their daily catch. We stayed for about 20 minutes and saw three fishes being caught!

The beauty of Tinchuley is such that its sights and scenes will linger on in your memory long after you return to your humdrum existence.

Going

Take any north Bengal-bound train from Howrah or Sealdah and get down at Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri. You can hire a car from there to reach Tinchuley.

Staying

Gurung Guest House is a good option. With the help of organisations such as the WWF, the village has developed a few other homestays too for budget travellers.