Eastern region of India has a lot to offer to the tourists of the world. It has all kinds of landscapes, so whatever you may like, you will find it here. Today I am gonna tell you about a quick weekend getaway which can be enjoyed by the regular tourists as well as the trekkers. It is a small mountain village in West Bengal known as Rishop.
Rishop or also spelt as Rishyap is a Himalayan hamlet in West Bengal. 2591 m above sea-level, it's a nice quaint village away from city crowds, with picturesque views of snow-capped mountains. The sun plays vermillion through the day. At night the big sky seems to come closer. Beneath the sky the twinkling lights of Gangtok & Pedong are similar to the twinkling stars above. Tourists are attracted by the natural beauty of Neora Valley National Park (Sikkim) & Tiffindara. Both are enjoyed through trekking route which is a deep silent forest of pine, birch, fir & orchids with some soothing path following the chirps.
Rishop is a small place which can be roamed around on foot itself. There is no practice of transport. The natural beauty is best experienced by taking strolls around.
There is no city/town life here, just a small village with spectacular views of the third largest mountain peak of the world (Kanchenjunga) and its range. So expect just that - plan your vacation keeping in mind the full moon, and reach Rishop by evening. At night with limited artificial light, the hamlet looks heavenly in moonlight - almost every lodge will have an open courtyard where you can sit in open air and relax. Lights of the small villages on the opposite hill add to the beauty at night.
If you are lucky and there is no cloud between you and Kanchenjunga, then you are in for the most memorable visual of your life! In case you happen to be an amateur astronomer, then the clear sky of Rishop will add significantly to your experience.
Get up before dawn, and back to the courtyard with camera. The best chances to see the Kanchenjunga range would be in the first hour from sunrise - later on clouds may obstruct the view.
Have breakfast and trek to Tiffindara view point which is 2 kms uphill. Back to Rishop, have lunch and trek downhill to Lava.
