Planning a tour from Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Reshop? And feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice online?
I get it.
This is precisely the same route I drove last month with three friends, and, in all honesty, this route appears on the internet a lot more complicated than it should be.
So here’s what you need:
No BS, no fluff.
Real words from people who’ve done it.
Table of Contents
- Quick Distance Overview
- Best Route from Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Rishop
- Transportation Options & Costs
- Road Conditions You Need to Know
- Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Rishop Tour Plan
- When to Visit: Siliguri to Lava, Lolegaon, Rishop
- Where to Stay
- What You’ll Actually See
- FAQs
Quick Distance Overview
Let me break down the Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Rishop distances because everyone asks this first:
| Route | Distance | Drive Time |
| Siliguri to Lava | 54 km | 2-2.5 hours |
| Lava to Lolegaon | 18 km | 45 minutes |
| Lolegaon to Rishop | 14 km | 40 minutes |
| Siliguri to Rishop (direct) | 82 km | 3-3.5 hours |
These aren’t Google Maps numbers.
These are real-world timings with tea breaks and photo stops included.
The distance between Lava Lolegaon and Rishop is manageable—you can cover all three in one trip without rushing.
Best Route from Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Rishop
Here’s the best way to reach Lava Lolegaon Rishop from Siliguri:
Siliguri → Sevoke → Coronation Bridge → Kalimpong Road → Gorubathan → Lava → Lolegaon → Rishop
This is the standard route.
But here’s what nobody tells you:
The road splits after Gorubathan.
One fork goes to Lava.
The other heads toward Kalimpong.
Don’t miss that turn.
I’ve seen three cars take the wrong fork and add an extra hour to their journey.
Pro tip: Download an offline map before you leave Siliguri because the network drops after Sevoke.
If you’re coming from Darjeeling’s hidden gems, the Kalimpong to Lava Lolegaon route via Algarah is shorter but the road’s rougher.
Transportation Options & Costs
Private Taxi
Most practical option.
Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon taxi fare: ₹2,500-₹3,500 for entire trip (return).
Book a full-day package.
Stops at all three villages.
Waiting time included.
I used Hill Cart Road taxi stand and negotiated ₹2,800 for two days.
Shared Cab
Cheaper but annoying.
Siliguri to Lava by shared cab: ₹150-₹200 per person.
Leaves from Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminal.
Catch one early morning (6-7 AM) because they stop running by noon.
Problem?
Shared cabs only go to Lava.
You’ll need separate transport to Lolegaon and Rishop.
By Car
How to reach Lava Lolegaon Rishop by car?
Easy.
Take NH10 from Siliguri.
Stay on it till Sevoke.
Then follow signboards.
The drive’s stunning but the roads are narrow after Gorubathan.
I drove my own SUV and it handled fine.
Sedans work too but ground clearance matters during monsoons.
Nearest Transport Hubs
- Nearest railway station to Lava: New Jalpaiguri (NJP) – 52 km
- Nearest airport to Lolegaon: Bagdogra – 70 km
Both are near Siliguri, so most people start from there.
Road Conditions You Need to Know
The Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon road condition changes dramatically.
Here’s the breakdown:
Siliguri to Sevoke – Perfect. Four-lane highway. You’ll do 60-70 km/h easy.
Sevoke to Gorubathan – Good. Two-lane road. Some potholes but nothing serious.
Gorubathan to Lava – Average. Gets twisty. Narrows down. You’ll slow to 30-40 km/h.
Lava to Lolegaon – Rough patches. Some unpaved sections. Bumpy but scenic as hell.
Lolegaon to Rishop – Mixed bag. Parts are excellent, parts are terrible. Watch for landslides during monsoon.
I drove this in October and it was smooth.
But my cousin did it in July and said it was sketchy with rocks everywhere.
Best time to visit Lava Lolegaon Rishop: March-May and September-November.
Roads are driest then.
Siliguri toLava Lolegaon Rishop Tour Plan
Here’s my actual Lava Lolegaon Rishop tour itinerary:
Day 1: Siliguri to Lava
- Start early (7 AM)
- Stop at Coronation Bridge for photos (15 mins)
- Reach Lava by 10 AM
- Check into homestay
- Visit Lava Monastery (30 mins)
- Lunch at local joint
- Explore Changey Waterfall (2 hours)
- Evening walk around village
- Bonfire dinner
2: Lava to Lolegaon
- Early morning Neora Valley trek (2-3 hours)
- Breakfast
- Drive to Lolegaon (45 mins)
- Check in
- Visit Canopy Walk (must-do)
- Jhandi Dara sunset point
- Night stay at Lolegaon
Day 3: Lolegaon to Rishop to Siliguri
- Sunrise at Lolegaon viewpoint
- Drive to Rishop (40 mins)
- Tiffin Dara views
- Quick lunch
- Head back to Siliguri (reach by 6 PM)
This North Bengal road trip itinerary gives you enough time without rushing.
I’ve seen people try doing all three in one day.
Don’t.
You’ll spend more time in the car than actually experiencing anything.
These are proper offbeat destinations worth savouring.
When to Visit: Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Rishop
Best time to visit Lava Lolegaon Rishop:
March to May – Clear skies, Kanchenjunga views, blooming rhododendrons. Slightly crowded but worth it.
September to November – Post-monsoon freshness, fewer tourists, perfect weather. My favourite window.
Avoid: June-August (monsoon chaos, landslides, leeches everywhere).
Winter (December-February) – Freezing cold, but if you want snow, this is it. Carry serious winter gear.
Where to Stay
Lava Lolegaon Homestay Options
Forget hotels.
Homestays are where it’s at.
I stayed at Holumba Haven in Lava (₹1,200/night including meals).
Family-run, cosy, unreal food.
In Lolegaon, try Samsing Homestay (₹1,000/night).
Rishop has fewer options but Rishop Valley Resort is decent (₹1,500/night).
Book ahead during peak season because places fill up fast.
WhatsApp bookings work better than websites here.
What You’ll Actually See
Lava Rishop Lolegaon Sightseeing
Lava:
- Lava Monastery
- Changey Waterfall
- Neora Valley National Park
- Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery
- Samthar Plateau
Lolegaon:
- Canopy Walk (₹20 entry)
- Jhandi Dara
- Lolegaon Monastery
- Sunrise viewpoint over Kanchenjunga
Rishop:
- Tiffin Dara viewpoint
- Rishop Viewpoint
- Quiet village walks
Rishop tourist attractions are minimal but that’s the point.
It’s the most peaceful of the three.
If you want more action, Lolegaon’s your spot.
Lava sits in the middle—moderate crowds, good facilities.
These places to visit near Lava Lolegaon also include Nathang Valley and Zuluk if you extend your trip.
And honestly, this entire circuit rivals any tourist place in North Bengal.
Pro Tips Nobody Shares
Mobile network: Only BSNL and Jio work reliably. Airtel is patchy.
Cash: Carry enough. ATMs are rare after Gorubathan.
Fuel: Fill up in Gorubathan. No petrol pumps in Lava/Lolegaon/Rishop.
Food: Homestay meals >>> restaurant meals. Trust me on this.
Photography: Mornings are golden. Clouds roll in by noon.
Permits: None needed for Lava Lolegaon Rishop, but carry ID proof.
Trekking: Neora Valley needs a guide. Ask your homestay to arrange one.
The Bottom Line
The Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Rishop route isn’t complicated.
You just need the right info.
And now you have it.
This North Bengal hill stations circuit gives you mountains, monasteries, forests, and silence—all within 100 km.
Book a taxi, pack light, download offline maps, and go.
These offbeat hill stations near Kalimpong won’t stay offbeat forever.
More people are discovering them every month.
So if you want that untouched vibe, now’s the time.
Trust me, the Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon Rishop trip will reset your brain in ways you didn’t know you needed.
FAQs
1. What is the Siliguri to Lava distance?
54 km via Sevoke and Gorubathan, taking 2-2.5 hours by car depending on traffic and road conditions.
2.How much is the taxi fare from Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon?
₹2,500-₹3,500 for a full-day package covering all three villages with waiting time included at each stop.
3.What is the best way to reach Lava Lolegaon Rishop?
Hire a private taxi from Siliguri for maximum flexibility, or take a shared cab to Lava and arrange local transport from there.
4.Is the Siliguri to Lava Lolegaon road condition good?
Siliguri to Lava is mostly good, but Lava to Lolegaon has rough patches, and monsoons bring landslide risks on all routes.
5.Can I reach Lava Lolegaon Rishop by car?
Yes, any car with decent ground clearance works, though SUVs handle the narrow mountain roads and occasional rough sections better.
6.What is the distance between Lava Lolegaon and Rishop?
Lava to Lolegaon is 18 km, Lolegaon to Rishop is 14 km—both are short drives with stunning scenery between them.
7.When is the best time to visit Lava Lolegaon Rishop?
March-May for clear mountain views and flowers, or September-November for post-monsoon freshness and fewer tourists visiting the area.
8.Are there shared cabs from Siliguri to Lava?
Yes, shared cabs leave from Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminal early morning (6-7 AM) for ₹150-200 per person, but they only go to Lava.
9.What is the nearest railway station to Lava?
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station is 52 km away—from there, take a taxi or shared cab toward Gorubathan and then Lava.
10.Do I need permits for Lava Lolegaon Rishop?
No permits are required for these villages, but always carry a valid photo ID for security checkpoints along the route.
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