Festival · Sittong
Sittong Orange Festival
A December celebration of the orange harvest in Darjeeling's orange village, which the West Bengal Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants has organised. Expect fruit stalls, local food and cultural programmes in the Riyang valley.
Sittong lives on the Darjeeling mandarin, and December is when the orchards are at their best. The Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants, the state body that runs the cinchona plantations in this area, has organised an orange festival at Sittong in December to showcase the harvest and bring visitors to the village.
When it is held, the festival brings stalls of oranges and orange products, local food, and cultural programmes with songs and dances from the hill communities. It is a small, village-scale event rather than a big fair.
Dates and whether it takes place in a given year are announced locally, so ask a Sittong homestay or check current status before you travel. Even without the festival, December in Sittong is orange season, and every house has fruit.
Tips
- Confirm the festival dates with a Sittong homestay before booking.
- Book rooms early; December is Sittong's busiest month.
- Buy oranges directly from growers rather than resellers.
Most hill festivals follow lunar calendars, so dates move each year. Check current status before you travel.
Questions people ask
Good to know
Is the Sittong Orange Festival held every year?
It has been organised in December by the Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants, but we cannot confirm it happens every year or on fixed dates. Ask a Sittong homestay or local contact and check current status before you travel.
What happens at the Sittong Orange Festival?
When held, it features stalls selling oranges and orange products, local food and cultural programmes such as songs and dances. It is a modest village festival, not a large commercial fair, and it celebrates the orange harvest that Sittong is known for.
Is December a good time to visit Sittong even without the festival?
Yes. December is the peak of orange season, with fruit on the trees and on sale at every house, and the weather is usually dry and clear. Nights are cold, so bring warm clothes and ask for extra blankets.
How much do oranges cost in Sittong?
In season, buying directly from growers, expect roughly ₹60–120 a kg depending on size and the year's harvest. Prices are usually lower than in Siliguri markets. Bulk buyers pay by the basket.