The gateways: NJP, Bagdogra and Siliguri
Every trip to this land starts in Siliguri, the busy junction town at the foot of the hills. Most travellers arrive by train at New Jalpaiguri (NJP), the main railhead for the Darjeeling hills, about 5 km from central Siliguri. Trains run here from Kolkata overnight and by day, including the Darjeeling Mail and the Vande Bharat from Howrah, and from Delhi, Guwahati and much of north and east India. Bagdogra airport, about 14 km west of Siliguri, has direct flights from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities.
From NJP, an auto or shared e-rickshaw to the Siliguri jeep stands costs about ₹30–100 per person, or ₹200–300 for a whole auto. From Bagdogra, a taxi into Siliguri costs about ₹500–700; city buses and shared autos pass on the main road outside the airport for much less. If you are going straight up the hill in a reserved car, you can skip Siliguri entirely and take the car from the station or the airport.
Shared jeeps to Kurseong
Shared jeeps, usually Mahindra or Tata utility vehicles with ten or so seats, leave for Kurseong from the Hill Cart Road stands near Siliguri Junction and the Tenzing Norgay bus terminus. They go when full, from about 7 am, roughly every 30–45 minutes in the morning and less often after 3 pm. A seat costs about ₹150–200.
Most drivers take the Rohini road, a newer, shorter and very steep road that climbs straight up from the plains, and reach Kurseong in about 1.5–2 hours. Some still use the old Hill Cart Road past Sukna, Rangtong and Tindharia, which follows the toy train track and takes about 2–2.5 hours. The Hill Cart Road is gentler on the stomach and far more interesting; ask at the stand which route a jeep is taking. Jeeps for Darjeeling also pass through Kurseong and will drop you, though you may pay the full Darjeeling fare.
Shared jeeps and buses to Mirik
Jeeps for Mirik leave from the stands near Siliguri Junction and along the Hill Cart Road. The route runs west through Matigara, crosses the Balason river at Dudhia, then climbs through the tea gardens of Tingling and Sourenee to Mirik, about 52 km and 2–2.5 hours. Seats cost about ₹150–200. Ask to sit on the left going up for the views over the gardens.
A few state buses also run between Siliguri's Tenzing Norgay bus terminus and Mirik, for about ₹80–150. They are slower than jeeps, at 2.5–3 hours, but cheaper and roomier for luggage. Timings change, so ask at the terminus the day before.
A local planner turns it into a route for your dates.
Fares and times at a glance
These are indicative 2025–26 figures for budget travel. Reserved car prices are for a small car or hatchback; SUVs cost 15–30 per cent more. Peak weeks push car prices up.
| Route | Shared jeep or bus | Reserved car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siliguri or NJP to Kurseong | ₹150–200 a seat | ₹2,000–2,800 | 1.5–2.5 h |
| Siliguri or NJP to Mirik | ₹150–200 jeep, ₹80–150 bus | ₹2,200–3,000 | 2–2.5 h |
| Siliguri to Makaibari | Jeep to Kurseong, then ₹20–40 | ₹2,200–3,000 | 2–2.5 h |
| Siliguri to Sittong | ₹150–250, few departures | ₹3,000–3,800 | 2.5–3 h |
| Siliguri to Latpanchar | ₹150–250, few departures | ₹2,800–3,500 | 2–2.5 h |
| Kurseong to Darjeeling | ₹100–150 a seat | ₹1,800–2,500 | 1–1.5 h |
| Mirik to Darjeeling | ₹150–200 a seat | ₹2,500–3,200 | 2–2.5 h |
| Kurseong to Sittong | ₹80–150, few departures | ₹1,800–2,500 | 1–1.5 h |
The toy train to Kurseong
Kurseong is a station on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, roughly halfway between NJP and Darjeeling. When the full line is running, the train climbs from NJP through Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Gayabari and Mahanadi to Kurseong, then on through Tung and Sonada to Ghoom and Darjeeling. From NJP to Kurseong takes about 5–6 hours, far longer than the jeep, but you see the loops and zigzags that made the line famous.
Services on the lower section have been suspended for long periods by landslides, most famously from 2010 to 2015 after slips at Pagla Jhora and Tindharia, and they are often cut back in the monsoon. Book on IRCTC well ahead for the season, and check current status before you travel. If the through train is not running, a short ride between Kurseong and Darjeeling, when offered, still gives a taste of the line through the bazaar.
Reaching the villages
Sittong, Latpanchar and Ahaldara are the hardest part of this land to reach without a car. A few local jeeps run between these villages and Siliguri or Kurseong, but they usually leave the village early in the morning and return in the afternoon, so they suit people who live there more than visitors. Most travellers hire a car from Siliguri, or take a shared jeep to Kurseong and arrange a pick-up there with their homestay.
Latpanchar is usually reached from the Teesta side, up the Sevoke road and then a steep climb through Mahananda sanctuary forest from near Kalijhora. Teesta valley roads have had long closures and repairs since the October 2023 flood, so check current status before you travel. Sittong is linked to Kurseong via Bagora and Mahaldiram, about 25 km, and to Latpanchar. Chimney is reached from Kurseong over Dow Hill, by taxi for ₹700–1,000 or by a few local jeeps to Bagora. Makaibari is easiest of all: a short jeep ride or a 45-minute walk down the Pankhabari road from Kurseong.
Practical tips for the ride up
Shared jeeps carry luggage on the roof under a tarpaulin. Pack a small daypack for the seat with water, a jacket and anything fragile, and keep valuables with you. Large suitcases may be charged as an extra seat, usually the price of one fare, so agree on this before the bags go up. In the monsoon, wrap your bag in a plastic sheet or a rain cover; roof tarpaulins leak on long climbs.
The bends on both the Rohini road and the Dudhia road are tight. If you get motion sickness, eat lightly, ask for the front seat or a window, and take a tablet half an hour before you leave. Drivers stop for tea at roadside stalls on the way, usually at a viewpoint, for 10–15 minutes.
Mobile signal is good on the main roads with Jio and Airtel, weaker on the village roads to Sittong and Latpanchar. Save your homestay's phone number and directions before you leave Siliguri, and tell the host roughly when you expect to arrive, because the last stretch to many village houses is unsigned.
Linking Kurseong, Mirik and Darjeeling
Many visitors combine this land with Darjeeling. Kurseong is about 32 km below Darjeeling on the Hill Cart Road, and shared jeeps run between them all day. Mirik is about 49 km from Darjeeling by the road through Sukhia Pokhari and Simana, with jeeps through the day but fewer in the afternoon. A loop of Siliguri, Mirik, Darjeeling, Kurseong and back to Siliguri works well in five or six nights and needs no reserved car at all.
There is no frequent direct jeep between Kurseong and Mirik. Drivers choose between going up through Ghoom and Sukhia Pokhari or down towards the plains and up again via Dudhia, depending on road conditions; a reserved car costs about ₹2,500–3,500 and takes 2–2.5 hours. On shared transport, change in Darjeeling or Siliguri.
- Travel up in the morning: jeeps fill fastest and roads are clearer
- Avoid driving the Rohini road after dark if you have a choice
- Keep a spare day in the monsoon for closed roads
- Carry motion-sickness tablets for the hairpin bends
Questions people ask
Good to know
How do I get from NJP to Kurseong?
Take an auto from NJP station to the Siliguri jeep stands near Siliguri Junction or the Tenzing Norgay bus terminus, then a shared jeep to Kurseong for about ₹150–200 a seat, 1.5–2.5 hours. A reserved car directly from NJP costs about ₹2,000–2,800. The toy train also runs from NJP to Kurseong when services operate; check current status before you travel.
How do I get from Bagdogra airport to Mirik?
The simplest way is a reserved car from the airport, about ₹2,200–3,000 and 2 hours via Matigara and Dudhia. On a budget, take a taxi or shared transport into Siliguri, then a shared jeep from the stands near Siliguri Junction for ₹150–200 a seat, or a state bus from the Tenzing Norgay terminus for about ₹80–150.
Which road is better to Kurseong, Rohini or Hill Cart Road?
The Rohini road is shorter and faster, about 1.5–2 hours from Siliguri, but very steep with tight bends. The old Hill Cart Road takes 2–2.5 hours and follows the toy train line past Tindharia and Gayabari, with gentler gradients and much more to see. If you get motion sickness or want views, choose the Hill Cart Road.
Is there a direct shared jeep from Kurseong to Mirik?
Not on a regular schedule. Most travellers on shared transport change in Darjeeling or Siliguri, which takes 3.5–4.5 hours in total. A reserved car from Kurseong to Mirik costs about ₹2,500–3,500 and takes 2–2.5 hours; drivers choose the route through Ghoom or via Dudhia depending on road conditions. Ask at the Kurseong stand in case a jeep is running.
How do I reach Sittong by public transport?
It is possible but awkward. A few local jeeps run between Sittong and Kurseong or Siliguri, usually leaving Sittong early and returning in the afternoon, for about ₹80–250. Ask your homestay for that day's timings. Most visitors take a shared jeep to Kurseong and arrange a pick-up there, or hire a car from Siliguri for about ₹3,000–3,800.
Does the toy train run from NJP to Kurseong?
Kurseong is a station on the NJP to Darjeeling line, and when the full route operates the journey takes about 5–6 hours. The lower section has been suspended for long periods by landslides and is often reduced in the monsoon. Book on IRCTC in advance and check current status before you travel, because schedules change from season to season.
How long does it take from Darjeeling to Kurseong?
About 1–1.5 hours by road. Shared jeeps run between Darjeeling and Kurseong through the day for about ₹100–150 a seat, and a reserved car costs about ₹1,800–2,500. The toy train takes 2.5–3 hours when running, passing through Ghoom, Sonada and Tung. The distance is about 32 km on the Hill Cart Road.
Can I reach Latpanchar after the 2023 Teesta flood?
Latpanchar is usually reached from the Sevoke and Teesta side, a route that has had closures and repairs since the October 2023 flood. It can also be reached from Kurseong via Sittong. Ask your homestay which road is open before you leave Siliguri, and check current status before you travel, especially from June to September.
How much does a reserved car from Siliguri to Kurseong cost?
About ₹2,000–2,800 for a small car from Siliguri, NJP or Bagdogra, depending on the season and vehicle. SUVs cost more. Prices rise in the Puja weeks, Christmas and the May–June holidays. Agree the fare, the route and any stops before you set off, and confirm whether parking and tolls are included.