Treks and walks · Bijanbari
Riverside walk on the Little Rangeet
Walk down from Bijanbari bazaar to the boulder-strewn banks of the Chhota Rangeet, past maize terraces, banana clumps and orange trees. An easy, warm winter walk that ends with a picnic beside clear, cold water.
The Chhota Rangeet, or Little Rangeet, drains the slopes between the Darjeeling ridge and the Singalila range. It is a tributary of the larger Rangeet, which itself meets the Teesta further east. Below Bijanbari it runs fast and clear in winter over grey boulders and shingle, with farm paths leading down to it from the villages above. In winter its water runs clear; in the monsoon it turns brown and loud, rolling stones down its bed.
Ask in the bazaar for the nearest path to the river; locals walk down to bathe, wash and fish. The descent passes terraces of maize and millet, banana and orange trees, and houses with corn cobs drying under the eaves. Allow about two to three hours there and back, including a long stop on the bank. Carry water and snacks. Greet people as you pass; a namaste opens most conversations, and children will often show you the quickest path.
This is a dry-season walk only. From June to September the river rises suddenly after rain upstream, sometimes when the sky above you is clear, the banks become slippery, and leeches appear on the paths. Even in winter, do not swim in deep or fast water, and keep children well back from the edge. Carry your rubbish back up to the bazaar; there are no bins by the river, and plastic left on the banks washes downstream at the first flood.
Cost: Free
Questions people ask
Good to know
Can you swim in the Little Rangeet at Bijanbari?
We would not. The water is cold, the current is stronger than it looks, and the bed is covered with slippery boulders. A paddle at the edge on a sunny winter day is fine. In the monsoon from June to September stay away from the banks, as the river can rise quickly after rain upstream.
Is the river walk at Bijanbari difficult?
It is easy to moderate: a downhill walk on farm paths and steps, then the same climb back, about two to three hours in all. Wear shoes with grip, carry water and ask locals for the path, as there are no signboards. Avoid it in the heat of a May afternoon.
Is the Chhota Rangeet the same as the Rangeet?
No. The Chhota Rangeet, or Little Rangeet, is a smaller river that drains the valley between the Darjeeling ridge and the Singalila range. It flows into the larger Rangeet, which forms part of the Darjeeling–Sikkim border and later joins the Teesta near Melli and Teesta Bazar.
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