Culture and history · Lepchajagat
Half-day to Sukhia Pokhari and Jorepokhri
A half-day from Lepchajagat to the market town of Sukhia Pokhari, the twin ponds of Jorepokhri and the Simana viewpoint looking into Nepal. Cheap by shared jeep, easy by car, and a good use of a misty afternoon.
Lepchajagat is quiet by design, so when you want a change of scene, go a few kilometres along the road. Sukhia Pokhari is the local market town and junction: jeeps for Mirik, Maneybhanjan and Darjeeling meet here, and shops sell everything from vegetables to blankets. Jorepokhri, about 4 km beyond Sukhia, has the twin ponds that gave it its name and a sanctuary declared in 1985 for the Himalayan salamander. Simana, on the Mirik road, looks west across the border into the tea hills of Ilam in Nepal.
By shared jeep, flag one down on the road toward Sukhia, walk around the market and then take a local car to Jorepokhri. By car, a half-day from Lepchajagat including Simana costs ₹1,500–2,500. At Jorepokhri, walk the path around the two ponds and read the boards about the salamander, but do not expect to see one: 2026 reporting by Mongabay says paving and tourist works have changed the ponds so much that the newts no longer breed there.
Back in Sukhia, find a tea shop on the main road and order momos or aloo dum with tea, then watch the jeeps load and unload: schoolchildren, farmers with sacks, trekkers heading for Maneybhanjan and Sandakphu. It is ordinary hill life, and that is the attraction. Be back at Lepchajagat by mid-afternoon if you want a last walk before dark, or time it to arrive with the mist and spend the evening by the heater.
Cost: ₹1,500–2,500 by car · under ₹200 by jeep
Questions people ask
Good to know
How far are Sukhia Pokhari and Jorepokhri from Lepchajagat?
Both are a short drive along the same road. Sukhia Pokhari is a few kilometres on from Lepchajagat, and Jorepokhri about 4 km beyond Sukhia. By car the whole loop with Simana takes four to five hours with stops, and shared jeeps cover the Lepchajagat to Sukhia stretch for a small fare.
Will we see salamanders at Jorepokhri?
Probably not, and we would rather say so. Jorepokhri was declared India's first salamander sanctuary in 1985, but 2026 reporting by Mongabay says concrete paving and tourist works have changed the ponds so much that salamanders no longer breed there. Go for the forest walk and the story, not a sighting.
Can we cross into Nepal from Simana?
Indian citizens usually walk across to Pashupati market at Pashupatinagar with valid photo ID, such as a voter ID or passport, and no visa. Foreign nationals generally cannot use this crossing. Rules and checks change, so carry ID for everyone in your group and check current status before you travel.
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