Adventure · Mungpoo
Climb from the Teesta at Rambi to Mungpoo
Leave the Teesta valley road at Rambi and climb through warm forest and cinchona slopes to Mungpoo. A quieter way into the Darjeeling hills from Siliguri, with the river far below and the plantation village at the top.
From Siliguri the road follows the Teesta upstream from Sevoke through a deep, forested gorge. At Rambi, a small bazaar on NH10, a road turns off and climbs to Mungpoo, leaving the river behind as it gains height through mixed forest, farms and, higher up, the cinchona slopes. It is a quieter way into the hills than the busy Hill Cart Road through Kurseong. The change from the hot riverbank to the cooler slopes takes well under an hour.
Go in the morning for the clearest views over the gorge, and stop for tea at Rambi before the climb. Once at Mungpoo, visit Rabindra Bhavan and the plantation, and either return the same way or carry on towards Darjeeling by the hill roads with your driver. Watch the vegetation change as you climb: sal and broadleaf forest near the river give way to farm terraces and then to the darker green of the plantation.
NH10 along the Teesta has suffered repeated landslides and serious damage since the October 2023 flood, with long closures. This route depends on its condition. Ask your driver, check current status before you travel and be ready to come in via Darjeeling instead. From October to April the road is usually at its best, though repair works can still cause waits of an hour or more. Carry water and snacks.
Cost: Reserved car ₹2,500–3,500 from Siliguri (indicative)
Questions people ask
Good to know
How do I get to Mungpoo from Siliguri?
The direct route runs from Siliguri via Sevoke along NH10 beside the Teesta to Rambi, then climbs to Mungpoo, roughly 2.5–3 hours by car for ₹2,500–3,500. Because NH10 has had long closures since October 2023, drivers sometimes go via Darjeeling instead. Check current status before you travel.
Is NH10 open to Rambi?
It changes. Since the October 2023 Teesta flood, NH10 between Sevoke and Rangpo has had repeated landslides, damage and closures, sometimes for weeks. Ask your driver or local contacts on the day, follow traffic updates from the district administration and check current status before you travel.
Can I visit Mungpoo on the way from Siliguri to Darjeeling?
Yes, if roads allow. Go up via Rambi to Mungpoo, see Rabindra Bhavan and the plantation, then continue to Darjeeling by hill roads with a reserved car. It turns a 3-hour transfer into a full day. Start early, and check road conditions on both legs before you leave.
Also in Mungpoo
