Viewpoints · Deolo
A night on Deolo after the crowds leave
Stay one night at the West Bengal Tourism lodge on top of Deolo: evening light over the valley, the lights of Kalimpong below, stars on clear winter nights and Kanchenjunga at the door at dawn.
Most people see Deolo for an hour in the middle of the day, when the park is busy and the haze has risen. Stay the night and you get the hill at its best. By 5 pm the day visitors and pony men have gone, and the light goes gold across the valley towards Sikkim. As it gets dark, the lights of Kalimpong appear below and the villages across the valley twinkle on.
On clear nights from October to March, with no town glare above you, the stars are bright, and the cold is sharp: expect 3–8 °C in December and January. The lodge rooms are simple; ask for extra blankets or a heater. Dinner is basic and needs to be ordered early.
The point of it all comes at dawn, when you step out and Kanchenjunga is there to the north-west without a drive in the dark. After breakfast, walk down through Dr Graham's Homes to town. One night is enough; pair it with two nights in Kalimpong or Durpin.
Cost: ₹2,500–4,500 a room (indicative)
Questions people ask
Good to know
How do I book Deolo Tourist Lodge?
It is run by West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation, so book it through the WBTDC online booking site or their offices in Kolkata and Siliguri. Weekends and holidays fill early. Carry your voucher and ID. Rates change, so check current status before you travel.
Is it very cold on Deolo at night?
In winter, yes: around 3–8 °C at night from December to February, sometimes lower, and the hilltop is windy. Spring and autumn nights are about 8–14 °C. Pack a down jacket, cap and gloves, and ask the lodge for extra blankets or a heater.
Is there food on Deolo hill in the evening?
Stalls close by early evening, so plan to eat at the lodge, ordering dinner by late afternoon. Meals are simple Indian and Chinese dishes. If you want more choice, eat in Kalimpong town before you drive up, or carry snacks.
Also in Deolo
More things to do
Viewpoints · 1.5 hoursSunrise over Kanchenjunga from DeoloDeolo · Taxi ₹500–800 return · small entry fee
Adventure · 1–2 hours including waitingTandem paragliding off Deolo hillDeolo · ₹2,500–4,500 per flight
Treks and walks · 1.5–2 hoursDownhill walk from Deolo through Graham's HomesDeolo · Free · taxi up ₹250–400