Icchey Gaon

A 1,770 m homestay ridge between Kalimpong and Pedong

Altitude1,770m Nights2 BestMar – May · Oct – Dec

Photo: Amartyabag · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

In brief

Icchey Gaon, also spelled Icche Gaon or Echey Gaon, is a homestay village at about 1,770 m (5,800 ft), roughly 18 km from Kalimpong and 2.5 km above Ramdhura. It has a clear Kanchenjunga view, forest walks to Ramitey Dara and Damsang fort, and good birds. Two nights is ideal.

The local story

A village of walks between three histories

Icchey Gaon sits on a forested ridge between Kalimpong and Pedong, and the walks from it lead straight into the region's history. About 6 km away is Damsang, where the Lepcha chief Gaeboo Achyok held out against the Bhutanese in the late 17th century. A little further is Pedong's Sangchen Dorjee monastery, built some 300 years ago under Bhutanese rule. Below runs the Reshi river and the border with Sikkim, along the line of the old trade road to Tibet.

The village itself is a farming settlement of Nepali-speaking families, with terraces of maize and vegetables, cardamom in the shade and forest of oak, pine, maple and tree ferns on the slopes above. We have not found a reliable account of what its name means, and locals give different answers, so we will not offer one.

Homestays have grown here as travellers looked for quieter alternatives to Kalimpong, and the village has kept a small scale. Its height, about 250 m above Ramdhura, gives it a wider view: on clear mornings the Kanchenjunga range spreads along the horizon beyond the Teesta valley.

Icchey Gaon sits at about 1,770 m (5,800 ft), roughly 520 m higher than Kalimpong town and 250 m above neighbouring Ramdhura.

Damsang fort, the 17th-century stronghold of the Lepcha chief Gaeboo Achyok, is about 6 km from Icchey Gaon.

The forests around Icchey Gaon hold tree ferns, orchids, oaks, pines and maples, with flycatchers, sunbirds, woodpeckers and emerald cuckoos among the birds.

About Icchey Gaon

Icchey Gaon is the walker's choice among the villages north-east of Kalimpong. From your homestay, trails lead to Ramitey Dara for the Teesta's bends, to Damsang fort, to Ramdhura and Sillery Gaon, and into forest full of birds. In between, you sit in the garden and watch Kanchenjunga.

It is close to Kalimpong, under an hour by car, and costs about the same as its neighbours: ₹1,400–2,200 per person with meals. The village is small and spread out, with homestays of different standards; ask about attached bathrooms and hot water. Two nights give you one day of walking and two chances at a clear dawn.

What to see and do

Kanchenjunga along the horizon

At about 1,770 m, Icchey Gaon has one of the wider views among the villages near Kalimpong. On clear mornings from October to April the range spreads across the horizon beyond the Teesta valley.

Walk to Damsang fort

About 6 km to the ruins of the Lepcha chief Gaeboo Achyok's fort, through forest and farmland, with a guide. A half-day walk into the founding story of the Lepcha people.

Ramitey Dara

The viewpoint above the Teesta's long series of bends, reached on trails from Icchey Gaon or Sillery Gaon. Go in the morning, before haze, with a local guide.

Forest birding

Oak, pine, maple and tree-fern forest around the village holds flycatchers, sunbirds, woodpeckers and, in spring, the calls of emerald cuckoos. Walk the lanes at first light.

Village-to-village walks

Ramdhura is 2.5 km away and Sillery Gaon a longer walk. Send your bags by car and walk between homestays for a slow, cheap trip.

How to get there

Reserved car: From Kalimpong a car costs about ₹1,300–2,000 one way and takes 45 minutes to an hour. From NJP or Bagdogra about ₹4,000–5,500, roughly 89 km and 3.5–4 hours via Kalimpong. NH10 has had closures since October 2023; check current status before you travel.
Shared jeep and car: There is no regular shared jeep to Icchey Gaon. Take a shared jeep from Siliguri to Kalimpong (₹200–300) and then a local car, or ask your homestay to arrange a pickup.
On foot from Ramdhura: Icchey Gaon is about 2.5 km and 45 minutes' walk uphill from Ramdhura along the ridge. Many travellers combine the two villages.

Where to stay

Icchey Gaon has family-run homestays and small cottages spread along the ridge, at about ₹1,400–2,200 per person with dinner and breakfast. Standards vary: some have wood-panelled rooms with attached bathrooms and geysers, others are simpler with shared facilities. Ask for a room facing the Kanchenjunga side. There are no hotels. Ramdhura, 2.5 km below, and Sillery Gaon, further east, have similar homestays; Kalimpong, under an hour away, has government lodges.

Local tips

Plan one full day for a walk to Damsang fort or Ramitey Dara with a local guide.
Ask for a room on the view side and confirm hot water before booking.
Carry cash; there is no ATM and the network for UPI is patchy.
Pack layers: nights drop to around 2–6 °C in winter.
Village roads can be blocked or slippery after heavy rain: check current status before you travel.

02,7005,400

Altitude1,770 m

Hill-station height: cool evenings, a sweater most of the year.

What it costs here

Reserved car from Kalimpong₹1,300–2,000 one way

Reserved car from NJP or Bagdogra₹4,000–5,500 a car

Homestay with dinner and breakfast₹1,400–2,200 pp

Guide for Ramitey Dara or Damsang₹600–1,000

Tea and snacks₹30–100

Indicative, 2025–26. Check current status before you travel.

Best months: Oct – Dec · Mar – May
Nights we suggest: 2
From Kalimpong: ≈ 18 km · 45 min–1 h
Altitude: ≈ 1,770 m
Known for: Kanchenjunga view, walks to Ramitey Dara and Damsang
Network: Jio/Airtel patchy

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BestGoodAvoid or closed

Things to do

Four things to do in Icchey Gaon

Treks and walks · 4–5 hours returnHike from Icchey Gaon to Damsang fortIcchey Gaon · Guide ₹600–1,000

Viewpoints · 3–4 hours returnRamitey Dara from Icchey GaonIcchey Gaon · Guide ₹600–1,000

Wildlife and birds · 2–3 hoursDawn birding in Icchey Gaon's forestIcchey Gaon · Free · guide ₹500–1,000

Viewpoints · 1 hourKanchenjunga dawn from an Icchey Gaon gardenIcchey Gaon · Free from your homestay

On the map

Icchey Gaon and its neighbours

Drawn by Darjeeling Himalayas from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Trips that stop here

Go to Icchey Gaon on a ticket

Value Kalimpong4 nights · Mixed Icchey Gaon and Ramdhura village walks Kalimpong · Ramdhura · Icchey Gaon ₹15,500per person
about ₹3,100 a day

Close by

Nearby places

village1,525 m Ramdhura Pine-ridge village over the Teesta valley, close to Kalimpong

village1,830 m Sillery Gaon Homestay ridge above Pedong with the Teesta's bends below

market town1,240 m Pedong Last bazaar before Jelep La, with a Lepcha fort above it

Ways to travel

Homestays Treks and walks Kanchenjunga views Wildlife and birds

Questions people ask

Questions about Icchey Gaon

How do I reach Icchey Gaon from Kalimpong?

By reserved car, about 18 km and 45 minutes to an hour, for ₹1,300–2,000 one way. There is no regular shared jeep. Your homestay can arrange a pickup from Kalimpong's Motor Stand.

Is it Icchey Gaon, Icche Gaon or Echey Gaon?

All three spellings refer to the same village at about 1,770 m near Kalimpong. You will see each on maps, signs and booking sites. Search with all of them when looking for homestays.

What is the homestay cost in Icchey Gaon?

About ₹1,400–2,200 per person per night with dinner and breakfast, depending on the room and season. Rates rise in October, December and on long weekends. Lunch is extra, around ₹150–250.

How many days should I stay in Icchey Gaon?

Two nights is ideal: one full day for a walk to Damsang fort or Ramitey Dara, and two chances at a clear Kanchenjunga dawn. Add a night in Ramdhura or Sillery Gaon for a slow village circuit.

What is the best time to visit Icchey Gaon?

October to December for clear views and dry trails, and March to May for birds and spring flowers. January and February are cold but often clear. From June to September it is wet and misty, with leeches on forest paths.

Is Icchey Gaon good for trekking?

Yes, for day walks. Trails lead to Damsang fort, about 6 km, Ramitey Dara, Ramdhura and Sillery Gaon. These are village and forest paths rather than high treks, best with a local guide for ₹600–1,000.

Can I see Kanchenjunga from Icchey Gaon?

Yes, on clear days from October to April, best at dawn. The range lies beyond the Teesta valley and the hills of Sikkim. Ask for a homestay with a view-facing room or garden.

Is Icchey Gaon suitable for families?

Yes, for families who enjoy simple stays. Choose a homestay with attached bathrooms and hot water. Short walks to Ramdhura suit children; the Damsang and Ramitey Dara walks suit older children and teenagers.

Is there network in Icchey Gaon?

Patchy. Jio and Airtel work in parts of the village, and data is slow. Download maps and tickets in Kalimpong before you come, and carry cash for homestays and guides.