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Route · Darjeeling
Darjeeling to Mirik is about 49 km and 2–2.5 hours, through Ghoom, Lepchajagat, Sukhia Pokhari and the Simana viewpoint above Nepal. Shared jeeps cost about ₹150–200 a seat. It is a quieter road than the Hill Cart Road, through forest and tea.
| From | To | How | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DARJEELING | MIRIK | Shared jeep | 2–2.5 h | ₹150–200 |
| DARJEELING | MIRIK | Reserved car | 2 h | ₹2,500–3,500 A C |
From our route pages. Fares change with fuel prices, season and demand: check current status before you travel.
Shared jeeps for Mirik leave from Chowk Bazaar motor stand in the morning and early afternoon. If you miss a direct jeep, take one to Sukhia Pokhari (about ₹70–100) and change there. The road runs through the forest at Lepchajagat and past Jorepokhri's turn-off, then down through tea gardens to Mirik's lake.
A reserved car lets you stop at Lepchajagat's viewpoint, Jorepokhri's twin ponds, Simana's border viewpoint and the tea gardens around Gopaldhara before Mirik. Many drivers also offer the Pashupati market across the Nepal border as a side trip. Agree stops and waiting time beforehand.
Local tip: Do this drive in the morning: by afternoon the forest stretch around Lepchajagat is often deep in cloud.
Questions people ask
About 49 km by road, which takes 2 to 2.5 hours via Ghoom, Lepchajagat, Sukhia Pokhari and Simana. Shared jeeps cost about ₹150–200 a seat and a reserved car about ₹2,500–3,500. The road climbs slightly before descending to Mirik's lake at about 1,500 m.
Yes, it is a common day trip by reserved car, about ₹3,000–4,000 for the round trip with stops. Leave by 8 am, take in Lepchajagat and Simana on the way, spend two or three hours at Mirik, and be back before dark. On shared jeeps a day trip is possible but rushed.
Simana is a roadside viewpoint between Sukhia Pokhari and Mirik that looks west across the border into Nepal's Ilam hills and the town of Pashupatinagar. On clear days you see terraced hills and tea. It is a ten-minute stop, with tea and snack stalls.
Indian citizens can usually cross at Pashupati with photo ID for a short visit to the market, and many Darjeeling drivers include it. Foreign nationals need a Nepal visa and must use an authorised crossing. Rules and timings change, so check current status before you travel.
Plan with a local
Where you want to go, how many of you, and roughly what you want to spend a day. A planner who lives in these hills replies within one working day with a route and every rupee written down.