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Route · Kalimpong
Down from the Lava forests through Gorubathan to the tea gardens and grasslands of the Dooars, for a hills-and-jungle trip in one go. About 80 km and 3–3.5 hours to Lataguri, the village at the Gorumara gate.
| From | To | How | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAVA | GORUMARA NAT | Reserved car | 3–3.5 h | ₹4,000–5,500 A C |
| LAVA | GORUMARA NAT | Shared jeep and bus | 5–6 h | ₹250–400 IN TWO |
From our route pages. Fares change with fuel prices, season and demand: check current status before you travel.
The practical way. The road drops from about 2,200 m at Lava through forest and Gorubathan to the plains near Malbazar, then runs east to Lataguri. Expect hairpins in the first hour and a straight road at the end. Drivers often stop at a tea garden or a riverbed on the way. Check current status before you travel in the monsoon.
Possible for backpackers with time: shared jeep from Lava down to Gorubathan or Malbazar when one is going, then a bus or shared auto to Lataguri. Services are thin and irregular, so leave Lava early and ask at the jeep stand the evening before.
Local tip: Remember that Gorumara National Park closes for the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-September, so time this route for the dry months.
Questions people ask
Lataguri, the main village at the edge of Gorumara National Park, is about 80 km from Lava. The drive takes about 3–3.5 hours by car through Gorubathan and Malbazar, and a reserved car costs roughly ₹4,000–5,500. Safari bookings are separate and must be made in advance.
Yes, and it makes a good contrast: two nights in the Lava forests at about 2,200 m, then two in the Dooars grasslands near 100 m. Gorumara closes for the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-September, and safari rules change. Book your jungle safari in advance and check current status before you travel.
It is a steep, narrow hill road with many bends, used daily by local jeeps and trucks. In dry weather it is fine with a local driver. In the monsoon, landslides and fog can slow it down. Avoid driving it after dark and check current status before you travel.
Often, yes. When NH10 along the Teesta is closed, the road from the Dooars through Gorubathan to Lava, upgraded as an alternative route, is how many people reach Lava and even Kalimpong. It takes longer to Kalimpong, but avoids the Teesta gorge. 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.