Sittong, also spelled Sitong, is a village in Darjeeling's Kurseong division. It is a cluster of villages within a larger area known locally as Sittong Khasmahal. The location has become well-known among tourists as the heart of the orange-growing countryside of the Darjeeling hills.
Apart from its oranges, Sittong has a lot more to offer tourists. Nature is at its pristine best and has bestowed its bounty on Sittong. The area is not yet overly touristic, so visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature without being distracted by the vices of modern tourism. The area is also relatively close to the NJP / Bagdogra arrival point, making it an ideal starting or ending point for your tour.
Within the Sittong Khasmahal area, you can visit the Sittong church, which was once a very old bamboo church but has since been converted into a brick and mortar structure. The location is lovely, with a view of the surrounding hills. In the Upper Sittong area, there is a very old Monastery made mostly of bamboo and mud; this monastery and the ground next to it are ideal places to see the Kanchenjunga range in all its glory.
Sittong is not a solitary tourist destination; it is surrounded on all sides by new and old tourist destinations, the majority of which have retained their original beauty and have not yet become typical touristic.
Book NowThe Sittong area is well-known for its orange cultivation; during the winter months, the entire area turns orange with its orange gardens. Tourists are drawn to the gardens and their products. Sittong is well-known for its orange groves.
Mongpu, also known as Mungpoo, is a small village with a long history. Rabindranath Tagore's Cinchona Village is only 8 kilometres from Sittong. Mungpo, located between 3,500 and 4000 feet in elevation, is well known for its cinchona and medicinal plant cultivation.
Latpanchar is about 7 kilometres away. It is a relatively new tourist destination located on the hilly region of Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary at an elevation of 5000 feet above sea level. You can stay in the village for several days and visit all of the tourist attractions nearby.
The Ahal Dara View Point, also known as Ahal, is located on top of a mountain. The view from this vantage point is breathtaking, set among cinchona plantations. This is the place to take in the beauty of both the mountains and the gurgling Teesta River beneath.
Namthing Lake is a dried lake located above Sittong. "Namthing Pokhri" is a natural lake surrounded by dense thick Pine trees, which are home to a diverse range of birds and butterflies.
With a population of 3246, the village of Sittong Forest is located in the Darjiling district of West Bengal state. Siliguri is the closest town to Sittong Forest, which is about 10 kilometres away.
A rock formation resembling Rabindranath Tagore's face was discovered recently in Sitong, about 45 kilometres from Darjeeling, in a discovery that has the potential to change the local economy.
Tingling Viewpoint, also known as Kawlay Dara Viewpoint, provides an incredible view of the surrounding tea gardens, Mirik Lake, and the beautiful Mirik Valley. Tingling gets its name from a nearby tea estate.
The distance between Siliguri and this location is 26.5 kilometres. The area is well-known for its birds, and a wide variety of birds can be found here. The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and the now-famous birding hotspot of Latpanchar are both nearby. All of the birds seen at Latpanchar, including the Rufus necked hornbill nesting, can also be seen at Sittong. Trekking and camping are two soft adventure options near Sittong. Several trek routes depart from Sittong and lead to a variety of destinations. For example, an hour's trek to the top of the hill, the highest point in the Selphu – Sittong – Latpanchar area, provides a panoramic 360-degree view of the Dooars, Terai, Kurseong, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Sikkim hills, as well as parts of Bhutan and Nepal. Mt. Kanchenjunga can also be seen from here. Another forest trek can take you to Chatakpur, a forest village that has grown in popularity among tourists in recent years.