RANGBANG - CHAMONG

A Perfect Weekend Gateway to relax in the Lap of Mountains. Rangbang–Chamong (also called Chamu) is a village in the Jorebunglow, Sukhiapokhri in the Southern portion of the Darjeeling Himalayan Hill Region, in the Darjeeling District, in the state of West Bengal, India.

Just 60 km away from Siliguri, Rangbang–Chamong, Darjeeling is a clam and quiet Himalayan tiny village where the quest of searching an ideal village ornamented with orange orchards, blue hills, white mountains and endless tea gardens end. There was a chirpy bird in this area, which the inhabitants, the Lepchas, used to call “Chamoo” and from that the place became Chamong.

Far from the tourist rush and quite adjacent to Darjeeling and Mirik, Rangbang–Chamong, Darjeeling is flourishing rapidly as one of the most visited tourist destination. Replete with a plethora of tea gardens, long nature walks, vibrant Himalayan Birds, colourful flowers and trekking trails, let us describe what it has to offer more to its nature-loving tourists.

Down below flows the Rangbang River and a small forest which is the dwelling of different types of birds. Those who are interested in trekking or birdwatching and ornithology can climb down to the bank of the river. There are no such motorable roads in Rangbang connecting the village houses but cobbled footpaths that would remind you of fairy tales. So, morning and evening strolls would be ideal around Rangbang.

You can go to the Mirik Heliport or Simana View Point in the early mornings to see the sunrise over Mt. Kanchenjunga. You can spend your evenings around the fireside hearing the forgotten stories of the demons and kings of the Himalayas from the locals. You can also enjoy Nepali folk music and dance. You can take pony rides to nearby tea gardens, arrange picnics on the shores of Rangbang River and visit the Rock Gardens to enjoy a beautiful view of the sparkling waters of Rangbang River, Balason River and the endless stretches of paddy fields.

You can also spend a lazy day just reading your favourite novel at Rangbang or trek through the mountains and orchards along with a guide. Another special feature of Rangbang is the integration of different communities. There are Lepchas, Gurungs, Tamangs, Rais and Limboos. They have their own dialects and their own unique culture, food and lifestyle. One can experience village life in all its fullness.

Tourist alluring proportions are in abundance in and around the village. Hence, visitors will not get bored at all. Here are the following activities they can do while staying at the Rangbang–Chamong, Darjeeling. The shimmering Rangbang River floats across the valley of Rangbang–Chamong, Darjeeling which looks astonishing far from the village. The charming beauty of the mountain peaks such as Mount Kanchenjunga can be caught from the village. The naturally formed Rock Garden with some strange formations of Rangbang that lures tourist towards it.

» Chamong Tea Factory

» Rangbang High School

» Rangbang Rural Library

» Ashish Nursery

» Cymbidium Orchids Nursery

» Shivalaya Mandir

Chamong Tea Garden was established by the British planters in 1871. It was one of the first gardens in Darjeeling to be acquired by the Lohia Group. Nestled in the misty hills of Darjeeling, Chamong Tea Estate stretches over 900 acres of lush green land that houses a tea plantation covering the area in altitudes from 3600 feet to as high as 6000 feet, a tea factory and a village for the tea pickers. Most of the land is forested, with an abundance of flora and fauna. The incredible splendour of the rolling hills, the verdant tea bushes and the quiet daily life makes this area popular amongst visitors. The tall, deciduous forest makes way for multiple scenic walking trails and you’ll soon discover monkeys frolicking amidst the ferns and shrubs.

The Chamong Tea Estate is a part of the Chamong Tea Group and is one of the prime producers of Organic and Fair Trade teas in North India. A family legacy Since 1916, Chamong Tee estates are a generational business of growing, harvesting, and producing some of India’s finest tea. The family first ventured into the prestigious tea industry of India as early as 1916 when they acquired their first tea garden in Assam and flourished ever since. The Chamong family’s impeccable know-how, when it comes to producing tea of the highest quality imaginable, enabled them to expand to 4 estates in Assam and 13 in the misty hills of Darjeeling.

Altogether, Chamong family produces some of the most valuable varieties of tea in the world, each cultivated with great care at our iconic tea estates. There are 78 tea gardens/estates (the figure varies slightly according to different sources), in the district, producing and largely exporting Darjeeling tea. It engages a large proportion of the population directly/ indirectly.