Nature · Mirik, Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Morning walk around Sumendu Lake
Walk the 3.5 km road around Mirik's Sumendu Lake at first light, through pine woods and past the Savitri Pushpaudyan garden, cross the Indreni Pul footbridge, and look for Kangchenjunga on the far horizon.
Photo: Benoy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsSumendu Lake is about 1.25 km long, set in a green bowl at roughly 1,495 m. The 3.5 km lakeside road is flat by hill standards and makes an easy morning walk. Start from Krishnanagar, where most hotels are, and walk anticlockwise so that the pine woods are on your right for the first stretch, with mist lifting off the water.
On the garden side, the Savitri Pushpaudyan is named after Savitri Thapa, and the arched footbridge, the Indreni Pul, after Indreni Thapa, both remembered as soldiers of the Indian National Army. Cross the bridge to the garden and look north: on a clear morning Kangchenjunga appears beyond the ridges. Fishermen and joggers are about at this hour.
By mid-morning the lake changes character. Boats go out for hire, pony men line the shore, and families arrive from Siliguri. If you want a boat, take it early. Finish with tea and sel roti at a stall near the bridge, or walk up to Bokar Monastery for the view down over the lake.
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Photo: PrashansaGurung · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Climb to Bokar Monastery above the lake
Walk up from Sumendu Lake to Bokar Monastery, a Kagyu monastery at about 1,768 m, the highest point of Mirik. Sit in on…
Photo: Shubh.ch1994 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tea garden and orange orchard drive
A half-day drive through the tea estates around Mirik, including Thurbo, Soureni and the high Gopaldhara garden, with s…
Questions
Before you book
How long is the walk around Mirik Lake?
The road around the lake is about 3.5 km and takes 1–1.5 hours at an easy pace with stops. It is mostly flat, with a few gentle slopes, and suits seniors and children. There are benches and tea stalls along the way.
Can I go boating on Mirik Lake?
Yes, rowing and paddle boats are available for hire from the lakeside, usually for 20–30 minute slots at about ₹100–300. Life jackets should be provided; ask for them. Boating may stop in bad weather or during maintenance; check current status on arrival.
Can I see Kangchenjunga from Mirik?
On clear mornings, mostly October to March, Kangchenjunga is visible on the northern horizon from the lakeside and from higher points like Bokar Monastery. It is farther and smaller than from Darjeeling. Haze and cloud hide it most afternoons and in the monsoon.