Sittong lies in the Riyang river valley in the heart of Darjeeling's orange-growing area, about 20 km from Mungpoo and 13 km from Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.
Source: Sittong
Village in Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Sittong
Orange orchards and homestays in the Riyang valley
Sittong is a cluster of farming villages at about 1,200 m in the Riyang river valley, 24 km below Kurseong. It is the heart of Darjeeling's orange country; trees ripen from late November to January. Stay 2 nights in a family homestay, walk the orchards and visit Mungpoo's Tagore house.
Photo: Auli Raha (অলি রাহা) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsSittong is not a town but a spread of hamlets on the slopes of the Riyang river valley, east of Kurseong. Houses sit among terraces of maize, cardamom and ginger, and almost every courtyard has orange trees. From late November the trees turn gold with Darjeeling mandarin oranges, and the villages earn the name visitors give them: the orange village.
Many families here are Lepcha, and the valley has a long farming history. Nearby Mungpoo was chosen in 1862 for the government's cinchona plantations, grown to make quinine against malaria, and the Directorate of Cinchona still runs plantations across these slopes. The directorate has also organised an orange festival in Sittong in December in some years, with talks on cultivation and local performances; check current status before you travel.
Sittong suits travellers who want to slow down. Days start with a walk through the orchards, continue with a drive to Mungpoo's Rabindra Bhavan or to Latpanchar's forest for birds, and end around a homestay kitchen. Roads are narrow and steep, and some stretches are rough. Phone signal is patchy. Bring cash and patience.
Say it like a local · NepaliSuntala
orange; the fruit that gives Sittong its fame
What to do in Sittong
Orange harvest walks
From late November to January, walk between village houses and terraced orchards heavy with mandarin oranges. Families pick by hand into baskets. Your homestay host can arrange a walk through their own trees and those of neighbours, with fruit straight from the branch.
Rabindra Bhavan at Mungpoo
About 20 km from Sittong, Mungpoo's Rabindra Bhavan is the bungalow where Rabindranath Tagore stayed between 1938 and 1940 as the guest of the writer Maitreyi Devi. It now displays his photographs, writings and furniture.
Cinchona plantations
The slopes between Sittong, Mungpoo and Latpanchar are planted with cinchona, the tree whose bark yields quinine. The government began commercial cultivation at Mungpoo in 1862. Rows of trees and the old plantation buildings are visible from the road.
Latpanchar and Mahananda forest
Latpanchar, about 7 km from Sittong, sits on the edge of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Birders come for forest species including hornbills. Morning walks with a local guide give the best chance of sightings.
The Riyang river
Below the villages, the Riyang river runs over boulders between forested banks. A walk down to the water and back takes a couple of hours. In the dry months the pools are clear; avoid the riverbed in the monsoon.
Field notes
What most guides miss about Sittong
Dr Thomas Anderson of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta, chose the Mungpoo hills in 1862 for commercial cinchona cultivation to produce quinine. Plantations later spread to Munsong, Rongo, Latpanchar and Ambotia.
Source: Mangpu
Rabindranath Tagore visited Mungpoo often between 1938 and 1940, staying with Maitreyi Devi, whose husband ran the quinine factory. Their bungalow is now the Rabindra Bhavan museum.
Source: Mangpu
Experiences
Three days worth having in Sittong
Photo: Auli Raha (অলি রাহা) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Sittong · 2–3 hours
Orange orchard walk with a village family
Walk the terraces of Sittong with your homestay family in orange season, see how Darjeeling mandarins are grown and pic…
Usually included in homestay; fruit ₹100–250 a dozen
Photo: Vishalrai03 · CC0 · Commons
Sittong · Half day
Tagore's house and cinchona at Mungpoo
Drive to Mungpoo, about 20 km from Sittong, to visit Rabindra Bhavan, the bungalow where Rabindranath Tagore stayed bet…
Museum free or small fee; car ₹1,500–2,000 return
Photo: Rupeshsarkar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Sittong · 3–4 hours
Birding walk at Latpanchar forest edge
Drive 7 km to Latpanchar, on the upper edge of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, for a dawn birding walk with a local guide…
Guide ₹800–1,500; car ₹800–1,200
Real prices
What things cost in Sittong
ItemIndicative 2026
Homestay with dinner and breakfast₹1,500–2,500 per person
Reserved car, NJP to Sittong₹3,000–4,000
Reserved car, Kurseong to Sittong₹1,800–2,500
Local guide for a birding walk, half day₹800–1,500
Oranges from an orchard family, per dozen₹100–250 in season
Rabindra Bhavan entryFree or small fee
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Getting there
How to reach Sittong
Air
Bagdogra Airport is about 70 km away, around 3 hours by car via Sevoke and Latpanchar or via Kurseong. A reserved car costs about ₹3,500–4,500.
Rail
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the nearest railway station, roughly 60 km and 2.5–3 hours by road. Your homestay can arrange pickup.
Road
Shared jeeps to Sittong are few and irregular, usually from Kurseong or Siliguri in the morning. Most travellers hire a car. From Kurseong the road runs about 24 km via Dilaram and Bagora, roughly 1.5 hours. Roads are narrow; check current status in the monsoon.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Sittong
Sittong is a homestay village. Saver and comfort travellers stay with families in Lepcha and Nepali homes, in simple rooms with shared or attached bathrooms, at about ₹1,500–2,500 per person including dinner and breakfast. A few newer homestays have larger rooms and orchard views at slightly higher rates. There is no luxury hotel; signature travellers usually stay in Kurseong at Taj Chia Kutir or Cochrane Place and visit on a day trip. Book through a known operator, since many homes have no website.
Trips that stop here
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Photo: Auli Raha (অলি রাহা) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
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Questions
Sittong, answered
Where is Sittong and how do I get there?
Sittong is in the Riyang valley in the Kurseong subdivision of Darjeeling district, about 24 km from Kurseong and roughly 60 km from NJP. Most travellers hire a car from NJP, Siliguri or Kurseong, a 1.5 to 3 hour drive. Shared jeeps are few and irregular, so arrange transport through your homestay.
When is orange season in Sittong?
Oranges ripen from late November and are picked through January. December is usually the peak. Harvests vary with weather and tree health, so ask your homestay before you book. Outside orange season Sittong is still pleasant from October to April.
How much does a Sittong homestay cost?
Expect about ₹1,500–2,500 per person per night including dinner and breakfast, in simple rooms with home-cooked food. Rooms with attached bathrooms and views cost a little more. Book in advance for December. Prices are indicative 2026.
Is there mobile network in Sittong?
Coverage is patchy and depends on the network and your exact hamlet. Some homestays have Wi-Fi, which slows in bad weather. Tell family you may be offline, download maps in advance, and carry cash, since UPI may not work.
Is Sittong good for families with children?
Yes, if children are happy without malls and screens. Orchard walks, village animals and river trips keep them busy. Paths are steep and rooms simple. Carry basic medicines; the nearest hospital is in Kurseong or Siliguri.
Is the Sittong orange festival held every year?
The West Bengal Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants has organised an orange festival in Sittong in December, with seminars, demonstrations and cultural events. It is not held on fixed dates and may not run every year, so check current status before you travel.
Can I visit Sittong in the monsoon?
We do not recommend June to August. Heavy rain makes the narrow roads slippery and prone to small slides, leeches appear on paths, and there are no oranges. September can work towards the end, but October onwards is far better.
Is Sittong safe for solo travellers?
Yes. It is a quiet farming area, and homestay families look after guests. Solo women travellers should book homestays through known operators and share their plans. Avoid walking on forest roads after dark, mainly because of uneven ground and wildlife.
What else can I combine with Sittong?
Combine Sittong with Kurseong for tea gardens, Mungpoo for the Tagore house and Latpanchar for birding. With more time, continue to Takdah or Darjeeling. A 7-night village trip can link Sittong, Takdah and Lepchajagat by private car.