Mulkarkha lake is one of the less known destination of north
Bengal. This lake is situated in the border of East Sikkim and West Bengal.
There is one home stay at Mulkarkha village (run by Purnima di and she can plan
and arrange your entire trip, NJP to NJP).
From Mulkarkha village it is an easy 30 minutes walk to
Mulkarkha lake. This lake is also known as ‘Wishing lake’ and is a holy lake.
If the weather is clear, you can get a clear reflection of Mt. Kanchenjunga in
the lake water. People mainly cover Lindsey, Mulkarkha, Tagathan, Jhisung in this
trek and this is a very easy trek and easily completed in 3-4 days.
Day 1 (NJP to Mulkarkha – car and 2 hours walk)
Our plan was made by Purnima di (owner of Mulkarkha home
stay) and she arranged cab for us. When we reached NJP on 8th Oct
morning, we find the van waiting for us. We planned to take our breakfast in
the hills and without wasting time we moved on.
 |
| Beautiful Tista on the way |
We reached Rhenock around noon and had our lunch. There was
a beautiful local market at Rhenock.
 |
| Rhenock market |
We reached the end of motorable road around 3:30 PM. Purnima
di sent her little nephew to guide us for remaining 2km of non-motorable road.
 |
| End of the motor road and our little guide is here |
By the
time we reached Mulkarkha home stay it was raining and lot of leach welcome us
on the way. But after reaching the homestay the food and hospitality of Purnima
di blown away all the hurdle. The beauty of this region is all foods are
organic and homegrown.
 |
| Mulkarkha Home Stay |
Day 2 (Mulkarkha - forced rest day)
Since last day evening it was raining hard and we were
forced to cancel our lake visit plan. But staying at room and looking the thunderstorm
in hills is just awesome. Moreover, when you have some delicious organic local
foods, roasted local chicken along with ‘Tongba’ (traditional and indigenous alcoholic
beverage of Limbu people of eastern Nepal) and a group of close friends.
 |
| Post rain weather survey |
 |
| North bengal hills are really romantic after rain |
 |
| Mulkarkha village after rain |
 |
| Tongba |
Day 3 (Mulkarkha lake
and Tagathan)
Today the weather is bit clear and we started for Mulkarkha
lake in the morning. When we reached, it was still cloudy and we missed the majestic
reflection of world’s 3rd highest peak.
 |
| Mukarkha lake |
 |
| Safikul, Pratul, Mr Guide, Abhijit & Kanchan in front of Mulkarkha Lake |
We came back to our home stay around 11 am and took our
lunch. After lunch we had some photo session with the beautiful people of
Mulkarkha homestay and headed towards Tagathan, our night stay destination for
the day.
 |
| Purnima di at extreme right and her crew member along with us |
The trek route from Mulkarkha to Tagathan is very beautiful
and full off green. It took us 3 hours to reach Tagathan from Mulkarkha home
stay.
 |
| Upper Tagathan |
 |
| Local Cardamom |
 |
| Tagathan village and nice view of Newra valley National Park |
 |
| Kanchan taking rest near Tagathan |
Day 4 (Tagathan to NJP via Jhusing and Lingzey)
Jhusing is also another beautiful place and is about 2 hours
walk from Tagathang. The lush green village walk is very eye soothing. The bird chirping and singing in zero pollution area will make you feel heveny.
 |
| Hand made fence in Tagathan village |
 |
| Colorful Tagathan |
 |
| Tagathan to Jhusing village walk between Cardamom tree |
 |
| Jhisung |
 |
| Jhusing Home Stay |
There is a very beautiful Falls
named as Serveng falls near Jhusing homestay. One need to walk down hill for 30 minutes to reach the 200 ft high falls.
 |
| 200 ft high Serveng falls |
 |
| And the most painful part of every tour - Returning |
Few information:
Mulkarkha lake (7300 feet) is easy 30-40 mins hiking from Mulkharka village
Tagathan (5900 ft.) is 5 km downhill trek from Mulkarkha lake
Jhusing (5400 ft.) is 3 KM trek from Tagathan and requires 1 hour jungle road trek
and 10 mnts road walk to reach.
Most of the people start from Lindsey and then stay at Jhusing and next day at Tagathan then Mulkarkha. This is a uphill trek and our plan was down hill and relatively easy.
Please find more details, snaps and video in following link:
