Meghpiyon Home Stay at Sillery Gaon

Meghpiyon Home Stay is a village homestay in Sillery Gaon, a small hamlet in Kalimpong district of West Bengal, about 23 km from Kalimpong town. Its draw is the view: the Kanchenjunga range spreads across roughly 180 degrees in front of the house, and on a clear morning the snow catches the first light before the valley below has woken up.

Sillery Gaon sits at around 6,000 ft on a forested ridge above the Reshi valley, with Sikkim across the river. It is a quiet place of a few dozen families, pine and bamboo groves, and footpaths that link the houses to the viewpoints. People come here to walk, look at the mountains and sleep early.

The homestay has four bedrooms, kept simple and warm in the way of a mountain family home. The tariff is ₹1,100 per person per night. Tell us your group size when you enquire and we will confirm how the rooms can be arranged for you.

Check-in is from 12 noon and check-out is by 10 am.

Meals are not part of the room price. Homestays in Sillery cook simple local food at home, and the family can tell you what is on offer when you arrive; mention any dietary needs when you book so the kitchen can plan.

Most of what you come to Sillery for is within walking distance of Meghpiyon.

• Ramitey View Point - 2 km, about 15 minutes. From the top you see Kanchenjunga and the winding Teesta far below. Go early for the clearest sky.
• Silent Valley - 1.2 km, about 10 minutes. A grassy clearing ringed by pines, very still in the morning.
• Damsang Fort - roughly 3 km. Only ruins remain of this old Lepcha fort, but the walk through the forest is the real reward.
• Pedong - the nearest small market town, on the road you come in by. The old Sangchen Dorjee Monastery is close to it.

The homestay can also light a bonfire on cold evenings, and a slow village walk is the best way to meet the place.

Sillery Gaon is reached from the Kalimpong side. The road runs from Kalimpong to Algarah and on towards Pedong; shortly before Pedong a narrow gravel road branches off and climbs through forest to the village. That last stretch is bumpy, so a car with good ground clearance is the sensible choice.

• From NJP (New Jalpaiguri station): about 93 km, roughly 4 hours
• From Siliguri bus stand: about 89 km, roughly 4 hours
• From Bagdogra airport: about 99 km, roughly 4.5 hours

A reserved car from NJP or Bagdogra is the simplest option. Shared jeeps run between Kalimpong and Pedong if you are travelling light; ask us and we will tell you where to get down and how to arrange the final pickup.

October and November usually give the clearest views of Kanchenjunga, and March to May brings flowering trees and mild days. December to February is still good for mountain views but very cold at this height, so pack proper woollens. From July to September the rain is heavy, the peaks hide in cloud for days, and leeches appear on the forest paths.

• Check-in 12 noon, check-out 10 am
• Price is per person, meals extra
• Pets are welcome
• Suitable for couples and families
• Free parking at the property
• Mains power in the village can be erratic; carry a power bank and a torch
• The last few kilometres are a rough gravel road; travel before dark

If you want a homestay in Sillery Gaon where the mountain view is the main event, Meghpiyon is that kind of place. Send us your dates and we will hold a room for you.