kalipokhari Home Stay

“So lovely was the loneliness of a wild lake.”

                                                                            --- Edgar Allan Poe

How serene is the way of water? Especially if it is a lake in the very bosom of mighty mountains and beautiful pine forests? A trip to Kalipokhri, Darjeeling will tell you.

On the trekkers’ way to Sandakphu from Manebhanjan is a beautiful hamlet, Kalipokhri. The name of this place comes from the famous Kalipokhri lake situated here with dark waters that get totally frozen in winter. In the Nepali language, ‘kala’ means dark and ‘pokhri’ means lake, hence the name. The place is extremely popular among tourists on the Sandakphu trek. Entering Kalipokhri means hearing the wafting tunes of Nepali music coming from radios of the Nepali families that reside there, along with a view of the lake studded with wild ducks. Located within the Singalila National Park, this place is also frequented by colourful birds. In spring, the pines turn a lush green and the rhodendrons in full bloom create a colorful paradise. Again in winter, the lake gets completely frozen and the glassy view of the snow on the surface is indeed mystical. Moreover, the popular sites of Sandakphu, Tonglu, Tumling, Darjeeling are close to Kalipokhri as well. So on your next Sandakphu trek, make sure to visit Kalipokhri!