Photo: Amartyabag · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Icchey GaonHeight above mean sea level 1,770 m

village · Kalimpong and Neora

A small homestay village of forest trails, birds and mountain views

Best Mar – Apr · Oct – Dec1–2 nights

Icchey Gaon, also spelt Icche or Ichhey Gaon, is a small village at about 1,770 m near Algarah, about 18–20 km east of Kalimpong. It has family homestays, Kanchenjunga views, good birding and forest trails to Sillery Gaon, Ramitey Dara and Damsang Fort. Stay one or two nights, October to April.

Icchey Gaon sits at about 1,770 m on the forested ridges between Algarah and Pedong, about 18–20 km and under an hour from Kalimpong. It is a cluster of farmhouses among oak, chestnut, pine and fern, with terraces of maize, ginger and vegetables cut into the slopes. On clear mornings the Kanchenjunga range rises to the north-west, and the hills of Sikkim fill the near horizon. Several footpaths link it with Sillery Gaon and Ramdhura, so you can walk between the villages.

Village tourism here is small and family-run. A number of households take guests in simple homestays, with home-cooked meals and a view from the yard. There is no bazaar, no traffic and little to do but walk, watch birds and eat well. The forest around the village holds flycatchers, sunbirds, woodpeckers, orioles and, with luck, an emerald cuckoo, and October brings marigolds to the slopes. Rates with all meals are modest, usually less than a mid-range hotel room in Kalimpong.

Icchey Gaon is a natural base for short treks. Trails lead to Sillery Gaon, a short walk away, and to viewpoints such as Ramitey Dara above the Teesta and Tinchuley above Sillery. Damsang Fort, the Lepcha ruin near Algarah, is about 6 km away, and Pedong's old monastery is a short drive. It makes a quiet, affordable pause on the way to the Silk Route or Lava. Hire a guide in the village; the fee goes straight to local families.

Don't miss

Highlights of Icchey Gaon

Kanchenjunga from the yard

Most homestays face north-west toward the Kanchenjunga range. On clear mornings from October to April, the peaks catch the first sun while the Teesta valley below lies under cloud. November and December give the steadiest views; spring brings haze by mid-morning.

Trails to Sillery Gaon

Forest and village paths link Icchey Gaon with Sillery Gaon, a short walk away, and continue to Ramitey Dara for the view of the Teesta looping through its valley. A local guide keeps you on the right path and costs little.

Birds in the oak and pine

Mixed forest of oak, chestnut, maple and pine around the village shelters flycatchers, sunbirds, finches, woodpeckers, orioles and rufous sibias. Early mornings in spring are best, when birds are breeding and calling loudly. Bring binoculars.

Damsang Fort nearby

About 6 km away, the ruined Damsang Fort stands on a forested ridge near Algarah. Lepcha tradition links it to Gaeboo Achyok, who is said to have built it around 1690. Combine it with Pedong's monastery for an easy half-day.

Simple homestay food

Meals are home-cooked: rice, dal, garden vegetables, pickles, gundruk and often local chicken, with sel roti or puri for breakfast. Vegetables usually come from the family's own terraces, and most rates include all meals. Tell your host about any diet needs in advance.

Told in the hills

Lepcha forest, Gorkha terraces

The forests around Icchey Gaon were Lepcha country long before any border was drawn. The Lepchas, who call themselves Rongkup, are regarded as the earliest known people of these hills, living by hunting, foraging and shifting cultivation. Lepcha tradition holds that their chief Gaeboo Achyok built Damsang Fort, about 6 km from the village, around 1690 to resist the Bhutanese. Bhutan nonetheless took the hills east of the Teesta and held them until 1865.

After the Treaty of Sinchula handed the Kalimpong tract to British India in 1865, the new administration encouraged settlers to clear forest and farm. Many came from Nepal, bringing terraced farming, maize and millet, and the Nepali language that became the common tongue of the hills. Villages like Icchey Gaon grew from that settlement. Today Lepcha, Gorkha and other families live side by side here, and in recent decades a handful of them have opened their homes to guests.

Pinned to the board

Did you know

Icchey Gaon is also written Icche Gaon or Echey Gaon, and it lies in the Kalimpong II block of Kalimpong district.

Damsang Fort, linked in Lepcha tradition to the chief Gaeboo Achyok, lies about 6 km from Icchey Gaon.

Birds recorded around Icchey Gaon include the Asian emerald cuckoo, rufous sibia, blue whistling thrush and three-toed kingfisher.

Things to do

Four ways to spend a day in Icchey Gaon

4–5 hours Trek to Sillery Gaon and Ramitey Dara Icchey Gaon · Guide ₹500–1,000, indicative

2–3 hours Dawn birding walk at the forest edge Icchey Gaon · Free; local guide ₹500–1,000, indicative

4 hours Damsang Fort and Pedong monastery half-day Icchey Gaon · Car ₹1,500–2,500, indicative

3 hours A day on the farm and in the homestay kitchen Icchey Gaon · Usually free for guests; tip welcome

Getting there

How to reach Icchey Gaon

Shared jeepThere is no regular shared jeep into Icchey Gaon. Take a shared jeep from Kalimpong toward Pedong or Lava, about ₹50–80 a seat to Algarah, indicative for 2026, and ask your homestay to pick you up from Algarah or the nearest point on the main road.

Reserved carA reserved car from Kalimpong costs about ₹1,200–1,800 one way and takes about an hour, indicative for 2026. From NJP, about 89 km, allow 3.5–4 hours and ₹4,000–5,500 per car via Kalimpong and Algarah. The last stretch is narrow; small cars manage in dry weather.

Rail / AirNew Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the nearest major railway station and Bagdogra (IXB) the nearest working airport, both via Siliguri. There is no railway in the hills; continue by road through Sevoke, Teesta Bazaar and Kalimpong.

Costs in Icchey Gaonindicative, 2026

Homestay with meals₹1,200–2,000 per person a night, indicative, 2026
Reserved car Kalimpong → Icchey Gaon₹1,200–1,800 one way, indicative, 2026
Shared jeep Kalimpong → Algarah₹50–80 a seat, indicative, 2026
Local guide for a half-day trek₹500–1,000, indicative, 2026
Half-day car to Damsang and Pedong₹1,500–2,500, indicative, 2026

Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.

Money-saving tip

Travel by shared jeep from Kalimpong to Algarah, arrange a short pick-up with your homestay, and walk to Sillery Gaon and Ramitey Dara with a local guide instead of hiring a sightseeing car.

Where to stay

Sleeping in Icchey Gaon

Icchey Gaon has only family homestays, simple and clean, with attached or shared bathrooms and meals included. Several sit along the village road with views north toward the mountains. Standards vary from house to house, so ask for recent photos, confirm hot water and ask how far the room is from where the car stops. For more homestays and bigger views, stay in Sillery Gaon nearby; for hotels, stay in Kalimpong, where the WBTDC Deolo Tourist Lodge, Holumba Haven and the Elgin Silver Oaks cover different budgets, and visit for a day.

On the map

Drawn by Darjeeling Tour Plan from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Next stations

Near Icchey Gaon

All of Kalimpong

Sillery Gaon1,830 m

A ridge-top homestay village above Pedong with big Kanchenjunga views

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Ramdhura

Ramdhura1,520 m

A pine-ridge homestay village above the Teesta, close to Kalimpong

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Algarah

Algarah1,780 m

The road junction above Kalimpong, with Damsang Fort in the forest

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Pedong

Pedong1,240 m

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Questions people ask

Icchey Gaon: questions answered

How far is Icchey Gaon from Kalimpong

Icchey Gaon is about 18–20 km east of Kalimpong, around an hour by road via Algarah. A reserved car costs about ₹1,200–1,800 one way, indicative for 2026. There is no direct shared jeep, but jeeps to Algarah cost about ₹50–80 a seat, and your homestay can pick you up from there.

Is it Icchey Gaon, Ichhey Gaon or Icche Gaon

They are all the same village. The name is spelt several ways in English, including Icchey Gaon, Ichhey Gaon, Icche Gaon and Echey Gaon. Gaon simply means village in Nepali. Use any spelling with a driver or homestay; they will know it, and mentioning Algarah or Sillery Gaon helps.

What is the altitude of Icchey Gaon

Icchey Gaon stands at about 1,770 m, or roughly 5,800 ft. That makes it cooler than Kalimpong at about 1,250 m and a little lower than Sillery Gaon at about 1,830 m. Winter nights drop close to freezing, while spring and autumn days are mild.

What is there to do in Icchey Gaon

Watch sunrise over the Kanchenjunga range, walk forest trails to Sillery Gaon and Ramitey Dara, go birding at dawn, and visit Damsang Fort and Pedong nearby. Otherwise the point is to slow down: farm walks, homestay meals and quiet evenings. There are no shops or formal sights in the village.

Icchey Gaon or Sillery Gaon, where should I stay

Sillery Gaon is slightly higher, with more homestays and the closest access to Ramitey Dara. Icchey Gaon is smaller and quieter, with good forest for birds and trails. They are a short walk apart, so you will see both whichever you choose. Pick by the homestay and view you prefer.

When is the best time to visit Icchey Gaon

October to December offers the clearest mountain views and dry trails. March and April bring spring birds and flowers, with more haze. January and February are cold but often clear. Avoid the monsoon, June to September, when rain, landslides and leeches make walks unpleasant and roads unreliable.

Are Icchey Gaon homestays expensive

No. Rates are modest, usually about ₹1,200–2,000 per person a night with all meals, indicative for 2026, which is often cheaper than a mid-range hotel in Kalimpong plus restaurant meals. Rooms are simple. Prices rise somewhat in the Puja and Christmas weeks, so book ahead then.

Is there mobile network in Icchey Gaon

Mobile coverage works in most of the village, though signal strength varies by network and spot. Jio and Airtel tend to be the most reliable. Data can be slow, and power cuts can affect Wi-Fi where homestays have it. Download maps and anything important before leaving Kalimpong.

Can I combine Icchey Gaon with Lava and the Silk Route

Yes. Icchey Gaon lies near Algarah, where the roads to Lava and Pedong split. You can spend a night here, then continue to Lava, Rishyap and Neora Valley, or go through Pedong into Sikkim for the Silk Route to Zuluk, which needs special permits through a registered operator.