village · Rishyap, Kalimpong
Evening with a Rishyap homestay family
Evenings in Rishyap are dark, quiet and cold, and the warmest place in a homestay is usually the kitchen. Many hosts are happy for guests to sit with them while dinner is cooked over a gas or wood stove. Over tea, ask about life before tourism, when families farmed potatoes and maize and walked to Lava for supplies.
Dinner is usually rice, dal, a vegetable curry, greens, pickle and chicken or eggs if you want them, with roti on request. On cold nights some hosts make thukpa, a noodle soup of Tibetan origin, or a simple soup with local squash. Tell your hosts in the afternoon what you would like and about any dietary needs.
After dinner, step out on to the terrace on clear nights for the stars, wrapped in a blanket. Respect household routines: families go to bed early and start early, especially in winter. Pay for any extras before you leave, and if you enjoyed your stay, a word to other travellers helps small homestays more than anything.
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Questions people ask
Good to know
Are Rishyap homestays heated
Mostly not. Rooms are rarely centrally heated, though some homestays provide electric heaters for a charge or extra blankets and hot-water bottles. At about 2,590 m, nights from November to March are near or below freezing. Bring thermals and a warm hat for sleeping, and ask your host what heating is available when booking.
What is the food like in Rishyap homestays
Simple and home-cooked: rice, dal, vegetable curry, greens, pickles and usually chicken or eggs, with roti, thukpa or soups on request. Breakfast is typically puri, bread, eggs or noodles with tea. Vegetarian food is easy to arrange. Meals are generally included in the per-person rate, so confirm when you book.
Is there electricity and hot water in Rishyap
Yes, homestays have electricity, though power cuts happen in bad weather, so carry a torch and power bank. Hot water is supplied by geysers or heated in buckets, and may be limited in the mornings when everyone wants it. Ask your host for the best time to bathe, usually late morning or afternoon.
