Exploring the tranquil beauty: Dhotrey to Tumling Trek
The scenic Dhotrey-Tonglu-Tumling trek is perfect for any traveller with wanderlust and a desire to experience trekking in West Bengal — without much rigorous walking. It is an enjoyable experience hiking through the rhododendron forests, breathing in the mountain air and ultimately, getting that rewarding view of Mt. Kanchenjunga.
For those who do not feel comfortable walking all the way up to Sandkaphu, the hamlets of Tonglu and Tumling offer a small preview of the main trek. Walking past tall pine trees and enjoying the colour burst of rhododendrons in April-May, or the snowfall in December-January, is a refreshing experience for first-time trekkers.
To reach Tonglu and Tumling, one needs to take a five-hour drive up to Manebhanjan from New Jalpaiguri. From Manebhanjan, it's a 90-minute drive in a vintage Land Rover to Tumling, followed by Tonglu.
However, to reach these destinations on foot, trekkers have to take a detour from Manebhanjan to Dhotrey, which is a village comprising 80-odd houses at an altitude of 8,500 feet. From this serene village, a six-kilometre walk through a forest takes trekkers to Tonglu and then Tumling. The return journey is through Meghma and Chitre on the Land Rover route.