Baasbari Farms (Bijanbari) – Rejuvenate Your Soul

Distressed of your hectic schedule and want to get rid of it for a day or two? Trust me! Recently opened Baasbari Farms in Bijanbari, about 24 KMs from Darjeeling would be the best bet for you. Completely built in an eco-friendly manner with locally found commodities, Baasbari Farms is the first of its kind in the whole Darjeeling district. As connoted from the name, Baasbari Farms houses a cottage completely formed out of bamboo and woods. Besides the bamboo cottage, Baasbari Farms also houses two tented camps.

Baasbari Farms serves to be a green stay with an elegantly designed landscape along with an exquisite view of lush green hills, blooming tea gardens and natural forests. In addition to the green nature, Baasbari Farms aspires to serve as a model of sustainable living. The whole property is a no-plastic zone and has its own onsite solid waste management system. Thus, loitering around the stay is strictly prohibited. Another attraction of Baasbari farms is their food. The host of Baasbari Farms makes the food for the guests out of the locally grown organic farm-based products which are not only homely but delicious and finger-licking.

At Baasbari Farms you can spend your day by relaxing your tired soul with a cup of Darjeeling tea sitting on the balcony looking over the graceful green nature. If you can afford an extra day, you can choose to hike various trails from Bijanbari. You can hike to Singla Bazar or Relling. You can also hike to Darjeeling via Pulbazar. Bird lovers can also capture various species of birds. In a sentence, Baasbari Farms would be the best destination if you want to give your nerves some quiet time off.

Itinerary

Day 1 – 24th Dec 2020: CCU – IXB. IXB – Lungchu
Day 2 – 25th Dec 2020: Lungchu
Day 3 – 26th Dec 2020: Lungchu – Tabakoshi
Day 4 – 27th Dec 2020: Tabakoshi – Bungkulung
Day 5 – 28th Dec 2020: Bungkulung – Baasbari (Bijanbari)
Day 6 – 29th Dec 2020: Baasbari (Bijanbari)
Day 7 – 30th Dec 2020: Baasbari (Bijanbari) – Lamagaon
Day 8 – 31st Dec 2020: Lamagaon – Darjeeling
Day 9 – 1st Jan 2021: Darjeeling
Day 10 – 2nd Jan 2021: Darjeeling
Day 11 – 3rd Jan 2021: Darjeeling – IXB. IXB – CCU

NOTE: Lungchu is in Kalimpong district while the remaining destinations of our tour are in Darjeeling district. Generally, this should not be a route plan of yours, however, as we wanted to explore Lungchu we planned it anyway.

Lungchu – A Secluded Destination In North Bengal
Tabakoshi – A Land of Pristine Tea Garden
Bungkulung – Bird Watchers Paradise
Baasbari Farms (Bijanbari) – Rejuvenate Your Soul
Lamagaon – A Pristine Hamlet Of North Bengal

How To Reach

Hosts at Baasbari Farms can arrange for your pickup/drop from NJP / Bagdogra. It’d cost you around Rs. 4500/- (each way) for a 4 Seater / Sumo / Bolero etc. Innova would set you back by around Rs. 5000/- – Rs. 5500/- each way. However, if you are a budget tourist and do not want to spend a dime on a private vehicle, then you can hop into shared vehicles to Bijanbari from Siliguri which will cost you around Rs. 250/- per head. If you are heading from Darjeeling instead, it’d cost you Rs. 150/- per head.

What To See / What To Do

At Baasbari Farms one can relax their drooping soul under the shadow of green nature. If you are a bird photographer then you can roam around the property to frame different species of Himalayan birds. You can also visit the riverside to let your soul flow by it while relishing the surrounding nature. You can even choose to take a dip in the clear cool water.

If you can afford to stay for another night, then you can hike to Singla Bazar which can be reached in 4 hours. You can also choose to hike to Relling that is 8 KMs away from Bijanbari.

Day 5 – 28th Dec 2020 – Bunkulung – Baasbari (Bijanbari) :

We started from Bungkulung at around 10:00 AM. We drove past the small beautiful town of Soureni and reached Mirik at 11:00 AM. Being offbeat lovers we decided not to halt at the touristy Mirik Lake. Instead, we halted at Mirik Bazar as Dilip Da wanted to buy a jacket. After about spending 30 minutes or so in the Mirik Bazar, we drove directly to the border of Pashupati Market. We had our plans to do some shopping in this market. However, due to Covid19, the border was sealed for Indians. With no other options left and with a heavy heart we moved forward to Lepchajagat passing the town of Sukhiapokhri and the misty pine forests.

We reached Lepchajagat approximately at around 1:15 PM. Lepchajagat is a small picturesque village surrounded with misty pine forests where the Sun plays hide n seek throughout the day. There are only about 12 – 15 families living in this village amongst which most of them are relatives. With our previous trip to Lepchajagat in 2018, we had developed a wonderful relationship with Mr Pasang Tamang (owner of Kanchankanya Homestay) and Mrs Raveena (owner of a small food joint and Lepcha View Homestay). As we went up to her shop she recognised us and greeted us with her everlasting smile. We introduced Dilip Da and Boudi with Raveena Ji and requested Raveena Ji to prepare 6 plates of momos for us as we were quite hungry by the time. While our food was being prepared me and my husband went ahead to have a quick greeting with Mr Tamang. It really feels good when people from previous trips recognise us and welcome us warmly.

After a sweet chit chat with Mr Tamang and a promise to come back again, we moved to Raveena Ji’s shop to smack over her yummy momos. Done with momos we ordered a plate of wai-wai each. I must mention that the cooking skills of Raveena Ji is something outstanding and that’s the reason you’d always find a flock of guests in her shop. After fulfilling our stomach with such delicacies I took Dilip Da and Boudi for a short walk through the village as this was their first time in the misty hamlet of Lepchajagat. Finally bidding goodbye to Raveena Ji we left Lepchajagat at 2:45 PM.

After driving for around 10 – 15 minutes through the mystic gorgeous pine forests of Lepchajagat you need to take a left turn to the road that leads to Bijanbari. If you are coming from Darjeeling / Ghoom, this is the same route you need to opt for. After a drive for quite a few minutes, we spotted a clear view of snow-capped Kanchendzonga. We requested Babai Da to halt for a moment as we wanted to click some pictures and have a smoke! Post the photo session, we drove further to Bijanbari Bazar passing the elegant green tea gardens of Maybong and Chongtong.

As we reached nearer to Bijanbari we called upon Mr Dipesh Pradhan for guiding us with the exact location of Baasbari Farms. Mr Pradhan informed us to wait near the Bijanbari Hospital where he will meet us and guide us the route further. Finally after 5 minutes or so we noticed Mr Pradhan coming with his grey i10. He greeted us and informed Babai Da that the road further is in the worst condition and whether he could drive the car through the steep uphill narrow creek. Babai Da, being highly experienced in driving in the hills, smiled and replied: “Daju, I’ve been driving since the last 20 years”. Upon receiving confirmation Dipesh Ji drove in front of us while Babai Da followed him. Here, I must mention that one needs to be quite experienced and to be very firm on steering as the road here is narrow with steep uphill turnings. On top of that, the condition of the road is in its worst condition, with the whole patch being completely muddy. A drive for a few minutes through this muddy road and we finally reached the eco-friendly Baasbari Farms.

The entrance to the Baasbari Farms is well marked with a bamboo gate and a wooden board displaying the name of the homestay. We loved the place at the first sight and was amazed by its greenery all around. Govind Ji, one of the key staff of Baasbari Farms helped us out with our luggage and led us to our pre-booked bamboo cottage, the primary attraction of Baasbari Farms. Baasbari Farms has 1 unit of Bamboo Cottage and 2 units of Luxury Tents. Contemplating with the name Baasbari Farms, the cottages and every furniture out here is made of bamboo which has been sourced locally.

The Bamboo Cottage is beautifully decorated with various home decors that are hand-made from natural products. The bed is formed with bamboo. Being a luxury cottage, one will find amenities such as a mini-fridge, a dress stand made of bamboo, electric heater and a container of Darjeeling Tea and sugar. They also provide a multi-charger for your convenience. The balcony is beautifully decorated with two chairs and a tea table with a flower pot at the centre of it. However, besides all these, we were not appealed by the view from the balcony as shown in the pictures.

Already being 5 PM by then we ordered a cup of tea each. After having our tea we gossiped amongst ourselves for a while and enjoyed amongst ourselves for the rest of the evening. At around 9:30 PM Govind Ji called us for dinner. One needs to climb up a few stairs made of bamboo to go to the dining hall for dinner. We were served rice, dal, salad, sabji and chicken curry. The food was homely but delicious and finger-licking. We had our best meals at Baasbari Farms! Thanks to Subham Ji whose cooking skills made us a fan of him and fell in love with Baasbari Farms. Upon enquiring, we came to know that Subham Ji used to be a chef at some hotel in Delhi. After dinner, we gossiped for a while and finally dozed off to the bed.

Day 6 – 29th Dec 2020 – Baasbari (Bijanbari) :

At around 7:00 AM we woke up with the bright sun rays plunging over our face while our ears were soothed by the sounds of chirping birds. We took our time for the morning freshness and then sat at the balcony with a cup of Darjeeling Tea in hand. We were dazed with the view of bright sunlight falling on the adjacent green tea garden. Our previous night’s feelings were waved off with the picturesque view of the balcony in the morning. We spent quite a long time here clicking pictures with a cup of Darjeeling Tea as the dazzling sunlight glittered our face.

Around 9:00 AM we went to the dining area to have our breakfast. We were served with bread toast, omelette and aloo paratha and a cup of tea each as per our order. No need to mention the food was really sumptuous. Completing our breakfast we thought to explore the Baasbari Farms.

We first went to the tent that is located to the left of the Bamboo Cottage. This unit is known as Luxury Tent – I. One needs to climb down 3 – 4 stairs and pass a wooden bridge through the forest to reach the tent. This tent contains a double bed, an attached washroom and an electric kettle. From this tent, one can have a view of the natural forest and the tea garden adjacent to the tent. Here one can also hear the sound of the river flowing by the hills. Next, we visited the Luxury Tent – II. Just before you take a left to the dining a narrow path from there will lead you to this unit. This unit has two single beds with an attached washroom, an open shower area for summers, electric stand fan and an electric kettle. This unit of tent presents you with a view of the newly generated forest plantations and the natural forest.

We kept this day ideal for relaxing our tired soul in the lap of mother nature. However, with an ample amount of time left for lunch, we decided to explore Relling Rangit River Resort, another well-known property at Bijanbari.

We reached the resort within 40 – 45 minutes. Relling Rangit River Resort appeared to be more man-made than Bassbari Farms. However, this resort is located just by the river bed. Those who want to enjoy your stay by the river you can choose to stay here instead of Bassbari Farms. The resort has 3 cottages. At the entrance of the resort, there is a manmade pond and an iron suspension bridge over it. This resort also has a swimming pool which is about 500mtrs walk from the main resort. The USP of Relling Rangit River Resort is their in-house rock band named Rangit Blues. We rock and rolled over a few blues number before heading back to our shelter – Baasbari Farms,

It was already 1:30 PM when we reached back to Baasbari Farms. We decided to take a quick shower and proceed for our lunch. The lunch was delicious and heavenly as expected. With our experience with previous meals, we knew the meals here at Baasbari Farms won’t go wrong!

Being winter afternoon, post-lunch we decided to sit on the green grass and soak ourselves in the warmth of the blazing sun gossiping over various topics. As the brightness of the sun went down we moved back to our cottage. We organised our things back as we had some plans for the evening. Soon Govind Ji served us our tea.

Yesterday, we came to know that Baasbari Farms offer complimentary Bonfire for all the guests staying there. Thus, today our plan for the evening was to sit with our liquor under the open sky with twinkling stars and a bonfire in the middle. According to our plan at around 6:00 PM we went ahead to the place beside the dining hall where the hosts arranged a bonfire for us. We started the evening with an amazing song sung by Govind Ji. He told us about his journey to the selection process of two reality shows, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Indian Idol and how he was backed out from there. We really felt bad for him. Throughout the evening he amazed us with his beautiful tunes as we sipped over our glass of liquor. It was already 10 PM by then when we realised it was quite late at night and we needed to release the staff as they needed to go back home. Finally, we requested them to serve our dinner.

(From Right) Govind Ji, Mikesh Ji & Subham Ji – The Chef

With high expectations with our meals, instead of having the same old Thali, we decided to try out Chinese Cuisine today. We had ordered chicken fried rice and chilli chicken for all of us. Truly speaking, our expectation was set back as we missed the deliciousness of Thali. Even Though the fried rice was good enough, however, the chilli chicken was not up to the mark. We regretted that we should have stuck with generic Thali. Finally, we returned back to our cottage after bidding goodbye to Govind Ji, Mikesh Ji and Subham Ji for such a wonderful evening.

We decided to spend a few minutes at the balcony chilling ourselves allowing the winter breeze to intervene our nerves while watching over the clear twinkling sky, before hitting the bed

Reviews :

Baasbari Farms: Baasbari Farms serves to be a green stay with an elegantly designed landscape along with an exquisite view of lush green hills, blooming tea gardens and natural forests. In addition to the green nature, Baasbari Farms aspires to serve as a model of sustainable living. At Baasbari Farms you can spend your day by relaxing your tired soul with a cup of Darjeeling tea sitting on the balcony looking over the graceful green nature. Bird lovers can walk throughout the property and capture various species of it. Baasbari Farms would be the perfect destination if you want to give your nerves some quiet time off.

The entrance to the Baasbari Farms is well marked with a bamboo gate and a wooden board displaying the name of the homestay. We loved the place at the first sight and was amazed by its greenery all around. Besides the bamboo cottage – the primary attraction of Baasbari Farms, it also houses 2 units of Luxury Tents. Contemplating with the name Baasbari Farms, the cottages and every furniture out here is made of bamboo which has been sourced locally.

The Bamboo Cottage is beautifully decorated with various home decors that are hand-made from natural products. The bed is formed with bamboo. Being a luxury cottage, one will find amenities such as a mini-fridge, a dress stand made of bamboo, electric heater and a container of Darjeeling Tea and sugar. They also provide a multi-charger for your convenience. The balcony is beautifully decorated with two chairs and a tea table with a flower pot at the centre of it. However, besides all these, we were not appealed by the view from the balcony as shown in the pictures.

Mr Dipesh Pradhan – the owner of Baasbari Farms is very co-operating and down to earth in nature. The hosts – Govind Ji and Mikesh Ji are very humble, co-operating and always smiling. They simply add value to your experience at Baasbari Farms and makes your moments memorable. Bonfire is complimentary for all the guests staying at Baasbari Farms where Govind Ji never fails to amaze you with his melodious songs and tunes. Mr Subham – the primary chef of Baasbari Farms makes the food for the guests out of the locally grown organic farm-based products which are not only homely but delicious and finger-licking.

Relling Rangit River Resort : Relling Rangit River Resort is another well known resort in Bijanbari. Even though it appeared to be more man-made, however, the USP of this resort is it’s located just by the river bed. If you want to enjoy your stay by the river you can choose to stay here instead of Baasbari Farms. The resort has 3 cottages. At the entrance of the resort, there is a manmade pond and an iron suspension bridge over it. Relling Rangit River Resort is popular for having a swimming pool which is about 500mtrs walk from the main resort. Another positive side of Relling Rangit River Resort is their in-house rock band named Rangit Blues.

Costing :

Baasbari Farms: The Bamboo Unit costs Rs. 3500/- per night (for 2 Pax) and Luxury Tents costs Rs. 3000/- per night (for 2 Pax) with Complimentary Breakfast. For extra person, they charge Rs. 600/- extra per head per night considering Complimentary Breakfast irrespective of you opting for an extra mat. The Food is charged extra as per a-la-carte or if you go by the package it’s charged at Rs. 250/- per meal (Lunch / Dinner).

Contacts :

Baasbari Farms – Mr Dipesh Pradhan: +91 99322 40537 | Website: https://www.baasbarifarms.com/

Relling Rangit River Resort: +91 98003 15340

Abhijeet Singha (Babai Da) : +91 89066 72949 / +91 99325 64080. Babai Da is always our trusted partner in Dooars and North Bengal. We just can’t think of a trip to Dooars / North Bengal without Babai Da being with us.

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