Mirik, a hill resort in
West Bengal, is situated at an altitude of 1750 m. An excellent picnic spot, Mirik has a magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga. Mirik is 49 km from
Darjeeling on the way to
Siliguri.
Sumendu Lake, in the center of the town, is ideal for boating and is the prime attraction. Rameetay Dara and Deosi Dara are two elevated points near the lake. There is a garden on the eastern bank with 3.5 km circular foot walk, and a footbridge over the lake. The famous temple ‘Singha Devi mandir’ is on the western bank. A rich forest with thousands of Cryptomaria-Japonica trees covers the slopes. Orange orchards, Cardamom grove and tea gardens are the other attractions.
Trekking from Mirik to
Sandakphu and
Phalut is very popular. Alpine-type Swiss cottages are available for tourists. March–May and mid September–November are the best times to visit.
The prominent festivals and fairs are Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Krishna Astami, Buddha Purnima and Tibetan New Year. There is also an exhibition of local agricultural and cottage industries products during the tourist season.
Civil Enclave Bagdogra is 55 km from Mirik and the nearest railhead is
Ghoom (41 km). Buses ply between Mirik,
Kurseong and Siliguri.
