This is a resort like no other. It is a home that’s serene, quiet, charming and responsible. Bon Farmhouse is a lovely place nestled amidst lush green cardamom forests, with acres of cultivated fields, tea gardens, and livestock for fresh milk and eggs. It’s a throwback to the village life, except it comes with more than just a hint of luxury, comfort and first class amenities. It’s the best way to experience the surroundings of Kewzing, a delightful southern district of Sikkim which is76 km from Gangtok, which in every sense is a treat to the eyes, a balm to tired nerves. At an altitude of 1700 meters, with the highest point being Maenam hill, Kewzing, when translated from Sikkimese Bhutia language, means Land of Wheat Fields. It is also called the Land of Chestnut Forest. The village, with a population of not more than 200 people, is blessed with nature’s bounty, the most vital being zero pollution. Home to some of the most exotic birds of Sikkim, the village is dotted with cardamom and tea plantations, and blessed (as locals would have you believe) with Buddhist monasteries on all the four sides.

Bon Farmhouse, the family-run place, nestled amidst these natural surroundings, fresh air and round-the-year lovely weather, promises to make your stay relaxing and peaceful, a nice breakaway from the din and bustle of daily life.

Rooms

Nothing short of an architectural wonder, this traditional homestay has hand-painted doors, a gentle reminder of the finesse with which doors in monasteries stand, wooden and bamboo interiors, and a rich-looking building set in grey stone. The farmhouse has a total of eight rooms, designed in traditional Sikkimese style, wooden furnished with all the modern amenities and attached bathrooms. The ‘log house’ suite, in fact, is newly built with local pine wood to add to the true experience of in living during natural surroundings. There are also ‘villa’ rooms, which have personal balconies with seating arrangements, offering stunning views of the mountain range. There’s also a separate ‘family cottage’ with two rooms, their verandas facing the magnificent Kanchenjunga.

Dining

Bon Farmhouse is a homestay and that’s the reason why you shouldn’t expect elaborate a la carte fare. That said, this charming abode makes the ordinary, well, extraordinary. The meals are freshly sourced from the farms that belong to the family, a reason why even the simplest food is nourishing, wholesome and tasty. You can have breakfast with a view – from paranthas to puri and sabzi to eggs, toast, porridge, fresh fruit while for dinner you can look at traditional Sikkimese food. The family serves only breakfast, dinner and evening snacks, no lunch.

Experiences

Bon Farmhouse provides various experiences and facilities, including guided tours for trekking, hiking, birdwatching and sightseeing tours around the nearby areas with vehicles. Don’t miss the experience of Dotho, the traditional Sikkimese hot-stone herbal bath. There’s nothing better than to inhale the fragrance of the woods in this village – a village and nature trail through the villages of Kewzing, Doling, Barfung, Bakhim and Mambru will get hikers to experience the rich and diverse vegetation of Sikkim. The walks are along plain ridges with undulating elevation making the walks easy and less tiring. One can also see the unique cultivation practices and varied range of crops planted by the farmers of villages. A good idea will be to take a night camp in the Maenam and Tendong hills of Sikkim. If the sunbathed hills and forests present a pretty picture in the mornings, the nights are balmy with starlit skies, quietude, and the sound of the wind on rustling leaves of trees. Imagine waking up the next morning to the first rays of the sun. It’s a nice idea to get into the kitchen of the farmhouse and learn to prepare delicious Sikkimese cuisines by the local experts.

Tariff

Rs 4,000 onwards, per night, exclusive of taxes

Location

Bon Farmhouse, P/O Kewzing Bazaar, Below Kewzing Monastery, Ravangla Subdivision, South Sikkim, Sikkim
http://sikkimbonfarmhouse.com/

How to reach

By Air: The airport nearest to Gangtok is about 124 kilometres away in Bagdogra, West Bengal. From the airport, you can hire a shared taxi or a private vehicle that will get you to Gangtok in a matter of two hours. The drive from Bagdogra to Gangtok is stunning with gorgeous mountains and River Teesta as your backdrop. From Bagdogra, you can also take a TSA helicopter to get to Gangtok in just 20 minutes. However, their services depend on the weather conditions. Chopper flights also get cancelled on the pretext of insufficient bookings.
By Train: The nearest railway station to Gangtok is about 148 kms away in New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri. The station is well-connected to major cities like Kolkata and New Delhi. From New Jalpaiguri you can take a taxi to Gangtok or go to Siliguri Bus Station and catch a state-run bus to Gangtok, which will take you about 5-6 hours.

Road/Self Drive

Tourists rolling in from nearby places like Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kolkata prefer to drive to Gangtok. The roads are well-maintained, except in a few places.