Eastern India
PaliGhar
PaliGhar is a charming countryside farm stay located about a 30-minute drive from Kalimpong, offering guests an authentic experience of Nepali culture, heritage, and cuisine. The property features two cottages designed in traditional architectural styles, using locally sourced materials and hand-made mud bricks crafted by local tradespeople. Guests can enjoy the serene environment, with stunning views of the surrounding hills and valleys, while indulging in organic produce from the hotel’s kitchen garden and farm.
The farm-stay provides a unique opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in rural life, with activities such as guided walks through agricultural lands, visits to nearby villages, and interactions with the local community. The rooms are designed to offer comfort without compromising on the rustic charm, featuring large French windows that allow natural light to flood in and provide picturesque views. PaliGhar also emphasizes sustainability, with eco-friendly construction methods and a focus on organic farming.
Local Wildlife
Most of the wildlife is concentrated around Lava Forest and Neora Valley National Park (Both just to the east of PaliGhar). Mammals present in these areas include: Clouded leopard, red panda, musk deer, five species of civet, leopard, Himalayan black bear, sloth bear, golden cat, wild boar, leopard cat, goral, serow, barking deer, sambar, Himalayan flying squirrel, thar.
Bird highlights include: Rufous-throated Partridge, satyr tragopan, crimson-breasted woodpecker, Darjeeling woodpecker, bay woodpecker, golden-throated barbet, Hodgson's hawk cuckoo, lesser cuckoo, brown wood owl, ashy wood pigeon, mountain imperial pigeon, Jerdon's baza, black eagle, mountain hawk eagle, dark-throated thrush, rufous-gorgeted flycatcher, white-gorgeted flycatcher, white-browed bush robin, white-tailed robin, yellow-browed tit, striated bulbul, chestnut-headed tesia, chestnut-crowned warbler, black-faced warbler, black-faced laughingthrush, chestnut-crowned laughingthrush, streak-breasted scimitar babbler, scaly-breasted wren babbler, pygmy wren babbler, rufous-fronted babbler, black-headed shrike babbler, white-browed shrike babbler, rusty-fronted barwing, rufous-winged fulvetta, brown parrotbill, fire-breasted flowerpecker, fire-tailed sunbird, maroon-backed accentor, dark-breasted rosefinch, red-headed bullfinch, gold-naped finch.
Other wildlife highlights: King cobra, common cobra krait, green pit viper, blind snake and various lizard species. Insects include butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, wasps and cicadas.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
If you have any questions regarding our India tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Naturalist guides were brilliant. We seem to have been given the best one in each place. Had same one for whole of stay in each place. Cultural guides gave just enough information and then left you to ask questions about what interested you which is what we like. They did not seem to have a set patter. Helpful about photographic sites – i.e. good position to take photos.
[OVERALL STANDARD OF SERVICE] Excellent isn’t good enough. In every place we were treated like royalty. Totally relaxed and felt totally safe but not smothered.
[WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS] 11 tigers, innumerable rhino, wild elephants, buffalo, otters, hog and swamp deer, and wild boar. Birds at Keoladeo excellent. Watched leopard and three cubs at Siana for 1.5 hrs of exceptional viewing.
An outstanding holiday which far exceeded our expectations. Many people would enjoy it I’m sure.
