Mirik is a small town and a municipality in the Darjeeling district. It is the headquarters of the Mirik subdivision. Mirik means “place burned by fire“, which derived from the Lepcha word mir-yok. people from the surrounding villages and tea gardens used to come for trade and buy their necessities where Mirik Bazaar opened a commercial center in the area. The present lake area was a marshland with a thick growth of sweet flags. There is a playground in the present garden area where British officials were playing polo.
Mirik Lake
Mirik Lake is also known as Sumendu Lake. the lake located in Mirik of Darjeeling district. It is 1.25 kilometers long. The lake has an 80 feet long arched footbridge called the Indreni Bridge. Boating on the lake and a ride on the lake are enjoyable experiences. Moreover, the strategic advantage of the lake is that it runs from almost every distance in the city.
Pashupati Nagar
A very interesting market is Pashupati Nagar Market, about 15 km from Mirik. The market is on the Indo-Nepalese border and half of it is in the neighboring country. due to cross-country trade, There are stringent restrictions in the market, but you can always buy textiles, perfumes, crafts, and more. When in the market, be very careful to do strict checks on Indo Nepali check posts.
Orange Orchards
Orange Orchards
Mirik’s other unique and offbeat offering is the numerous plantations spread across the cities. The orange orchid is the most beautiful plantation you will ever see. And if you’re lucky enough to see them in full bloom, the whole place appears to be ablaze with numerous orange bulbs.
Bunkulung
A very elusive and unexplored place, Bankulang is literally the agricultural center of Mirik. The place cannot be accessed by foot. You will need to rent a cab, but a few minutes in the car, and you will find yourself in the most authentic mountain village there. Located on the edge of the valley, mountains rise in every direction. The place is full of farms, fishing, and empty strips of land that will compliment you. There are hundreds of stories about the place from its inception to its present day.
Bokar Monastery
The seat of the Venerable Kyabje Boker Rinpoche belongs to the monastery Kagyud order. The monastery is one of the few in India that has maintained its traditional beliefs and environment from the very beginning. The beautiful monastery is a feature of Chinese architecture and has spread out lawns for you to sit and observe the place. from Mirik Lake, the monastery is a few minutes away.
Mirik Tea Gardens
Going to Darjeeling and not seeing the tea estate will leave your trip incomplete. Mirik is full of valleys covered in tea bushes. Throughout the year, you can see workers picking ripe leaves or watering plants. The most interesting thing about them is that you can walk in the garden though, that is, if you do not damage the plants, grow trees on both sides of your side. Spending an hour or two here makes the rest of your day.
