Our Bengal is a heaven for the wanderlust people who love to travel unexplored places. One of those such places is Sonada, which is located at an altitude of 6143 feet. It has a beautiful monastery known as Samdrup Darjay Choling Monstery, also here is the international seat of the Shangpa Kagyu Lineage, founded by his eminence Dorje Chang kabje Kalu Rinpoche.
It also has a church known as Gorato Nalichor Intek Cider’s, which is a pilgrim centre, there are statues reflecting the life of Lord Jesus Christ including the beautiful statue of Mother Mary.
The place is rich in live and scenic beauty full of lush green as the frost covered grasses look like crystal when the sun rays hit the ground during winter.
If your morning starts with a cup of tea you can visit these tea estates located in Sonada valley: Oaks, Rungmook, Cedar estate, Milling, Moondakotee, Ringtong, Balasun, Margaret’s hope, Kalej Valley.
Sonada in itself has a railway station which comes after leaving kurseong behind on the way to Darjeeling. It is 17 kms from Darjeeling town and 16 kms from kurseong. It lies on National highway 55 connecting darjeeling with Siliguri. Sonada is a good place to start trekk towards Chatakpur. If you are sole traveller start your journey to the hills with Sonada.
