Okhrey, West Sikkim, Sikkim
Homestay in Okhrey
1,300
per guest with all meals
Lying stately, overlooking the mountains, this wonderful homestay in the quiet village of Okhrey is surrounded by the bounties of nature.
The perfect place to rejuvenate.
A very warm welcoming family run homestay situated in the tranquil landscape of ‘Okhrey’ in West Sikkim.
Many a times it so happens that on the way to a popular tourist destination, one gets captivated by an almost un inhabitate place by the forest, with pines, oaks & rhododendrons teeming with birds, tucked away in a mountain fold. One generally passes such places by but if we can allow ourselves a detour, these sleepy places often turn out to be really fascinating.
A couple of days in this small but amazingly beautiful village is sure to leave with wonderful memories of the tranquil mountains and the way of life it nurtures.
Gateway to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary
Picturesque and charming, the nondescript hamlet of Okhrey is the gateway to the famed ‘Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary’. Every year from mid-March to May, scores of hiking and botany enthusiasts descend to this little village to experience the glory of the majestic rhododendrons that colour the surrounding forests in vibrant shades of red and pink. Everywhere you look, wildflowers greet you. Clear skies and pleasant temperatures add to the appeal.
Quick Look
- Locatec a top of the hill of Okhrey village, a flight of stairs from the main road will bring you to this homestay, offering glorious views of the mountains.
- The wood-panelled rooms are basic but cosy and electricity patchy at best. The rooms on the first floor have a common balcony which provides stunning views of the Himalayas. Food is served at a restaurant next door. Expect fresh vegetables, chicken and egg curries, bowls of steaming noodles, and local liquor including lali guras. Mr & Mrs Subba is a wonderful host and will help you book cabs and plan treks in the area.
- Few things taste as good as vegetables plucked fresh from the farm and cooked in little oil and spices. In the spring, expect potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, carrots, green beans, and peas. Don’t forget to try local pickles; the tongue-numbing dallo chilli is a favourite!
- Lali Guras, a sweet and tangy raspberry-pink Rhododendron wine rewed locally, is a must have on a visit to Okhrey.
- Slurp bowls of the global Maggi and the local Wai Wai noodle soups to warm your freezing bones! If you order in advance, your homestay might make you a steaming bowl of thukpa too.
- Great place to unwind, understand local culture, birding and photography, trekking and village trails.
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Homestay
A simple family run homestay. -
Rooms
07 wood finished aesthetically designed rooms with attached bath and basic amenities. -
Guests
Accommodates more than 20 guests. -
Meals
The homestay serves farm-fresh vegetables cooked in very little oil and little to no spices. -
Room Heater
Room heater available in the rooms. [charges apply] -
Attached Washroom
Attached washroom with western style toilet. -
Mountain View
Snowcapped mountains visible from the homestay. -
Bon Fire
Separate space for Bon fire. -
Mobile Network
Mobile network available. -
Rhododendron Wine
Tangy and sweet at once, Lali Guras, is the local rhododendron wine. -
Road Access
Motorable road access upto the homestay. -
Pet Friendly
Supervision and control required. -
UPI
Pay online using UPI. -
Parking
Has parking space.
The rooms in the homestay are basic but cosy and comfy. The pine wood panelling keeps them warm in the chilly winters. All rooms have attached bathrooms with Western style toilets and geyser though there can be occational power cuts. Nights are magical, on a cloudless night you can see the Milkyway and thousands of stars sparkling, the stillness only broken by occasional call of night birds
The two storey structure houses six bedrooms on the ground floor each of which can accommodate 2-4 guests, and one dormitory on the first floor can accommodate 8-10 guests. The covered sitting area on the first floor terrace offers breathtaking views of the surroundings. You can seat yourself at one of the tables here and gaze at the mountains or unwind. There is also a separate Yoga terrace in a natural setting which you would love.
The dining and kitchen are located in the same premises. The in-house restaurant also doubles up as a common area for locals and lodgers to get together once the day is done. In the morning, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding snow capped mountains accompanied by the chirping of a lot of birds.
The food is light, delicious, mildly spiced, and most are garden grown or locally sourced. You would love their homemade jam, fruit juices, pickles and rhododendron wine.Few things taste as good as organic, farm-fresh produce. The hosts would love to serve traditional Sikkimese platter though other options are also available. .
1,300 per guest with all meals
The tariffs are quite nominal, per guest per day inclusive of all meals, is nothing compared to the enriching experience that Dawaipani has to offer. While you should not expect anything fancy in this homestay, we must say the warmth of these people makes your stay very special and comfortable. We offer long stay discounts and special pricing for multi-week stays. Do write in for more.
We design your journey plan, book unique stays, arrange reliable transportation and the best part is we don’t charge anything extra compared to when you book directly.
Booking Enquiry
Sharing glimpses...
Pictures speak a thousand words. It's said that the best still images, are moving; move you because they tell an entire story, in a single frame. So, we’ll let the pictures do all the talking.
Walk around and take in the scenery and learn about local life. The mountains that tower on the north keep beckoning the travellers for long rambling walks through winding paths. If you venture out, you might come across a missionary school and a small beautifull monastery called Ugen Thon Meon Ling monastery or a small hamlet or a solitary cottage with the owner gardening outside.
Okhrey is base to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, nestle between the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve and the Singalila National Park which offers awesome views of Mt. Kachenjungha peaks. The whole sanctuary is carpeted with luxuariant forests and vast stretches of Rhododendrons woodlands. Mid-March to May, scores of hiking and botany enthusiasts descend to this little village to experience the glory of the majestic rhododendrons that colour the surrounding forests in vibrant shades of red, pink, yellow and white. Most visitors reach Hilley by car from Okhrey (10 km) to begin the 4 km long Hilley - Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary trek.
Honestly, this is the best thing to do in Okhrey. Let the magnificence of the landscape calm you. Laze with a cup of a tea or a glass of rhododendron wine and stare at the beauty of the landscape ahead.
Do Nothing
Go on a Village Walk. Okhrey continues to be a pristine hideout for nature lovers.
Village Walk
Visit small beautifull the Ugen Thondroling Monastery.
Local Monastery
Trek in the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary.
Trekking
Barsey offers awesome views of Mt. Kachenjungha peaks.
Snow Capped Mountain
How to reach: Okhrey is 130kms from Siliguri and takes anywhere between 5-6 hrs to reach depending on the conditions of the road and the weather. Best option to take reserved vehicle to reach Okhrey, or if you have time and can start before 12 noon from Siliguri, catch a shared taxi from the SNT terminus to Jorethang or Sombaria and onwards to Okhrey. A bus leaves SNT for Jorethang at 10:30 am.
If travelling from Darjeeling or Gangtok, avail shared taxis to Jorethang, then onwards to Sombaria and Ohkrey. SNT buses run between Jorethang and Gangtok.< br/>
If travelling from Pelling, avail shared taxis to Sombaria and then to Okhrey. Shared taxis from Sombaria to Okhrey are infrequent.
Best time to visit Okhrey:
You can visit Sittong throughout the year. For most times, the temperature remains pleasant and moderate. For best Kanchejunga views and pleasant weather, the spring (March to April), summer (May to June) and Autumn (October to November) are the best time when the sky remains clear.
You can also enjoy the monsoon (June end to September end) in Sittong and be among the clouds and rains. This is when there is hardly any tourists around and you can explore nature on your own. But, if you want to see oranges in orange orchards in full blossom, then November to January is the time to visit Sittong.
• Try to avoid phone numbers of stray drivers provided by freelance bloggers/ Youtubers. Often these drivers take the bookings with advance payments, and eventually give some excuses and put you on to another driver and a car, essentially acting as a broker. And then, the experience can be totally unpredictable.
• The cleanliness, the homelike atmosphere, the hospitality and the simple but great food have all been special.
• You won’t find any luxury hotels or resorts in Okhrey. However, this homestay offers good quality accommodation with nice modern amenities at budget price.
• The homestay offers long stay discounts and special pricing for multi-week stays. Do write in for more.
• If you are travelling in the month of December-January, be prepared to brave the Himalayan cold.
• Checkin/checkout is at 12pm. Feel free to stay with them longer - they might ask for the room in case there’s a guest coming in after you the same day.
• Internet is surprisingly fast, thanks to a brand new mobile tower that has come up on top of the hill.
Lali Guras, a sweet and tangy raspberry-pink Rhododendron wine rewed locally.
Tangy and sweet at once, Lali Guras, is the local rhododendron wine. Pour it in a clear glass and it’ll be mistaken for fine rosé! A beautiful shade of raspberry pink, it comes in glass bottles priced between INR 300-400. It’s made with rhododendron flowers; the stigma and stamen are discarded and the petals boiled. Sugar syrup is added and the liquid left to ferment for a year or so. If you are interested in watching the process, come in late May and visit one of the many small villages that dot the region around the sanctuary.
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