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The blue water of Mirik's Sumendu Lake with the town's houses and a monastery on the green ridge beyond under white clouds
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Photo: Shubh.ch1994 · CC BY-SA 4.0
lake1 h 34 min from Darjeeling

Mirik Lake (Sumendu Lake) — the lake town among the tea gardens below Darjeeling

Mirik Lake, or Sumendu Lake: a lake town at about 1,494 m among tea gardens, 94 minutes from Darjeeling, with a footbridge, a 3.5 km lakeside road and boating.

What it is

Mirik Lake, properly Sumendu Lake, is the centre of the small town of Mirik in Darjeeling district, at about 1,494 m among tea gardens. It is about 42 km and 94 minutes by road from Darjeeling on our routing; Wikipedia gives 49 km.

Photos: Vikramdeep Sidhu from Jhajjar, India (CC BY 2.0) · Sujay25 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

The lake

A garden named after Savitri Thapa lies on one side and a stand of pines on the other, joined by the arched Indreni footbridge. A road of about 3.5 km runs round the water, and on a clear day it looks out to Kangchenjunga. Wikipedia says boating and pony rides are on offer; we have no verified prices or hours.

How it came to be

The lake area was a marsh where British officers once played polo. The state's tourism department began taking over 335 acres of the Thurbo tea estate in 1969, work started in 1974, and the lake and its centre opened in April 1979. Mirik's name comes from Lepcha words meaning place burnt by fire.

Getting there

About 94 minutes from Darjeeling on our routing, through tea country. Bagdogra airport is 52 km away by Wikipedia, so Mirik can also be a stop on the way up or down.

Combine it with

The Mirik day trip gives it a whole day from Darjeeling. Read things to do in Darjeeling and how to reach Darjeeling.

Plans that include this

All 1 plans that stop here →
The blue water of Mirik's Sumendu Lake with the town's houses and a monastery on the green ridge beyond under white clouds
A day trip from Darjeeling to Mirik — the lake town in the tea country
Day plan · Couples · leisure
A day trip from Darjeeling to Mirik: 94 minutes to Sumendu Lake, its 3.5 km lake road, footbridge and boats, and lunch in the town among tea gardens.
Best Mar–Apr · Oct–Dec
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of Darjeeling →
Yiga Choeling Monastery, Ghum — the Old Ghoom Monastery and its Maitreya statue
Yiga Choeling Monastery, Ghum — the Old Ghoom Monastery and its Maitreya statue
temple · 15 km away
Tiger Hill, Darjeeling — the sunrise viewpoint for Kangchenjunga and Everest
Tiger Hill, Darjeeling — the sunrise viewpoint for Kangchenjunga and Everest
viewpoint · 16 km away
Batasia Loop, Darjeeling — the spiral of the toy train and the Gorkha memorial
Batasia Loop, Darjeeling — the spiral of the toy train and the Gorkha memorial
monument · 16 km away
Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling — the white Japanese stupa on Jalapahar
Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling — the white Japanese stupa on Jalapahar
temple · 17 km away
Happy Valley Tea Estate, Darjeeling — the town's second oldest tea garden
Happy Valley Tea Estate, Darjeeling — the town's second oldest tea garden
park · 19 km away
Lloyd's Botanical Garden, Darjeeling — the Himalayan plants below the town
Lloyd's Botanical Garden, Darjeeling — the Himalayan plants below the town
monument · 19 km away
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway — the toy train and its loops
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway — the toy train and its loops
monument · 19 km away
Chowrasta, Darjeeling — the town square on the Mall
Chowrasta, Darjeeling — the town square on the Mall
area · 19 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The huge copper-coloured seated statue of Guru Padmasambhava on its painted base on Samdruptse hill under a grey sky
Namchi
36 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
A long snow-covered Kanchenjunga ridge in blue morning light above dark forested hills with a few wisps of cloud
Pelling
46 km away · 3 itineraries · 8 places
The seated golden and dark-blue Buddha statue on a stepped, richly painted base against a forested hillside and a cloudy sky
Ravangla
50 km away · 1 itineraries · 3 places
Pastel-coloured buildings of Gangtok climbing a steep, forested hillside, seen from a viewpoint across the valley
Gangtok
65 km away · 5 itineraries · 11 places
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Questions people ask

How far is Mirik from Darjeeling?

About 42 km and 94 minutes by road on our routing; Wikipedia gives 49 km south-south-west of the town. Mirik is also 52 km from Siliguri and from Bagdogra airport by Wikipedia's figures, so it fits on the way to or from the plains as well as a day out from Darjeeling.

What is there to do at Mirik Lake?

Walk the 3.5 km road around Sumendu Lake, cross the arched Indreni footbridge between the garden and the pines, and take a boat or a pony ride, which Wikipedia says are available. On a clear day the road gives a view of Kangchenjunga far off. We have no verified prices or hours.

When was Mirik Lake made?

The lake area was a marsh until the West Bengal tourism department took over 335 acres from the Thurbo tea estate from 1969 and began work in 1974. The lake and the tourist centre were opened in April 1979. The name Mirik comes from Lepcha words meaning place burnt by fire.