Nestled between undulating blue hills, interlocking valleys, wild streams, and dense deciduous forest of the Kalimpong valley, Samthar is a lesser-known sleepy Lepcha village, still surviving as a virgin hamlet that can be accessed by a 3 to 4 hours ride from either NJP Railway Station or Bagdogra Airport. Tucked away in one of the remotest parts of the popular Kalimpong district, Samthar can be accessed even from Lava and Loleygaon by an 80 Kms ride through forest trails. Service jeeps and shared vehicles are available from Odlabari which will take almost 3 hours to reach Samthar through the wilderness and a few remote picturesque Lepcha villages.
Samthar offers a magnificent ‘Diamond Necklace” view of Kanchanjunga along with Mt. Pandim, Mt. Kumbhakarna, Mt. Sinialcu, Mt. Simvo, Nathula pass, Chola pass, Jelepla pass, and Tiger hill. Apart from the surrounding jungles, gurgling streams and numerous hiking trails, the chief attraction of Samthar is the famous Panboo viewpoint (you can also call it windy viewpoint 😉), from where one can enjoy the rare Diamond Necklace view of Kanchenjunga along with a panoramic view of the forests and valleys of Dooars. Not only that, Panboo offers a spectacular view of the famous Coronation bridge over the mighty Teesta River along with the canopy of adjoining valleys.