A day on a Kaluk and Rinchenpong farm
Several homestays and farmstays here invite guests to join daily work. Depending on the season, that might mean picking vegetables, feeding cows, seeing how large cardamom is dried, or plucking oranges. Then you cook with the family: rice, dal, a seasonal green, and perhaps gundruk soup or a chicken curry.
This is not a staged show. Hosts fit you into their day. Ask what is possible when you book, and offer a fair payment for the time and food.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
What crops grow around Rinchenpong
Large cardamom, grown under shade trees in damp gullies, is the main cash crop. Farmers also grow mandarin oranges, ginger, maize, millet, rice on lower terraces, potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Sikkim farming is officially organic, as the state banned chemical fertilisers and pesticides and was declared fully organic in 2016.
Can vegetarians join a farm cooking session
Yes. Most everyday Sikkimese and Nepali home cooking is built on rice, dal, vegetables and greens, with meat as an extra. Tell your host in advance and they will cook vegetarian. Vegans should mention ghee and butter, which are often used. Hosts are usually happy to adjust.
How do I book a farm day in Rinchenpong
Ask your homestay or farmstay when you book your room; most will arrange it themselves or with a neighbour. If you are staying elsewhere, a local guide can introduce you to a family. Give a day's notice so they can plan, and agree a price for the time and meal beforehand.
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