KalimpongLodgeValue tier

WBFDC Lava Nature Resort

Name: WBFDC Lava Nature Resort
Address: Lava

Wooden cottages run by the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation on a forested slope at Lava. It is the closest thing to staying inside the forest without a tent, and the best base for Neora Valley.

Photo: Pinakpani · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The resort sits among tall trees just above Lava bazaar, with cottages spread up a steep slope. Mist rolls through most afternoons, and birds come right up to the verandas in the early morning. The forest office for Neora Valley permits is close by.

Facilities are simple: clean rooms, hot water at set times and a canteen that serves set meals. Order meals in advance. Some cottages are reached by long flights of steps, which matters for older travellers. Book on the WBFDC website, which usually opens bookings about three months ahead.

Why we book it

Forest setting right on the edge of Lava
Close to the Neora Valley permit office
Good early-morning birding from the grounds
Government rates that stay fair in peak season

Questions travellers ask

Good to know

How do I book the WBFDC resort at Lava?

Book online on the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation website, which usually opens dates about three months ahead, or at the WBFDC office in Kolkata. Peak weeks in October and May sell out quickly. Rates are indicative at about ₹1,500–3,500 a room per night, depending on the cottage. Check current status before you travel.

Is the Lava nature resort suitable for older travellers?

Partly. The cottages with the best views are higher up the slope and reached by many steps, which can be hard on knees and for small children. Ask for a lower cottage when you book. Paths can be wet and mossy, so good shoes help, and a torch is useful after dark.

Is food available at the resort?

Yes, a canteen serves simple set meals: rice, dal, vegetables, eggs or chicken, and breakfast. There are few other places to eat close by, apart from small shops in Lava bazaar. Tell the canteen manager your meal times on arrival, and order early if you are leaving for Neora Valley before dawn.

Packages

Routes that stay here

Kalimpong · 5 nights Kalimpong, Lava and Rishop with Neora Valley in five nights Kalimpong · Lava · Rishop From₹15,500 pp

Kalimpong · 7 nights Kalimpong villages to Gangtok in seven nights Kalimpong · Lolegaon · Lava · Sillery Gaon · Gangtok From₹22,500 pp

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