Dhungay Homestay — Hotel in Sikkim

We stay in Bangalore, and Sikkim was on our list of places-to-visit for many years. This year we had an unusually hot summer in Bangalore. It was a toss up between Himachal and Sikkim. Have been hearing some horror stories about teeming crowds in Himachal during the summer vacations, so Sikkim it was!||Our initial plan was to spend 3-4 days in North Sikkim, however, we got a strong recommendation from a Sikkimese friend that Pelling (West Sikkim) would be a more pleasant experience. She introduced us to her friend Ganesh, who runs Dhungay homestay, in a village called Martam, near Pelling. Reached out to Ganesh, and he immediately put as at ease with his friendly and thoughtful suggestions.||We flew from Bangalore to Bagdogra, then drove to Kalimpong (stayed there for 2 days), and then to Gangtok (2 days) and then finally to Dhungay Homestay where we stayed for 4 days.||Ganesh and his wife Padma, are just about the warmest hosts you can ever meet. It was very nice to meet their parents too, and we marvelled at how active they are at their age! Their 2 kids - 2 boys - different as chalk and cheese - the elder one, very playful and the younger one, quite studious. ||Its a cool, misty place, with a very dreamy quality. The rooms are tastefully furnished and very comfortable.||Ganesh and Padma treated us like family - we thoroughly enjoyed the home-cooked food - and some unique preparations - buckwheat rotis, vegetable preparations made with fern, and pumpkin and squash leaves, awesome steamed momos, mouth-watering phaleys, and the unique (spicy) round chillies too. Breakfast on the lawn every morning, and lunch and dinner in the dining room next to the kitchen, and many cups of green tea the whole day, in those beautiful cups with lids on top. Ganesh even managed to arrange a guitar, and we spent a nice evening strumming and singing along - and all the kids joining in too!||We all found the rice powdering machine fascinating - with the men taking turns to pump the pestle with their feet, and the women deftly managing the rice and flour in the mortar, an expert coordinated activity!||Ganesh took care of our entire itinerary, and was kind enough to take us around all the sights in and around Pelling - Singshore Bridge, Changey Waterfall, Pemayangtse Monastery, Rabdentse Ruins, Tenzing Norgay Memorial park, Sidkeong Bird Park and many more. We even went for a day long trek up into the hills through dense vegetation and pine forests!||After 4 days, it was time for us to leave. Ganesh gifted me a Nepali cap as a souvenir, and I was surprised to note that I quite looked like a local after wearing it! The car driver who was taking us back to Bagdogra started speaking to me in Nepali, and was quite miffed when I didnt respond, but cane around later when he realised I wasnt a Nepali. Padma gifted us a beautiful Sikkimese tea cup set, and we relive some of our Sikkim memories sipping on green tea in these cups once every few days.||Thank you Ganesh and Padma for making this trip memorable for us in so many ways! We look forward to...

Located in Martam, Hee village, the initial drive to this homestay from the main road is through a boulder road, however the process to transform it in a proper motorable one is underway. It is a quite intimate and beautiful house, built all over with wood and cement and colored bright red on the outer. The entire stretch of the compound is indeed a treat to the eyes. The compound boasts of a splush kitchen garden, animal house, and a cosy watch tower perched at one end of the property. The rooms are quite spacious, being wooden panelled throughout, bathroom being equipped with all modern amenities, which is quite a surprise at such a remote location.The living room in the ground floor comes as a cultural tour of the place, we spent some enchanting evenings over there with Ganeshji and Padma. In a word, the entire property can pose a stiff challenge to any other luxury star accomodations in posh locations.||We recieved a very warm welcome and felt at home quite naturally. Ganeshji himself drove all the way to NJP to pick us up. The next three days passed in a whirlwind. Ganeshji himself sketched out our entire tour plan and personally drove us to all the nearby points, Uttarey, Dentam, Singshore Bridge, Tenzing-Hillary Park, Bermiok, Kaluk, Rinchenpong, Okhrey, and last but not the least, the Hilley-Barsey trail. This beautiful walk amidst the rhododendron sanctuary will remain as a lifetime experience for us. The icing on the cake was Ganeshji and Padma both joining us and walking up and down the hills to Barsey. ||The food is delicious here and comes fresh from the kitchen garden. The additional plus point of this place is it is located between several popular tourist spots, yet nestled in a serene and calm backdrop away from the regular crowds of nearby locations. |We would like to thank you all - Ganeshji, Padma, Sandeep, grandparents and children for being an amazing host and making our holidays such a memorable one! We wish to come back here any time soon! If one is looking for a peaceful yet cozy vacation up in the hills, this place could just be the one you are...

Me and my entire family of 7 spent a week in Dhungay in the last week of December. I must say it was an outstanding experience overall. Ganesh ji and Padma were the most amazing hosts. I have traveled all over the world but the hospitality we received here is par excellence. We surely started as guests but parted as a family. If you are looking for peace and tranquillity this is The place, if you want to experience unadulterated Himalayan beauty with an expansive view of the Mt Kanchenjunga range and rustic village life, rest your feet here. During our stay Ganesh ji arranged for few day hikes, in one such trip, we went to Buksam. Not only the hike gives you unparalleled views of the mountainsbut walk itself through the deep and dark forest that marks the beginning of Varsey sanctuary is worth mentioning. We had an amazing lunch of popped corns, jhal muri, rice chaklis, chowmein and Millet beer(must try) in a small inn at the hill top. Visit this place if you are in the area, it’s a must try! |Dhungay is nicely nestled between multiple touristy spots, so you can completely avoid the crowd but still see some of the general tourist attractions like Pemyangste, Kanchenjunga falls, Khechipuri lake, the Shingshore bridge etc on day trips that Ganesh ji can arrange for. |Overall it was a great stay and experience. I would like to thank everyone Ganesh ji and Padma and the entire team of Sandeep, Vishnu, Parimal for making our stay so worthwhile. |Definitely recommended for all who love the Himalayan...