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Voykit pocket guide · India
Sittong
Go for a half-day (4–5 h) of orange orchards and tea-garden walking, or sleep one night if you want the dawn views — no longer.
Sittong is a small Darjeeling-district village at about 1,000 m, known for its orange orchards and its tea gardens. Sights sit within walking distance of each other, so it works as a short stop between Darjeeling, Kurseong and Siliguri rather than a base.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–1,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · High ₹2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Oranges (per kg, in season) | ₹80–120 |
| Tea (cup, local shop) | ₹30–50 |
| Shared jeep ride | ₹10–15 per km |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXB · Bagdogra Airport
- About 70 km (43 mi); 2–3 h by taxi or shared jeep.About 43 mi (70 km); 2–3 h by taxi or shared jeep.
Typical fares
- Bagdogra → Sittong, shared jeep
- About ₹600 return, 2–3 h each way
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot between the orchards and tea gardens; shared jeeps and buses link Sittong with Darjeeling, Kurseong and Siliguri.
See and do
Known for
- Oranges
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Darjeeling | Shared jeep or bus via Kurseong | About 2 h each way |
| Kurseong | Shared jeep or bus down the hill road | About 1–1.5 h each way |
| Siliguri | Bus or shared jeep | About 2 h each way |
| Mirik | Shared jeep via Kurseong or Siliguri | About 2.5–3 h each way |
Sleep
- Village guesthouses
- Basic rooms near the orchards; book ahead in the orange season (Nov–Jan).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is this? | यह कितना है?yah kitna hai? |
| Can I pay by card? | क्या मैं कार्ड से भुगतान कर सकता हूँ?kya main card se bhugtaan kar sakta hoon? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Orchard access is limited outside the harvest season (roughly Nov–Jan).
- Hill roads are landslide-prone in the monsoon; check conditions before travelling Jun–Sep.
Generally safe for tourists. The real risks are slippery, landslide-prone hill roads in the monsoon and cold, damp guesthouse rooms — carry cash, as cards are rarely accepted.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sittong yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Oranges
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata — Sittong: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7535600
- West Bengal Tourism: www.wbtourism.gov.in/
- Wikivoyage: Sittong, revision 5327180 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5327180
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sittong
कृपया इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All services112
US consulate in Kolkata; other embassies in New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sittong). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.