If you are bored with the hustle and bustle of urban life, then let’s go to a destination where you will not find the slightest hint of city life. Only the hospitable people of 8 to 10 families in that hilly village and you spend a day or two together. Back then the urban noise would turn into love-like magic. 100 km away from NJP/ Siliguri there is a remote, quiet, secluded mountain village is called Dash Mile (10 Mile), which is very near to Singalila National Park under Darjeeling District. It has a sweeter name --- Batasi.

If you reserve a car, you can reach Manevanjang, 85 km away from NJP/ Siliguri, on the way enjoy the beauty of the mountainous green path of North Bengal. The first stop on the way may be in the small hilly village of Dudhia. You can also take a break at Tingling View Point to quench your thirst for tea and enjoy the natural beauty. It can be seen that the path has come up through the tea garden and surrounds the hill. Then one can touch the Pashupati Fatak on the India-Nepal Border and reach Manevanjang via Sukhiyapokhari. From Tingling, you can also go to Sukhiyapokhari by touching Mirik Lake. Manevanjang can also be reached in a shared car. That, of course, is time-consuming.

The road to Ten Mile from Manevanjang is also very romantic. The road has gone through the green nature and a beautiful mountain spring is waiting in the distance. The stream of water flowing on the pebbles will greet you with a murmur, laughter, and singing. Going closer, you can touch the water and tell the news of your arrival and the news of her happy companion.

The only homestay to stay in this village is full of mountain beauty. The seating space is decorated with flowers. Their vegetable fields have gone down gradually from the homestay. Delicious food of freshly grown pesticide-free vegetables, wandering around the village at your whim, exposure to fresh air, chirping of birds in solitude, and colorful flowers will make you feel loved. A couple of small grocery stores, hardly a few vehicles’ movements in a day, reveal the secrets of the place more deeply. If the mind wants to get lost in the pine forest, then go up a little to the top of the stairs like a staircase on the other side of the road. Feel free and get lost in the pine forest for quite some time. Come down when you hear the call to return in your mind. If you want to enjoy the solitude and get acquainted with the simple and unpretentious life of the hilly people, this hilly village in North Bengal must be the destination of yours. If you wish, if you have more time, you can visit Dhotre, Rimbik, Srikhola, and Lamagaon.