Utopia | Wellness Retreat | 3.5 hrs from IXB

Utopia is a Nordic-style cabin designed for calm and connection. With minimalist interiors, an outdoor shower and fabulous views, it’s perfect to simply sit and stare at Nature's canvas. Utopia is ideal for slow mornings, star gazing on a clear night, and soul-deep resets. We are not a sight-seeing base 😀 Indulge in your own slice of utopia — far away from folks who tell you a perfect world isn't possible. If you're a dreamer or a free-thinker, Utopia will leave you smitten. The space The Utopia cabin is located in a remote village called Chegra. On Google Maps, our location shows as Chegra Khasmahal. The travel time from the closest airport (Bagdogra) and railway station (New Jalpaiguri) is a similar 3-3.5 hours. It is quiet here, with there being no more than 20-25 families living in pretty dwellings perched along the hillside. Chegra's altitude is only 4200 ft. Therefore, the winters are not as severe (in comparison to Darjeeling), while summers are pleasant. The Utopia cabin comes with a spacious bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom is a showstopper. It is over 100 sq ft, and has been appointed with a full length mirror, a suitcase rack, a clothes hanger and ample space to store your knick knacks. The idea is to stow away all clutter in this washroom/closet space while keeping your bedroom airy and tidy. There's even an outdoor shower, in addition to an indoor one. The bedroom, meanwhile, is minimalist. There are spacious side tables to place your devices, spectacles and books upon. We left the bottom of the king-sized bed and side tables exposed so that our guests can be assured of a super clean space. Often, the padded beds and elaborate night stands you see in regular hotels are large repositories of dust, grime and cobwebs. Yes, we speak from experience! The Utopia cabin also has its dedicated dining cum working space. There's a four-seater dining table there, a bar for your beverages, a mini fridge, an RO water filter, an electric kettle, and an assortment of various teas. This isn't all. You even have your exclusive outdoor bonfire/barbecue area. There is also a kitchen counter to prep your marinade and a sink to place your used utensils in. You have about 800 sq feet of space solely for you and your travel companions. The cabin accommodates a maximum of three guests. The daytime views are excellent. But this place comes alive at night. The diffused exterior lighting will delight you. Come, experience it for yourself! Guest access The following is a brief list of places you can visit nearby 1. The closer river is called Geil Khola and it takes about 20-25 mins to get to it. If you're okay to hike longer (3-4 hours), there's a more secluded riverside called Roshan Khola. 2. There's a beautiful stretch of road between Tinchuley and Lopchu. It is bordered by tea gardens on both sides with beautiful mountain views as you drive along 3. We have our own monastery that you're welcome to visit, especially if meditation is an interest 4. You will also enjoy walking around the village. Located 10 mins (walking) away from Ikigai is one of the most well maintained plant nurseries I have ever come across. They have a wide variety of exotic plants 5. Takdah is located about an hour (driving time) uphill from our location. There's a small botanical garden there, and a century old clubhouse that is now maintained by the government. If history is an interest, you will enjoy these sites in Takdah. The Takdah area was once home to an army base during British rule. 6. If adventure sports are an interest, you can opt for white water rafting on the Tista. The rafting start point is Melli. It is about 1 hour 20 mins from our location 7. Darjeeling town is 2 hours away and Kalimpong town is 1 hour 20 mins away. From the cabin, you can see Kalimpong on an opposite hill Other things to note For meals, our charges are as follows: 1. Breakfast ... 250 per person 2. Lunch and dinner (veg) ... 300 per person 3. Lunch and dinner (non-veg) ... 350 per person Our barbeque chicken and veg momo are specialities. The barbecue chicken is priced at 750 per kg, while a potion of veg momo (8 pcs) is priced at INR100. (I only learnt recently that it is momo, and never 'momos'. It's like sheep — where the singular and plural remain the same) 😀 The Utopia cabin is located along a hill side. From where your vehicle will be parked, you will have to walk uphill for about 3 mins, depending on your fitness level. This is a typical forest trail and will require you to be nimble on your feet. Should you be a senior guest, and you have weak knees, we can assist you in slowly walking up the trail. My 73-year-old Mum is able to comfortably walk up, although at a very slow pace. As for luggage, we'll help you haul it all up. We suggest not carrying large suitcases that can often weigh over 20 kgs. A medium sized suitcase is ideal, with backpacks being the easiest to carry.