Tiffin Dara Viewpoint

Tiffin Dara Viewpoint is the highest point in Rishop, a small hamlet in Kalimpong district, West Bengal, situated at approximately 2,400 metres elevation. Located about 1.5 kilometres uphill from Rishop village centre, it offers panoramic 360-degree views of the Kanchenjunga range and surrounding Himalayan peaks, forests and valleys. Known for sunrise and sunset views, the viewpoint is accessed via a short trek through pine and rhododendron forest and is a key attraction for visitors to Rishop and Lava region.

Visitors can expect a short uphill trek of about 1 to 1.5 km from Rishop village through pine, fir and rhododendron forest to reach an open hilltop viewpoint. The summit is a cleared, flat area with no major structures, offering unobstructed 360-degree views of Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Siniolchu and other Eastern Himalayan peaks on clear days, along with forested valleys of Neora Valley. The area is quiet and natural, primarily used for sightseeing, photography and sunrise and sunset viewing.

The name Tiffin Dara derives from the British colonial period when British officers from Kalimpong used the hilltop as a tiffin (lunch) spot during excursions. It served as a picnic and lookout point and has since remained a natural viewpoint with no permanent historical structures.