The Lepcha are an indigenous people of the Kanchenjunga foothills, best known in Sikkim and Darjeeling, with small communities on the Nepali side around Ilam. In Shree Antu a number of families, Lepcha and others, run homestays a short walk from the summit. Rooms are simple and clean, with thick quilts for winter nights, and meals are cooked in the family kitchen.
Dinner may include local greens, potatoes, homemade pickles, rice and, if you eat meat, chicken or pork, with millet or rice beer offered to those who want it. Hosts are usually happy to talk about their farming year, their language and their festivals, and in some houses you will see traditional bamboo and wooden crafts. The pace is slow and the evening ends early.
The reward comes at dawn: you walk up to the tower in 15 to 30 minutes by torchlight while others are still driving up from Fikkal. Not every homestay in Shree Antu is Lepcha-run, and we tell you honestly which family you are staying with.
Good for
- Couples
- Solo
- Photographers
- Families
Questions travellers ask
Who are the Lepcha people?
The Lepcha are an indigenous people of the eastern Himalaya, centred on Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills, with a small community in Ilam district of Nepal. They have their own language and script and traditionally revere Kanchenjunga.
Are homestays at Shree Antu comfortable in winter?
They are simple but warm enough with heavy quilts. Nights from December to February can fall to around 0 °C, and rooms are rarely heated, so bring warm sleepwear and a hat.
Can we book a homestay near the view tower?
Yes. Several homestays sit within a 15 to 30 minute walk of the tower. Weekends in November and December fill early, so book at least two weeks ahead.
