Lava, West Bengal

Lava is a small hamlet situated 34 kilometres (21 mi) east of the town of Kalimpong via Algarah in Darjeeling district of the state of West Bengal, India. Lava is situated at an altitude of 7,016 feet (2,138 m). It is one of the few places in West Bengal to receive snow in winter. It is the entry point to the Neora Valley National Park from Kalimpong. The route to Lava is scenic with the change in vegetation from tropical deciduous to the wet alpine trees of fir, pine and birch. The idyllic verdant forests are an ideal spot for picnicking, trekking and bird-watching and other peripatetic activities. The road is untouched by modern life and its inhabitants are still living as they have for centuries.

Wild animals such as the Himalayan Black Bear and barking deer are found in profusion in these parts. A Buddhist monastery is present on one of the hills of Lava.