Rishyap, which is also sometimes spelled Rishop, is a small village in Kalimpong District. It is one of the lesser-known tourist destinations in Kalimpong, located just 28 km from Kalimpong town. The name of this village bears many legends and myths, but the widely known origin of the name is from the merger of two Tibetan words, Ri and Shop — Ri meaning mountain peak and Shop translating to age-old trees. All in all, Rishop is what is in its name: home to marvellous Himalayan trees with a view of an exquisite mountain range.
The development of the place as a tourist destination started back in the late 90s, but it still remains quite raw. The place only speaks nature from every nook and cranny. Flora and fauna sing through the forests in and around the village. Some commonly found trees here are Pine, Fir, and Birch, along with a variety of Rhododendron and Orchids. In addition to this, the unobstructed views of the Kanchenjunga are what Rishyap is famed for. The whole Kanchenjunga mountain range looks directly at this village. On a clear sunny day, one can even spot other peaks like Sinoulchu, Pandim, Simvo, Narsingh, Kabru, Kharg, Rathung, Kokthang, and Talung, apart from Mount Kanchenjunga.
Rishyap sits at an elevation of 8,500 ft, which is what aids the views the place has to offer. Apart from the views of the mountain range, this village also looks directly at various hills as far as the eye can see. The hills of the neighbouring state of Sikkim make quite a sight. The capital of Sikkim, Gangtok, is clearly visible from here, but the real beauty comes out at night with Gangtok all sparkled up in lights. It is among the many places in Kalimpong adorned only with natural beauty. For anyone looking to treat themselves to a getaway in nature's lap, Rishyap is definitely one of the places to be.
