Here is my experience and information for places like Lolegaon , Rishap, Lepchajagat. I took my GPS tacking device and Nikon camera with me.I recorded position (latitude and longitude) information for the places I visited and my journeys.
See the places in Google Map - click Here

Day 0With my family we went to North Bengal in first half of Feb 2010.Started from Sealdah in Darjeeling mail. Nice train. Remember to take seat in the middle so you can enjoy it.Seats near the gate is not good. Bolpur at around midnight. Reached Maldah half an before.We reached NJP in the morning. Right time.
Day 1:

towards Lava GPS tracking - click Here

Then in NJP , its a bit chaos. We needed a big car like Scorpio or Qualis.Then we managed to book a Qualis. For that I talked to a Bengali person.I feel he is friendly, name is Shambhu(da) (9734984323).From NJP to Lolegaon we paid Rs. 2100 + lunch for the driver.Its better if you call him a day before for specific car.
Journey is very nice and just enjoy it. Road NH31C.After 30 mins or so we saw teesta River. Then crossed coronation bridge. Take pictures.From Mal Bazar there is a road to gorutbathan. We went through gorubathan then damdingIn gorubathan you will see lots of tea garden. But its in plain.Road is small one. You will see broom/jharu drying in the road.After that journey is a bit different you will start to see the mountains and the height will increase.
Upto Lava , the road is OK and I enjoyed the landscape, its very nice but from lava to loelegaon, road is very poor.Lots of turns and turns again turns, If someone has vomiting tendency then some kind of medicine is must before.
Its very dense forest (mainly pine). You will see lots of small small villages.Then we reached Lolegaon.We stayed in Hornbill of WBFDC cottages.1st impression, a nice place for relaxing.After keeping the luggage we went directly to the kitchen room.Remember, you have to give the order for the food one day before or from NJP.After sometime we went to very small Lolegaon market and you will get momo, tea etc.
Day 2:Next day, weather was clear and nice. But we could not see the Mt. Kanchenjunga clearly.Just enjoy the village. Two local small boys were with us as our guide! There is a very beautiful school.Canopy walk is about 2 KM from WBFDC and its working. You will see lots of Elichi (Cardamom , boro elach) plants.In the left corner of Hornbill , there is small tea / momo stall. Local language in Darjeeling is Nepali.Near Lolegaon Market, there are 4-5 hotels, run in season only.
You will see that the bamboo trees are different than south Bengal.Life in Lolegaon is very simple. I feel women work more than men in mountains.DTH is available in every where.
Day 3:

Lolegaon to Rishap GPS tracking

Loelgaon to Rishap. By car, Rs 1100. booked in syndicate office in Lolegaon Market.To me, the rate is not good.Before Lava there is a road to Rishap. There is a short cut for walking.If you are going by car dont go by that short cut road, its very bad.Follow the raod towards Hotel Sonar Bangla.We stayed in Neora Valley Resort.Its a nice place with lots of open places. They made good food.Remember that they should not charge you tax for food. Talk to the owner before that.Owner is Gablu Sherpa (9609935109), stays in Lava Bazar.Just enjoy the place. In the evening you can have bonfire.

Day 4:

Next day, sky was not clear so the visibility was poor.We decided to go Lava Bazar as there was haat (weekly bazar).In the evening we enjoyed bonfire and after that there was little rain for 40-45 minutes.I sensed that next morning will be a gift to us so we woke up early and.......We saw clear mountain ranges, Mt Kanchenjunga. you can see the Nathula , Neora Forest and also gaongtok is slightly visible.I feel Sikkim is very near. It was very nice experience.
To know weather of Rishap or some hotel info call 9733042675, its a number of a lady who stays very near toNeora valley Resort. There are few hotels in Rishap with good views.

Kalimpong to Lopchu Bazar GPS tracking - click Here

After some time reached Teesta bazar, the color of the water is greenThere is a long U-turn. then we went towards Darjeeling.Then the journey started upwards for an hours or so.We had a stop at lopchu bazar. Driver told me that because of upwards journey car engine is very hot.And saw everyone was cooling their car with water.Peda (pera) is famous in Lopchu Bazar.Then again we started our journey. Roads are nice.You will see lots of tea estate, they are looking very beautiful.

Lochu Bazar to Lepchajagat GPS tracking - click Here

After half an hour we saw tiger hill. Then we reached Ghoom.From ghoom, there is road in the left, ie. going towards Mirik,follow that one for Lepchajagat. From ghoom , its 8 KM.We reached there and we were a bit tired. We had a nice lunch there.The WBFDC staffs are very helpful.They gave hot water bags, room heaters etc. Its cold there so you will enjoy the tea also.There is a TV also.But WBFDC has not maintained the guest house more over its a (old govt) guest house and now GNLF issue so NO maintains.The main staff told us that next morning he will come and wake up us for the view of Mt. Kanchenjunga.
Day 6:Next morning, we were amazed with the view of Mt. Kanchenjunga. We saw three different colours.orange, silver and white. Its was very nice experience. From Lepchajagat we saw best view of Mt Kanchenjunga.Its 28 KM from there. Pelling is not far from there.






Then after breakfast we went to Mirik by car , Rs 1200.There are some roads , they are just on the boarder of India and Nepal.The Road is in India and other side is Nepal.Journey was very nice. Tea gardens are beautiful.Goodrick tea.The landscape are excellent.
Lepchajagat to Mirik - click Here

Mirik is very near to Bihar and Nepal. From sea level its not very high.While coming back we went Pashupati market in Nepal. Yes in Nepal.There is a customs. You have to do a entry and for your camera.Its like fancy market in kolkata or chandni chawk.Its better to avoid as heavy bargaining is needed.But I found there is one shop, they are shelling only bulk quantity is good bargain.Then we had a face to face meeting with dense clouds. They were coming down very fast and were very dense.
After that we stopped at jeori Bazar. There are lots of shops.Price is really good. What I remember 6 momos only Rs 10.There are few sweets shops and cake shops also. Even Andhra fishes are there.Then we came back in Lepchajagat.
Day 7:

Lepchajagat to Siliguri GPS tracking - click Here

We had a booking to stay inside Makaibari tea garden. Because of GNLF strike next dayWe didn't stay as it will be difficult to go Siliguri. So went to siliguri directly.But we visited Makaibari tea estate. Bought tea from there.Then we reached Siliguri. We stayed in Hotel Heritage.We ate in hotel Parimal, 1 min walking, food was good and also the rate.In the evening we went to Bidhan and Hongkong Market. Both are in same places.These market is good. Lots of items are available.Dont go in group. Go alone or with wife or in small numbers.Bargaining is needed.
Day 8:Next day in the evening we had train to kolkata, so we had time to roam around.Few of us went again in the market. Momos are famous also.
In the evening we went to NJP. Remember to take diner from outside.From Siliguri or NJP. In the train there is no food available.Next morning in Kolkata.

see few photos in Flickr

Few things to remember.
1. Foods are costly and sometime not easily available.So take lots of dry foods (biscuits, chanachur, chire, muri, cake etc)
Only rice one plate Rs. 20 , rooti Rs. 5 per piece , egg curry Rs. 25 per plate, 2-3 pieces chicken 70 to 100 Rs.
2. Take small water heater (but dont disclose it)
3. Enough medicines.
4. Torch
......

Thought I stay in very cold country but I will say tourism in North Bengal is NOT winter friendly.
Rooms are not winter friendly, lack of cleanliness.
BEST TIME TO VISIT IS MID SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER. APRIL IS ALSO GOOD.Try to visit during full moon.

Thanks,
BT