Mayallyang Homestay

Mayal Lyang is not just a homestay, it is a way of life. You will wake up to the glorious gurgling of the river constantly soothing you. You will immerse yourself in the local cuisine that Samsay cooks up and you will overeat because you can’t stop eating. You will try to burn away these calories through beautiful walks guided by Kalzang to the river, hot springs and the monastery. Your evenings will be spent in delightful conversations with Gyatso over Chee (did Cheers come from Chee!), ranging from philosophy to policies to local culture, in a lovely section of the homestay created exclusively for this. You will sleep in simple but welcoming rooms with big windows and bigger warmth. Mayal Lyang is not just a homestay, it is a way of life. No wonder many of their guests stay with them for several weeks to soak in this way of life. Gyatso and Samsay have created a beautiful place unlike any in the beautiful valley of Dzongu. You will feel free, you will feel revived, you will feel joy, you will feel at peace. But most importantly, you will feel thankful that places and people like these exist in this world and they welcome you with all their heart. When translated into English, Mayal Lyang means a land blessed by God. There couldn’t be a more suitable name.

While we set out to spend just one day in Dzongu, we just couldn't say goodbye to the charming Mayal Lyang that easy, we decided to stay on for another day and it was the best decision we made. Mayal Lyang is truly a gem in the lap of nature, our wonderful hosts Gyatso, Samsay and their family made our stay very comfortable and happy. The place is filled with beauty, be it the flowers and trees in and around Mayal Lyang, or the short hike to the stunning Rongyoung Chu river. You also get a chance to know the Lepcha traditions and taste their amazing cuisine. This is the place you want to be if you are looking to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Looking for a break away from the regular tourist congested places? Mayalyang is the place for you. Situated in the heart of the Dzongu forest, at the foothills of the Kachenjunga ranges. This is an escape into “what should be- tourism”. Gyatso and Samsey really open their home, hearts and culture to you. And in doing so have established a prototype for sustainable tourism. When one enters their house, one reads the many accomplishments and articles highlighting the activism of Gyatso. His passion for sustainable tourism and most of all the Teesta. You cannot visit Mayalyang without learning about the Teesta, it’s vitality and importance to the Lepcha people. This is definitely a trip for the Cultural experience seeker. As you will be immersed in Lepcha culture, food and traditions. Samsey will swoon you with her traditional dishes of buckwheat pancakes and pork with fermented soybeans. Everything is grown and sourced from their garden and surroundings. You can go for short or long hikes and guides are arranged. Do visit the local monastery set atop the highest hill in their village. To get to Mayalyang you will have to arrange passes, as Dzongu is reserved for Lepcha people only. If travelling in June, expect delays as there may be many landslides all over the road. The views are still insanely beautiful! Even though we visited in June - a time when it is difficult to see Mount Kachenjunga, the scenery still did not disappoint. The numerous waterfalls and Misty peaks added to the magical splendour of the forest. Take time to go through Gyatso’s collection of books on the area. The kids and I enjoyed reading one capturing the Lepcha myths and stories. Our children really enjoyed being at Mayalyang. Surrounded by animals, eating in the kitchen and verandah areas, and especially helping prepare meals. Mayalyang truly surprised us with its warmth, love and culture, and we are grateful to have shared this experience.

Gyatsho and Samsay were great hosts! We celebrated our first wedding anniversary there and they were kind enough to bake us a cake and make our evening a little more special. Samsay cooked great food with fresh veggies from her garden and the forest. Sound of the river throughout the day is best part of the stay where it brings you closer to the nature. They have a great collection of books and moreover a place for great conversation on conservation and sustainability. You can do a quick hike to the nearby river, waterfalls and villages around. Can't wait to get back and experience the serenity and peace. :)

Defining in one sentence "Warmth and coziness of home plus Wilderness of the jungle" How would it be to wake every single day to the sweet gurgling sound of the stream? That exotic experience clubbed with much famed Sikkimese hospitality is what this homestay offers you. Mouth watering food by the hostess Samsay can beat any 7 course dinner of a luxury hotel. One will wonder about the definition of luxury after being in this place for few days. If you are looking for sparkling attached shower rooms, warm cosy foam mattresses and comforters, service staff to attend to you over a call , big TV screens in room and free wi-fi, this is not a place for you. Rather, this a actually a home , where they treat you as all good hosts would, and expect you also to be a good guest-a good companion. The rooms are clean with lovely decks opening to wilderness and the stream down the way will always give you great company with its soothing gurgle. There are no attached bathrooms, as traditional Lepcha houses do not believe in having attached ones. The hosts are Lepchas, the original inhabitants of Sikkim and you get to experience what a traditional Lepcha house feels like.The biggest takeaway from this homestay would be very different from that of a normal homestay or hotel--the incredible food by the hosts(almost all vegetables are grown in the premises), the long engaging dinner conversations, the adorable pets Tofu and Doremia, the affectionate boy Kalzong who was our companion throughout our stay and the incredible beauty of the place. Gyatso Lepcha is not just a normal host, but a river conservation activist who has dedicated his whole life towards his cause. This homestay was actually started as an idea towards sustainable tourism. He strongly believes in sustainability which is why he is against cramming beautiful places with constructions. He has proved himself right and that can be seen from his visit book autographs--from Crown Prince of Norway, princess of Sikkim to celebrities like Naresh Iyer, Haricharan(both are play back singers). Yes, one will surely redefine comfort and luxury after a visit to this homestay...you would have found long lasting friends and a cosy little home which will beckon you again and again. Its a paradise for those who love to experience different cultures as well as be literally in the lap of nature. After travelling is all about experiencing, not just seeing...

Our stay in Mayal Lyang was wonderful. The view from our bedrooms was beautiful. The food was awesome, cooked by the super talented Semsay! Everything was fresh and organic, directly from their garden. The rooms were super comfy, with super warm comforters for the cold! We met Oreo and Doremia and the other hens and ducks. We really miss them. We liked sitting outside our rooms and having breakfast. The bench was comfortable and I enjoyed sitting there in the afternoon. While we stayed here, we got used to life there. We can’t wait to come back again. Thank you Gyatso and Semsay for opening up your beautiful home to us for 3 lovely days, and for taking us around the place (gorgeous river trail, hot springs, monastery, cool bridges). Kavya and Uma

We visited the North of Sikkim in April 2023 and we had a 2 night stay at Dzongu. In this cozy homestay we woke up to the middle of mountains while hearing the soothing sound of river. We saw the clouds passing by and were cuddled by the pets Oreo and Doremayi. Sam and Gyatso were so thoughtful of us that they arranged us a car for our convenience to picnic to a nearby waterfall and fed all of us the yummy local cuisine. Well, how can I forget to mention about the homemade drink chee(millet beer). Thank you Gyatso and Sumsay for an amazing hospitality. Can’t wait to come back….

It still feels like a dream, that just finished too fast! We just wished we were caught in a time loop while at Mayal Lyang Beautiful and tastefully made home, with cosy sit outs to soak into the mesmerising valley views, perennial sounds of the Rong yong river and numerous birds Gyatso and Samsay quickly made us to feel like we know each other for long! The greetings and conversations are real, meaningful and makes us to think and ponder! It won't take much time to understand the beliefs, passion and fire of Gyatso. Slowly we get to understand the beliefs and values of Lepchas. 'Nature worship' and Free-flowing of rivers strongly resonates with me. Being a family with 2 kids, Gyatso carefully planned activities for us to do and explore that everyone will enjoy. The picnic and lunch by the river bank will be etched in our memory forever. The walk around Lingthem exploring the simple lifestyle of people, their homes, their happy faces are still fresh in my eyes. Their home itself is a treasure for people to explore. We can see Samsay's taste for home decor shining in all corners of the home. Bird watchers and Photographers need not go anywhere else! Samsay is an avatar of Annapurna. Food from her tastes divine and importantly local. All the ingredients are from the home garden that is nurtured by her. Khuri, Mix veg sabzi including Squash leaves , Pork, Jalpaiguri jam, Momos, Chutneys, Pickles...I can just keep going on and on We visited Mayal Lyang towards the end of our long Sikkim trip. We really wished, we had cut short couple of days from Gangtok and spent the time at Dzongu instead. Or may be the best was saved for the last! I firmly believe any travel is incomplete without getting to know the people, history, culture, tradition and food of the locals. A must visit place for travellers

I had an absolutely perfect stay here. I came here after a relatively great trip through Kalimpong and Gangtok but when I reached Mayal Lyang, I feel like vacation actually began. We all go on trips hoping to shed some of the exhaustion and anxiety of work but often we end up needing a vacation from the vacation. My stay at Mayal Lyanng felt like being able to take a breath after a very long time. Before you think I'm speaking in hyperboles let me assure you nothing over the top happened. It was simply a great cozy room in a beautiful place with a loving welcoming family taking care of you and some of the most delicious an nourishing food you will find in India. They've won awards, foreign royalty has stayed there but somehow my stay was still the perfect balance between living authentically as the local families do while also having your basic needs taken care of. I spent the majority of my stay reading with a view of the mountains and cloud floating outside my window. I took a super relaxing trek down to the river but mostly I just took the time to recharge. Samsay maam encouraged me to do more like visit the local hot springs and temples but I was content to just hang out. Samsay maam was a lovely host and her cooking really is some of the best I've ever had. She is very accommodating to all guest's dietary restriction and went out of her way to make me dishes when she found out how much I enjoyed North Eastern cuisine. Most of the food and meat came from their garden or from the local area. I am absolutely shocked how cheap the rates were given that 3 meals are included. I got to the location from Gangtok via shared tax. It does take time to get to Dzongu but this was truly the highlight of my trip in Sikkim and I cannot wait to visit again. you truly do feel like a guest in someone's home rather than just a customer buying an experience. Do yourself a favor and book a trip today.