Besotted in Bunkulung

This old fishing village which has gradually turned agrarian over the years can be accessed by a cab or can be trekked to from the other side (via the Murmah village). Though in recent times it had been developed on the lines of a model fishery village as fish rearing had been practiced here since long ago. In the old days it wore the name ‘Pinglootaar’ and the tract was said to have been sold to the Murmah tea estate for a paltry sum of rupees fifty by a British lady. Those were times when a mad spree to purchase land in the new Darjeeling hill station had ensued either for building an exquisite cottage for a peaceful retirement or invest in tea cultivation. Somehow Bunkulung hadn’t favoured tea and was let out for cultivation of millet and maize to the peasants around on annual rent who had gradually settled down over the years. If the claim of oral history is to be believed, the ancestors of the predominant Limboo community in the village had been fishermen who on payment of some annual toll had fished in the Balason for a livelihood. Much later they had turned agriculturists and sowed in the rather fertile and well watered patch of Bunkulung.

Today Bunkulung thrives and one can witness the mellow of life in the village. One of the most picturesque villages in the foothills just above the river its beauty is further heightened by immense hills looming on all sides and a dense patch of temperate forest. The river sings down below and hurtles back memories of those ancient fishermen who fished by the river all their lives. Their children have turned agriculturist today though somehow they appear to have retained a knack for fish rearing. In the late autumn when the paddy harvest is long over and threshing of the crop is complete they can be seen winnowing the grain helped by the river breeze. One of them stand atop a rough tripod of three strong frames and his aids pass over a tin full of grains which is drained down gradually and the chaff can be seen blown away by the breeze. One can also trek down to the forests for a soothing walk or simply loiter about in the village relishing ethnic life.