Food · Melli
Tea, momos and a breather on NH10 at Melli
The classic road-trip break between Siliguri and South Sikkim: steaming momos, chowmein or a rice thali at a Melli roadside eatery, sweet milk tea, and fruit for the road. Cheap, quick and right at the point where the climb into Sikkim begins.
Photo: Voltmetro · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Melli is roughly halfway between NJP and Namchi in driving time, which makes it the natural place for a break. Eateries on both sides of the bridge cater to jeep passengers and drivers all day, so food is fresh and turnover fast.
Order momos, steamed or fried, with chicken, pork or vegetable filling and fiery tomato chutney, or a plate of chowmein or a simple rice thali. Sweet milk tea is the default; ask for black tea if you prefer. Fruit sellers offer bananas, oranges in winter and cucumbers in summer.
Choose busy places, and use the stop for toilets and a stretch before the winding climb. Carry small notes; UPI usually works. If anyone in the car is prone to motion sickness, keep this meal light, since the next hour to Namchi is all hairpin bends.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Where do cars stop for lunch between NJP and Namchi?
Melli is the usual stop, about 2.5–3 hours from NJP and an hour below Namchi. Roadside eateries on both sides of the Teesta bridge serve momos, chowmein, thali and tea. Drivers often have a favourite place; ask yours. Expect about ₹100–250 per person.
Are there clean toilets at Melli?
Facilities are basic. Some eateries and fuel stations have toilets for customers; standards vary. Carry tissues and hand sanitiser. It is still the most practical toilet stop between Sevoke and Namchi, so use it before the climb. Women travellers often prefer eateries with attached toilets.
Any tips for motion sickness on the road to Namchi?
Eat a light meal at Melli, sit in the front or middle row, look at the horizon and keep a window slightly open. Ask your driver to take the bends gently. Ginger sweets or a pharmacist's motion-sickness tablet taken beforehand help many people.
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