Trip to Scenic Sikkim

This was a sudden trip – we decided to go on this trip in a matter of 10 days & then quickly had to book flight and train tickets, hotel, local tour, etc.

17^th April’14                        Chennai/Bagdogra/Gangtok

18^th April’14                        Tsomgo Lake

19^th – 21 April’14               North Sikkim

22^nd – 24^th April’14            West Sikkim (Pelling)

25^th April’14                        Pelling/Siliguri/New Jalpaiguri/Chennai

You need to have at least 4 photographs of each person and address proof document for permits to visit few places.  Hotel will arrange for the permit and the car for the sight-seeing trip but we need to tell them in advance.  I have given contact numbers of the drivers who said they will also organize for the permit (cost might be less by few hundreds).

Mr.Subash (driver from Bagdogra airport/Gangtok) – Tel: +919679699707

Gangtok: Hotel Alaya, Mr.Nirmal Tel: +91 9830246813 / +91 8013133245

Hotel Alaya is a decent hotel – not too flashy but clean room and clean toilet.  Rent per night for triple occupancy was Rs.1,100/- per night. 

Pelling: Hotel Sonam Delek, Mr.Shankar, Tel: +91 9831228722

Sonam Delek too is a decent hotel with clean room and clean toilet.  Rent per night for triple occupancy was Rs.1,200/- per night (mountain view room).

Good food in both the hotels.

North Sikkim cost for 3 of us : Rs.17,000/- - organized by Mr.Nirmal of Hotel Alaya, Gangtok (includes private car (not shared vehicle) from 19^th to 21^st, accommodation for 2 nights, breakfast on 20^th & 21^st, lunch on 19^th, 20^th & 21^st, dinner on 19^th & 20^th, permit expense).

Bagdogra to Gangtok 

Mr.Anil (driver contact for North Sikkim trip) – a good driver with really good driving skills.  Tel: +91 7872888146

Pelling: Father Travels (for car) +91 77 97283512

Pelling: Mr.Philip – Driver cum trekking guide. Tel: +91 8759853622, +91 9733031229

Since this was a suddenly planned trip, did not have ample time for proper planning.  Every night after coming back from office, I used to read lot of travelogues on Sikkim, find details about hotel, etc. 

On reaching Bagdogra, we hired a cab from the airport itself to go to Gangtok (around Rs.2,700/-).  Since our return was from Pelling, the taxi driver suggested that we do the river rafting on the way to Gangtok itself.  Had simple, delicious lunch in a small hotel in Siliguri.

Hotel Mama near Siliguri

For the rafting, Rs.4,500/- was the charge for the whole boat with the safety gear  (3 of us + driver + 2 guides) for a long rafting (approx. 45 minutes).  We took the driver also with us for the rafting.  TheCD containing photo & video of our rafting costed Rs.800/-, which is worth since it is safe to keep our camera away from the water.  We thoroughly enjoyed the rafting…mid way in the Teesta river, the guide asked us to jump into water (none of us knew swimming but he was holding our ankle) and asked us to float – definitely a breath taking experience for non-swimmers.  

After changing our clothes, we started our journey to Gangtok.  The best part in Sikkim is that people are genuine and do not cheat tourists, safe for women when compared to other places in India and every tourist spot/sightseeing place has clean toilets.

On the way to Gangtok, it started raining with big hail stones (continuous fall of hail stones making loud thud sound on the vehicle) – the driver stopped the car for the fear of the glass panes getting broken because of the continuous fall of hail stones. 

Our first day of the trip was action packed and we just loved it.

M.G.Road in Gangtok is just like Mall street in Shimla. Nice place to stroll around.

18^th April – we went to the taxi stand (searching for our designated vehicle is one big task) for our trip to Tsomgo Lake and Nathula Pass in a shared car.  Because of heavy snow, road to Nathula was closed and hence we visited Tsomgo Lake – a beautiful lake.  Throughout my trip in Sikkim, I never missed the opportunity to have momos – yummy momos. Hotel Alaya, Gangtok, had organized the shared vehicle and permit for this trip.  Some money was refunded to us because we could not visit Nathula Pass.

19^th April – Since we had booked a private vehicle for the North Sikkim trip, we did not have to go to the Bus stand and go through the stress of searching for our vehicle.  Again, Hotel Alaya had organized the vehicle, hotel bookings, permit, etc., for the North Sikkim Trip.  The car reported at the hotel at 10 AM and we started on our wonderful trip to North Sikkim – Anand, Pavithra & I loved the North Sikkim trip the most. Gurudongmar Lake, Yumthang Valley – serene & scenic places.  Also loved the quaint Lachen & Lachung.  The cold was too much for us.  Gloves and caps are definitely required and of course woolen/leather jackets.

There were so many streams and waterfalls we saw during the travel to North Sikkim that we were not at all excited to see the Kanchenjunga Falls in Pelling (West Sikkim).

Though North Sikkim is beautiful – the roads are terrible.  Most part of the travel in Sikkim was on ‘road-less roads’ !!!.

Reached Lachen by around 8 PM and omg, we just couldn’t bear the cold.  We huddled on the cot for some time before going for dinner. 

All throughout our trip, we had nice, tasty, simple yet delicious food – being vegetarian was not a problem unlike in some places where there are limited choices of vegetarian food. There was power cut throughout the night.

Breakfast at Thangu

Lachen & Lachung face major power outage.

20^th April – Got up by around 4.30 AM.  Had nice cuppa hot tea & felt slightly better from the ‘cold-sickness’.  Left Lachen by around 5 AM for Gurudongmar Lake.  Had breakfast at Thangu & proceeded to Gurudongmar Lake. 

Gurudongmar Lake – stunning white beauty all around.  The army serve hot cup of tea for the visitors to make them feel better – I have heard people say that some feel dizzy/have breathing trouble/nausea because of the high altitude (17000 ft above sea level).  We 3 walked very slowly to the lake so that we don’t feel dizzy, etc. Stayed there for some time and proceeded to Lachung.   We hired room heater in Lachung hotel but it was of no use because of power cut.

Frozen part of the Gurudongmar Lake

Standing on the frozen lake

 

 

21^st April – Proceeded to Yumthung Valley – lovely valley with beautiful view.  We did not go to Zero Point because of the hectic travel on those horrible roads right from day 1 in Sikkim and also we had seen enough snow in Sikkim.  Proceeded back to Gangtok – reached Gangtok in the evening.  Roamed around M G Road in Gangtok late evening and did a bit of shopping.

22^nd April – Gangtok to Pelling by a private car.  Visited Buddha Park on the way to Pelling via Ravangla.  Reached Pelling in the evening.  Met Mr.Shankar, owner of Hotel Sonam Delek.  He is very friendly and helpful.  Freshened up and walked up to the helipad nearby and watched the sunset.

23^rd April – Visited Kanchenjunga falls and Khecheopalri Lake (Sacred Lake)and Sinshore bridge (2^nd highest hanging bridge in Asia), Pemayangtse Monastery.  One of the monk in Khecheopalri Lake told us of a cave leading upwards above the lake. Though none of the tourists went up that side, we wanted to give a try – went half way and were confused which way to go and so returned since we were only 3 of us…wish we were a bigger group and had more time to explore such nice places.

Khecheopalri Lake

Trudging up in search of the cave near the lake

Fishes in the Lake

Path leading to Khecheopalri lake

Pemyangtse Monastry

 

Singshore Bridge

24^th April – Visited Rabdantse ruins in the morning and Sanghak Choeling Monastry in the late afternoon.  Walked a lot on this day which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Entrance leading to Rabdantse

Sanghak Choeling Monastry

Way to the monastry

25^th April – Pelling to Siliguri.  Driver Phillip was narrating about the various trekking expeditions and one must definitely trek in the mountains at least once in a life time is what he said.  He also works as an assistant to the Trek Guide.  Reached Siliguri in the afternoon.  Checked into a hotel, had late lunch and went around Siliguri. 

Sikkim to Siliguri was like coming down from Heaven to Earth.  Took the night train from New Jalpaiguri to Chennai.

Anand & I keep talking about the North Sikkim trip and we really wanna visit Sikkim once again…soon!!!

But there’s this long pending trip to Badrinath, Valley of flowers, Hemkund Sahib….and then the Leh-Ladakh trip and then the trek on the railway track to Doodhsagar falls, and then Kodachadri trek and then………….

FRIENDSHIP....FUNTRIP

The carefree bonding

And life being so charming

In the midst of friends

And I wish time extends

Pulling prank on one another

And always frank with each other

The thrill of being partner in crime

You have a supporter at all time

The meaningless talk & aimless walk

Was a pleasure and will be a treasure

The no holds barred gesture

And full throttled laughter

Friendship is like a fun trip in life

 

Sunshine Rays and Moonlit Waves

Shimmering waves bcoz of the golden rays

glittering and glistening; shining and sizzling

the whole sea looks sun drenched

& the need for warmth being quenched

joyful and playful waves

basking in the sunshine rays

Serene waves bcoz of the gentle rays

breezy and balmy, soothing and sparkling  

the whole sea looks twilight glazed

& all worries from mind being erased

Peaceful and tranquil waves             

soaking up in the moonlit rays 

The crow's struggle for freedom

View frm Window

When I entered the kitchen in the morning (kitchen has a window facing the road), I could hear noisy screeching of crows which I felt was unusual...from the window I could see something like a crow sitting on the branch but it was not moving despite so many crows flying around the tree and so I was wondering whether it was a bird or some object. With the mad race against time in the mornings, could not go out to check what was happening but the sound of the crows was disturbing - it was as if the crows were calling for help.

After some time when I went out, I realized that a baby crow's leg was stuck in a wire - one end of the wire was stuck in the baby crow's leg and the other end was stuck in the tree and so the crow could not fly and blood was dripping down on the floor below.  Had too many things to do at home and rush to work but.....  Anand was already late for office & so he left for work but he was feeling very sad.  We were wondering what to do.  Being helpless is a miserable feeling.  I called Blue Cross and explained the situation but the telephone attender said that they will be able to send their staff only by 10 AM which meant that the baby crow had to suffer for another 2 hours. 

I requested the watchman and Mr.Bala (who was kind enough to leave his child and help the crow).  They went to the house where the window was closer to the tree and tried to pull the wire with a pole - it was a difficult task.  By then, Mr.Manoj climbed the tree and tried his best to untangle the wire by pushing it from a pole but it was very strenuous for him to balance himself on the tree & lift the pole.  Bala continued with his effort and there were a couple of good hearted people instructing Bala from the ground.

By 9 AM, Anand telephoned from office to say that he had called the Fire Service Brigade and they had immediately started to come to our apartments.  He had in fact called Guindy Snake Park if they could send someone to free the bird by climbing the tree and they had suggested Fire Service department. 10 minutes after Anand's call,  bcoz of the continuous push and movement of the wire by the pole, the wire detached, and the baby crow flew off - what a relief it was to see the bird being free.  I then quickly called Anand  and told him to cancel the request with the Fire Department.  We really appreciate the quick action by the Fire Service department and their courteous behavior even when we cancelled the request despite the vehicle being on the way to our apartments.  There are many people who must have wondered why few of us spent so much of time and effort for....after all, a crow.  But it was heartening to note that there were a few who really wanted to save that little bird. 

Miracles do happen - Pichooku the Pigeon

 The Pigeon was hurt, probably bitten by a dog…it could not fly and was unable to keep its neck steady….

I was holding it in my hand and waiting for Anand so that we could  go to Blue Cross, Velachery, Chennai, – we had earlier taken a Kingfisher bird and a pigeon to Blue Cross where these birds would be attended to by Doctors and taken care.

But Blue Cross was closed, time being 7.45 PM.  We then went in search of a Veterinarian on OMR and finally found one.  On examining the pigeon, we were told that it had internal injuries in the neck and hence it could not keep its neck steady and could not fly…we were also told that birds generally don’t survive beyond few hours if it is injured internally in the neck.  The Doctor asked us to leave the bird somewhere since it would die soon.  Somewhere...where?

Both Anand and I did not have the heart to leave the pigeon in that condition and so we brought it home (I named it Pichooku)…but the problem was we could not keep it at home bcoz of our pet dog Sparky – he would definitely pounce on it.  So we kept it in a box in the little garden near our door.  It was pathetic to see Pichooku struggling with its broken neck and we were sad to know that it would die any time. Anand smeared Vibuthi (sacred ash) around its neck and we both prayed for Pichooku’s speedy recovery.

Next day early morning when Anand took Sparky for walk, Pichooku was out of the box, sitting on the compound wall.  Seeing us, it tried to fly but could not fly high. We both tried to catch it hoping to take it to Blue Cross/Vet for thorough check up so that it does not get bitten by dogs but it flew little by little and then flew high up.....what a joy it was to see Pichooku fly high up...

I strongly believe in the power of prayers.