I started this solo trip to find some lovely places and take pictures and flaunt them on social media, however, I ended up in realizing how little I know of my own country and how much prejudicial we are about certain regions of our country based upon the stories we hear from people who mostly have no clue themselves. I started with no expectations. People were warm and welcoming everywhere I went, had a story or two share with me with no intent to make money out of a 'traveller'. I hitch hiked, took lifts, shared cabs and every where I went I ended up adding few more stories and friends to my list. Everyone I met was generous enough to help me whatever way they could. The mountains and valleys I saw were stupefying, but what moved me entirely were the people I met, the stories they shared and smiles they gave me.
Watching travel diaries on Discovery and NatGeo since childhood gives everyone a glamorous pictures of travelling. But trust me, you will discover a new individual in yourself, who is friendlier than you thought & courageous than you imagined. An introvert like me ended up with so many friends whom I may or may not ever meet again. But the experience I had will last a lifetime.
I believe I have proven a point to myself that I can come out of my shell of a safe IT job which pays well and secures my future -to- something I wanted since I was a little boy. I know what drives me now and I want to give it another shot to walk roads I have never heard of!
My journey has inspired me, these pictures are only a glimpse of what I saw, I wish I could present what I felt around these places.
The city is beautiful with rich flora and fauna... The whole of Meghalaya is clean and well managed. People are warm and friendly. Being a matriarchal society, most of the businesses are run and owned by woman.
This place is highly picturesque, visit caves, double-decker root bridge which is a marvel in modern civilization. The whole place is surprisingly quite and pleasant most of the time. There is a place called Dawki with a river Umngot river. The water of this river is extremely clear, clearest I have seen in India, being at the border of India and Bangladesh, makes it a popular tourist spot. Visit Mawlynnong, cleanest village in India. It is an hour away from Dawki and the route to this place is through quite forest of areca nut, you can smell it all along the way. The villagers have done an amazing job of keeping it green and clean. You will not feel they have deliberately done to attract tourists, however, they have made it a habit to have everything in place.
went via Siliguri - Jaigain - Phuntensholing. Bhutan's capital is a beautiful valley with a unique traditional architecture. Coming from India, I had the feeling of travelling abroad as soon as I stepped into Bhutan, despite being our neighbour the country and its people differ a lot. They very humble and polite all across, you will feel safe and welcomed everywhere you enter. Bollywood music and movies are popular and hence, Indian travellers get an edge for starting conversation anywhere. Most people speak and understand Hindi very well. Thimphu is an urban city, you will find cafes, pubs and several places to hangout. Buddha Point, Choten Memorial and Takin Park are a must visit spot.
It is just an hour drive away from Thimphu and is very scenic. The sight of river flowing parallel to rocky mountains is so mesmerizing that you won't even realise the travel time, the roads all across Bhutan were amazing. Visit the Museum, Dzong and trek Taksang Monastery. The city is mostly on one quite road where you must take a walk in the evening - observe the color, lights and people.
One of the cleanest hill station in India. Traffic management is amazing across the city, people have the sense of cleanliness and put every effort to maintain it. Must visit Nathula Pass and Tsogmo lake, the view of mountains is stunning and surreal. Get even more surprised to find Indian Army camping and securing borders at such high altitudes.
Trekked from Maneybhajang to Sandakphu, it was a 5 day trek for me with stay at tree houses around Indo-Nepal friendly border. It goes through Singalila National Park with Red Pandas, Leopord cat and wide variety of birds - kalij pheasant, blood pheasant and fire-tailed myzornis.
On the way you get to witness up close view of the Kanchunjunga range and find Mount Everest turning golden with first ray of sunlight at Sandakphu. There is a road parallel to the trail and you can take a roadless-road ride through rocks and boulders giving your spine a challenge it won't ever forget.
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