This trip got me uncontrollable tears. Whenever the memories of Sikkim haunts me, some emotions surges through my viens to my heart whispering to make a plan right now, but in reality which wasn't possible at all. It's always a goosebump feel whenever I think of my favourite treks in Sikkim-Goecha La, No words to describe this trek at my first sight of the picture of that trek in winter.
Highlights : Yuksom (Place and the people), Magical Backyard Garden at Limboo Homestay, Mini Zipline, eagerly waited view of Kanjanjunga peak, Momos and Chowmein, Buddha park of Ravangla (Golden Glow at night), Nathu La drive, Paragliding at Gangtok, Homestay at Hee-Bermiok, Hee water garden and Organic food.
Day 1 and 2
Worst train journey and my first flight : The Journey started with the brightest face which I every had in my life. Boarded the and spent nearly 24 hours just sitting at the side as it was RAC. It was so painful to sit for long hours that too without sleep, Thank god, eventually got a seat but sadly still didnt sleep because I was in a situation where if I start sleeping I would never get up for a very long time. Just relaxed and was hearing songs. Then with a blank mind, doesn't know what to do next as I was all alone stuck somewhere far away from my home. Came out of the Kolkata station and had an amazing pot tea which was a heaven after facing a hell journey.
Then had a walk in Howrah bridge and took bath is Ganges river as I have planned to go to the most famous temple - Dakshineshwar Kali temple. Things started getting better. After the temple visit, left to the airport for my "First Flight" to Bagdogra in West Bengal.
Better days are ahead : Reached Siliguri and had to wait until my sister and her besties arrived. Had very less charge in my phone so had to go to a nearby restaurant and get something to eat just to put charge. Once they arrived at the airport, all was good to go. Then we reached Siliguri, had dinner and stayed there one night.
Home away from home: Started the journey in a jeep from Siliguri to a homestay in Yuksom via Teesta (Tista) river, a heaven away from home. "Limboo Homestay "Place where strangers become family. This Magical garden and the cottage makes it beautiful. Traveller''s chose homestay. It's really awesome when you go to a home-stay and people out there treat you as their own family. Yuksom - The place where you learn many lessons from the people out there. Yuksom is also the "First capital of Sikkim" and knows as the "Gateway to Kanjanjunga". Yuksom means "Meeting place of 3 Lamas".
Gompa and Stupas : As Hinduism named the place for worshipping as Temple, It's Gompa and Stupa for Buddism. After having an organic tea in the homestay, we started to trek on the pathway to Gompa. We had to be careful as there were full of leeches, eventhough we took salt and patanjali bandaids. The place was so peaceful as it should be.
Requiem of Souls - The graveyard into the woods : Afer reaching Gompa, we had some coversations with the Buddhists out there to know about the religious views, culture and thier practises. We went inside the monastry and got to know more about them. Looking around to explore more, we found a gate which lead us deep into the forests and we went deep inside too. A confused path took us to somewhere. We didn't knew it was a dead end until a person out there came and asked that what we were doing there. Later he said, it was the Burial ground out there which was built before ages. It was meant to bury the people who have been punished and sentenced to death because of crimes. Later, a person guided us to the right trek path and the deep exploration and trekking starts.
Coronation Throne of Norbugang : Trek was sucessfully completed along with the sucessfull plan to the next place and it was the the Coronation Throne of Norbugang. The throne signifies the place where crowning of the first Chogyal king - Phuntsog Namgyal took place in the year 1642. the site has the seats of the 3 Lamas and the king; a shrine consisting a huge prayer wheel; a mystic pine tree looming over the chorten and the serene Kathok Lake from where water for coronation was taken. One can also witness the footprints of one of the three lamas, embedded in a rock opposite kings throne. The beautiful garden around this historical site is a rare collection of lot of indigenous trees and plants. The visitors stay here for a while on this quaint piece of land and stroll in silence. Back to the homestay for a cup of tea along with the foggy climate and rain.
Day 4:
Khecheopalari lake - The Sacred Lake or Wishing Lake : Met a swag trek leader wearing a cap with the text "Get Out". He is the one who took us to the places in a jeep which was planned to visit next. This lake is known as the sacred and wishing lake, as it was meant to fulfil the wishes of the people with positive thoughts. A ringing bell inside the temple in south and the prayer wheels in north are the religious ways of praying to God by Hindus and Buddists. Lake full of fishes which would never starve. This lake is in the shape of the foot of Godess Tara.
Kanchenjunga Waterfalls : While returning back to Yuksom in the jeep, an astonishing view through the window made us mad to get down and experience it. The Zipline time has started where the cost is 100 per person. Then we were back to the homestay and it's time to say goodbye to Yuksom and the people out there. We were given a soulful farewell by the Limboo family. A shall around our shoulder by the sweet and true souls.
Phamrong Waterfalls : The highest waterfall of West Sikkim. This waterfall is reached by doing a mini trek in steps to the top of the falls where the actuall falls can be used to swim.
Hit-Hitachi Homestay : Just an organic homestay with bamboo wood walls. It was around evening time when we reached this place. Had some rest and became restless so we had to plan our next destination.
Singshore Bridge : The second highest bridge in Asia. It's really amazing to see how the dustbins are being kept. A wooden dustbin kept every few metres. Those are not just a basket, it's the one which prevents tourist people from throwing the plastics.
Planned the Unplanned and watch for the miracle - Hee water garden: The mystery behind this pic- Planned for something but the plan becomes a failure. Now just wanna visit a place nearby and that took me here. Fav pic though. Soul Connection with hills and falls. Back to homestay with all the disappointments flushed in the stream present in the garden. On the way back home, A golden ride through the fireflies. As it was so dark, we could see it very clearly.
Worth hard work. Getting up early in the morning at 3 am and waiting to see this for days . Hiking up the mountain at very low temperature ,Getting leech bites, blood on your foot, and you turn back and get stunned for a minute and realize whether it's a dream or reality . Scream for a second after watching this epic view of mount Kanjunjunga and Norsing.
Azing's Model Farm : First visit of the day. A place with controlled chaos of flowers, hanging hives, duck-pens and steeply descending fruit trees. The place where you get varieties of organic wines. This house at the centre of the farm is made up of mud.
Rinchenpong Monastry - The 18th century monastry : Just another usual monastry with full of Buddists. We didn't spend much of the time here. Left the place soon and went to a temple near the homesaty.
Sunrise : Getting up very early for seeing something else, but you end up seeing this from the mountain view point. Amazing sunrise made us to overcome disappointments .
Buddha park of Ravangla : 30-foot high statue of the Buddha. The place where the entire life history of Buddha has been explained with fascinating arts. Creativity of the temple is awesome. Temple visit is over and you are gonna return back ,but the rains stops you for sometime. Now you wait for the rain to stop, but it becomes dark and finally you get an unexpected chance to see this golden glow of Buddha at night.
The certificate which I value more than my B.E certificate : First day at Gangtok from Ravangla - Nothing was planned, but everything fell into track just because of a sweet taxi driver. He gave the list of places to be visited, later we thought of taking him along with us. Heading to Banjhakri Falls, on the way we saw parachutes flying around. We asked, if there is paragliding running? And yes, it was a green signal. Surprisingly, it was next to the Banjhakri Falls. So first we went to the place where the paragliding is done. We waited for 30 mins for our trip to get started. Then, it was a jeep which took us to the gliding point. It was 30 mins journey to the point. Finally, we reached the point and started to get nervous a bit. Then we were suited up one with the parachuted tied to the body. The pilot asked us to run and jump off the hills, isn't that crazy enough? We were blank, but we thought to overcome the fear and experience the thrill. We followed the instructions from the pilot and hence we had an amazing thrilling experince on the parachute. The thrill lasts for 15 mins only, still a thrill is a thrill. After sometime, there was no fear as we started to enjoy it. After completing the ride we got our certificates and went to the falls, which was the actual plan. Done for the day, sorry done after the dinner.
Banhakri Falls and Energy park : A place full of mini adventure sports with high safety. There was a kid who tried to do those started to cry when he was stuck in the middle of the rope. The people out there were encouraging him and giving him confidence and finally he made it. Back to Gangtok again. Million thanks to the driver who made the last but before day of the trip a memorable one.
Night at Gangtok : Probably, many gamers are there in Gangtok I guess. #Eagle's_Eye Beautiful way to end the day by watching this. #Night_owl One of the most famous roads in the world . #mgmarg.
Tsomgo Lake :
W for Wanderlust.
M for Magic
Any magic can happen during wanderlust.
Special feel driving in the roads covered with fog and mist.
Seduced to drive again.
Across the lake , through many hair pin bends, crossing many landslides, here we go, near the Indo-China border.
We spent the whole worthy day for just a single place.
Back to Bagdogra airport : It's time for some bitter sweet emotions. Before that, let me tell you the thrilling ride to the airport. After returning from the drive, we heard that there was going to be some corruption the next day, which was our flight ride day to Kolkata. So we thought of going to the airport early morning itself eventhough our flight was at evening. When we asked taxi driver whether he can pick us up early morning, none turned up to do so. Next plan was to take a helicopter to airport, but unfortunately it was the weather which cancelled the plan. We felt like, Sikkim doesn't want us to leave. Then we called the driver who took us to the falls and adventure sports. Thank God, finally one soul turned up to help us by arranging another driver as he was help up somewhere. People like them are blessing. Then the driver came at 2am and took us to the airport in 2 hours which was never the normal time to reach the airport. We reached the airport at 4 am and till evening 4, still we didn't know how we spent the time. Then as time was running faster, our eyes started to pour. Sometimes reality sucks.
Back to day 1 : The Golden days : Haunted with memories of Sikkim : Looking back how it started, the worst first day and the best last day of my journey. Travel is not always about the good things, it's how you handle the situation when it is worse.
