"There is a dream in my eyes. A dream which I have realized once. But the reality says 'I can't just have it once'."
My dream place is Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim situated at a height of 17,800 fts . Why is it a dream place will be your question. The terrain is difficult, arid zone there is a rare thing to see and when you reach the lake: It is none less than a paradise on earth. It has breathtaking landscape with very low oxygen level. But a salute to our heroes who are deputed there day and night for 12 months where we couldn't stand for a few minutes where temperature in summers goes till -11 and in winters till -30 degrees.
Dream Take 1:
It was 2002 I visited Sikkim with my family. While traveling to New Jalpaiguri on a train from Allahabad. Our train was delayed by 9 hours that left us with no option apart from taking a halt at NJP. Another shock came to us was a strike of buses and cabs, Thanks to our political system. So out of 4 days of Sikkim 2 wasted. That trip we dedicated only to places around Gangtok and west Sikkim.
Almost there: Dream Take 2:
Fine in 2004, we again made it to Sikkim and yes this time we were on the banks of this beauty but the weather was so windy and chilly that as a kid we couldn't even stand there for 10 min even after traveling for 18 hours. I do have pictures of mine there but in a sick mode. That was the moment it stole my heart, my soul was sunk into the depth of the freezing cold lake.
(Mom trying to take a pic with a sick kid)
So though being right at Gurudongmar Lake; The dream stayed unrealized.
Dream take 3:
Now I along my husband planned a trip to Sikkim in 2016 (After 12 years), so we booked our train tickets well in advance (4 months prior) but unfortunately, a waiting of 1 and 2 could not get cleared. We being too desperate to reach Sikkim booked last minute flight tickets after paying good Rs 36,000 and reached Sikkim.
Finally excited and thrilled we started our journey to North Sikkim. Every sight on the way was so alluring and every view was breathtaking. Waterfalls all around with chilly winds thrashing our window panes and suddenly our car applied screeching breaks, guess what for? Naga waterfalls which are supposed to be the largest had washed away the bridge connecting North Sikkim to rest of the part.
So, in short, I can say that Gurudongmar is not just a serene azure lake but a place that anyone can dream of. And its completely up to mother nature to call tourists. I will definitely visit this place again to fetch a part of my heart that I have left on that rocky terrain, in those high mountains and in the serenity of the lake.
It's tough to make your dream come true, but its never impossible!
PC: Travellenz
This blog was originally published on Aastha In Wanderland.