It was the month of December, 2020 and slowly we were coping up with the menace of the pandemic. People kind of accepted the situation and had started going out of the four walls of their homes and travelling across. It was no better for me as well. I was stuck in the same mundane "work from home" situation, when few of us decided to have a short trip to Darjeeling. But then we thought why not extend it to some place quieter, some place peaceful, some place where we can live on our own, where we can breathe ! That is when I stumbled upon this place called Okhrey, a small village in West Sikkim. So we decided to spend two nights at Okhrey before going back to our usual life in Kolkata.
Okhrey is 62 Kms from Darjeeling and it will take around 3 hours to reach by road. We took a pit stop at the picturesque town of Jorethang. The ride from Jorethang to Okhrey along the mountain roads with river Rongit by your side will fill your heart with joy.
We had booked the Royal Barsey Homestay at Okhrey, with a wonderful view of the mountains and beautiful garden in front. We had the entire homestay to ourselves . They have 5 rooms, each of which can accommodate 2-3 people. If you are travelling in the month of January, be prepared to brave the Himalayan cold. We had reached the homestay in the late afternoon and it was as chilly as it can get. We helped ourselves with a hot cup of tea thanks to the host and then, after lunch we decided to take a stroll around the place.
As we were walking around, we came across this small, quaint monastery on top of a hill. It is the Okhrey Monastery. The walk from the homestay to the monastery during dusk under the open sky will be a walk for all the city folks to remember forever. The peace and serenity of the place will feel like a blessing to your ever busy life. It is like an escape from the competitive world of corporate.
On our way back to the homestay we took a detour . A bit of adventure amidst the quiet hills. As suggested by a local person we took a road through the forest to reach our homestay.
As we returned to our homestay, the mighty mountains with the beautiful horizon in the background was there welcoming us. The beauty of the place increased manifold as darkness was gradually settling in. The place was quieter than ever.
Gradually the night settled in while we huddled around the bonfire with some hot pakodas and tea. An evening of pure bliss. An evening full of childhood stories, friendship and nostalgia.
Okhrey and its surrounding area is known for its Rhododendron flowers. Mostly the flowers are seen during the spring season. However we got the taste of the local made Rhododendron Wine . Another unique drink that everyone visiting Okhrey should definitely try is the local Tongba, a millet based alcoholic beverage.
Amidst all these two of my friends were busy capturing the beautiful view from the mountain sides. We could see the glowing city of Darjeeling tucked in the lap of the mountains in the darkness of the night.
The bright full moon, the stars, the light from the bonfire , the songs and the mighty Himalayas: everything had a mesmerizing effect on all of us. As if the chilly wind and the near zero temperature didn't matter. All we wanted was more of it. All we wanted was to look at the sky and enjoy the nature as much as possible.
Soon the dinner was served. It was a simple yet sumptuous dinner. By the time we finished our dinner it was freezing cold. The dews on the grass was frozen. But we braved the cold and stayed out for some more time before we went in to our rooms for the night's sleep.
The morning was welcomed by some hot soupy noodles and tea.
Life is all about experiences and if you want to spend a day or two in total peace and tranquility, Okhrey is the place for you. After a long trip if you want to stop by a place where all you want is to sit in front of the fire overlooking the mountain with your loved ones, this is the place for you. In addition to it one can also trek to the nearby Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary.
