Let me warn you at the beginning of this blog that its a big one but its worth reading if you're patient enough.It was about one week ago suddenly I've decided to go on a trip since the holi was approaching. Though I was a bit late and not able to pick a place where I should go as all the places were prebooked because of holi, But somehow I managed to book this offbeat place and book the train tickets by premium tatkal quota before the day of my journey. The next day, at about 9:30 pm, I hoped on paharia express from howrah and had some delicious parathas my mom packed me for journey and off to sleep as it was an overnight journey.next morning I arrived at New jalpaiguri junction aka njp Station at 10am and From there I took a shared car from jhorbunglow which will cost you Rs.250/_ to 300/_ per person. On the way I called the homestay to pick me up from jhorbunglow. By the time I've arrived to jhorbunglow the car from the homestay was there to pick me up, jhorbunglow to rangaroon it about 8km and these will cost 600/_ to 800/_, so it was not that far but you'll enjoy the road through the jungle. Within 30 minutes, I've reached the Homestay. To be continued...
As I reached my homestay, the owner bisen rai and his wife welcomed me with warmth and took me to my room as I was hell tired. I have found this homestay online and book it by giving 1/5 of advanced money through gpay. You'll get homestays here 1200/_ to 1500/_ per person, which includes fooding and lodgeing. After settling down in the room and a hot shower, I was ready to fill my tummy, and they served a starve bong girl spicy chicken, lentil(dal) and mixed vegetables with hot rice, pickle (achar) and papad what else do you need more than that?! Yes! Yes! You need more, a fine walk through the tea estate cos you don't want to miss out that breathtaking views. So, with a happy and full stomach, I went out to explore the tea gardens. It was a fine chilled afternoon as the sun had already sat, but it was enough light for me to walk around, and oh my gosh! What a beautiful walk I had, the weather the view enchanted me the way that I don't have the sense of the time that darkness has already crippled me around, so I returned to the homestay ASAP. And their awaits for me hot pakodas and a steaming cup of fine darjeeling tea. The owner Mr. & Mrs. Rai both are very humble person and not just them whenever I went to visit mountains the natives are so good, with polite and friendly nature very helpful, though tourism is the main source of their income still they are not so professional and make you feel homely and comfortable. I chated all evening with them and made new friends who are fellow guests in the homestay made my evening cheerful. After that Mrs. Rai informed me that dinner will be served at 9 pm, which is quite early for me, but it is what it is cos early to bed, and early to rise is the main mantra in the mountains and as a traveller you have to respect that. And I finished such a beautiful long tiring day with roti straight from the tawa in my plate with egg curry and vegetables, and I jumped in the bed and without realising away from all the chaos I fall asleep and slept like a baby until Mrs. Rai knocks to wake me up for morning tea.
This is my second day in North Bengal, what a chilled morning. As I mentioned earlier that I was woken by Mrs. Rai for morning tea, which they serve you in your room. Isn't it a fine thing to have in bed warped in a warm blanket? But I was a bit sad though as from the first day of my arrival I only had fogy weather and not a bright sunny one and was missing the breathtaking view of kanchenjunga. Anyways I got up freshen up and went to have breakfast. Mr. Rai suggested a little trek dwon to a river and to see a waterfall. I was very excited about the trek, so I finished my breakfast quickly, and at about 10 am. started trek. It was aprox 7.5km roundabout trek but took me four hours to complete it, as the tea gardens was so mesmerising that I had to stop to click pictures and the trek was super easy as it's not very stiff. And a small stream of river and waterfall just appeared from nowhere, it was so peaceful that you'll not be able to leave the place soon. While returning back, I took shortcuts through the tea gardens and the view was quite pleasant. As the hunger kicks in, I've decided to return keeping all those beauties behind. After such intense walk I needed a good meal and a afternoon nap that I did very well and then went to visit the rangaroon tea estate factory, later came to know that was closed for some reason. So unfortunately you can't buy teas from here. But if you are planning to do some shopping and not adventure fear not darjeeling is just happens to be the opposite of rangaroon only 16km far and and night view ofdarjeeling is mesmerising from rangaroon So you can ask for a car at your homestay and visit there. I didn't want to leave the place till my stay is over as I want to venture that place only. Today is my last night here, so I'm in the mood of some bonfire and fun, and I enjoyed the fullest and went to bed for that last peaceful sleep in this beautiful place.
This is the 4th day of my journey, and with a heavy heart and a stomach full of puris, I say goodbye to the place. My car was here arranged by Mr. Rai to take me to jhorbunglow. They have honoured me with a departing gift, and then I hoped into the car to reach siliguri. You can book a whole car if you are 6-7 people to reach siliguri that'll cost you 3-4k. Since I was travelling alone I took shared car from jhorbunglow to siliguri. After settling down in my hotel I went out side and since it was holi that day I played with some colours. Then had lunch and went for shopping in Hong Kong Market, which was walking distance from my hotel. Then it was time for me to catch a train so I packed my stuff and went to njp Station pick up some food and at about 8pm darjeeling mail departed, as I was so tired from the journey and shopping I didn't waist any time have had my dinner and went to sleep. 6 in the morning, I've reached sealdah station in a hope of returning here again for a new destination to venture.
