A weekend Getaway from Kolkata : Trek to Tonglu

Tripoto
27th May 2016
''In order to find yourself you need to get lost in the forest of life''

Cancellation of our bus on the day of travel put a question mark on my first trek in North Bengal with my new project team in Kolkata. As always there was no option to give up. Luckily the travel mates were so excited about this trek as much as me, so we decided not to cancel it at any cost. We reached Sealdah station and boarded on the train in general compartment on Friday night. No empty seats, we could hardly stand, it was not a comfortable journey. After all the struggle through out the night, We reached New Jalpaiguri Station in the next morning. Then we took a bus and reach Siliguri bus stop which was 20 minutes away from the NJP station. After finishing our breakfast, we took a sharing cab (150/- per head) around 9 am and reached Ghoom station around 12 o'clock. Then we hired another cab from Ghoom station and reached the base of our trek Dhotrey around 2:30 pm (cost :1800/- for 7 people) .

Finally the journey begins from the village of Dhotrey and after few steps we entered into the dense forest full of pine trees. I was happy again as i moved into the lap of nature and away from the city-crowd. As they say it feels good to be lost in the right direction, we followed the path to get lost in the forest which was clearly marked by stones. No guide is needed for this trek as there is no chance of getting lost if you follow this path. Soon the forest welcome us with drizzling rain which washed away our pains of last night journey. After climbing for 2 hours inside the forest, we reached a view point from where we found our self above the clouds and we were lucky enough to witness a beautiful rainbow which made our day. After a big round of photo shoot we continued our journey and reached to the top of Tonglu around 5:30. 

Our accommodation was pre-booked at trekker's hut (100/- per head) at Tonglu from GTA office of Saltlake, so we reached our beautiful hut in empty stomach and asked them if we can have anything which is called food. After waiting for few minutes, we were rewarded with hot yummy noodles of the hills by the hut canteen. The accommodation was really good, not luxury but exactly like the dream house we imagine on top of the hills. Temperature came down around 6 degree at night after the rain and we went to sleep under 2 blankets.

Next morning after breakfast we started to descend back to Dhotrey in heavy rain and reached Dhotrey in 3 hours from there we hired cab for Ghoom station and from there we hired another sharing cab till Siliguri from where we boarded on our pre-booked return bus to Kolkata. We reached 11 am to Kolkata from where I had to report directly to office. Our small weekend trek was totally worth all the risk and pain. We came back to our normal life after having the much needed break.

Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk
Photo of Tonglu, Singalila Forest, West Bengal, India by Altafuddin Sk