If you want to experience Sikkim in quite comfortable way, please close the tab and move to another travel article. Yes, you experience very uncomfortable travelling on the ghats of the hilly terrain in Sikkim. But the views and places after you get down from the vehicle will mesmerise you. Damn sure.
Started from Hyderabad Airport and after around 2.30Hrs reached Bagdogra Airport. Throughout the drive you can see River Teesta flowing through the hills. The road which is in the West Bengal as quite good but, after crossing Checkpost at West Bengal border, then starts the bad roads. After a tiring journey of about 4.30Hrs, we reached. Gangtok welcomed us with heavy traffic on its narrow streets.
After getting refresh, we left for MG Market to purchase some heavy warm clothes for North Sikkim, which is highly recommendable.
Our plan for Day 2 is visiting Nathula pass, Tsongmo lake, and Changu baba mandir
Nathula pass is the border between India and China, which was closed now. For visiting this, you have to take permit from Military through a travel agent. You have to submit your Voter ID and you passport photo to get the permit.
Nahtula pass is about 4,310 m above mean sea level, so the oxygen availability is low. Not recommended for aged people and heart patients. It forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road which was closed now. It is one of the three open trading border posts between China and India.
You can see both the gates of India and China’s. But photography is prohibited here (but saw many clicking). You have to climb around 50 steps to see the gates. Please carry popcorn packets when you visit Nathula(). Eating Popcorn somehow helps you not getting any breath problems. (Yes, it helps). There you can find a canteen. A hot chai at those freezing cold temperature helps u. Don’t forgot to carry thick warm clothes and other woollen things to withstand those low temp.
Captain "Baba" Harbhajan Singh is revered as the "Hero of Nathula" by soldiers of the Indian army, who built a shrine in his honour. He is said to be protecting India even after death. You can see his shrine, office and belongings of baba.
There is a shiva’s idol opposite to temple, a few steps away over a small hill. You can find an outlet that sells all the Buddhism stuff. This runs by military. After purchasing at different locations, realised that the costs here are pretty low than other places. I suggest you to buy at places like this which runs by military officials if you come across.
By the time we reached Changu Lake, the place was fully with fog. There you can have some Yak ride as well. It's like a pit stop. Nothing much to see, I personally felt that.
On Day-3, I had a terrific ride to Lachung. Only SUV type vehicles are allowed to North Sikkim. You can go by sharing(Bolero/Max) and by reserving(Innova/Xylo) a vehicle. I personally suggest to take a reserve vehicle if u are minimum of 4 mem. The sharing vehicle won't have comfort at all as min of 9 members will be dumped in the vehicle. Moreover, reserve a middle row seat when you contact any travel agent (from my experiences). No Plastic mineral water bottles are allowed into North Sikkim. At the check post before Lachung, you have to dump all you plastic bottles.
On the way to Lachung, you come across some waterfalls, Teesta river, a reservoir and some minor pitstops. But the roads are very bad and with a reserved vehicle, faced very much discomfort. While travelling in ghats, please carry Ajwain (carom) which helps you to reduce vomiting sensation than a tablet, for North Sikkim it helped me instantly. About 6PM, reached our stay in Lachung and early in the morning at 6AM left for Yumathang.
Yumathang Valley took around 2hrs from Lachung and about 3564Mts. After reaching Yumathang, we headed towards Zero point which was another 45min. For zero point, it costs 3000 INR per vehicle(for reserved vehicle, it should be shared with all the members). You can find snow here and in Dec to Feb, you might not allowed here depending on the weather and road conditions(due to avalanches/landslides). Due to high altitude, you might get some headache/Nauseousness. I suggest to carry some popcorn again and don't get excited as it increases oxygen consumption. After chilling over there in snow for around an hour, after having lunch at Lachung, left for Gangtok.
Our Day-5 is for Gangtok sightseeing. We have visited some falls, a flower exhibition center, monasteries, view points, Ropeway and an institute of Tibetology.
Day 6, We left for Pelling. On our drive, we visited Buddha park in Ravangla. It's a huge Budda statue in sitting pose. It has an exhibition hall with murals related to Buddhism.
Day 7. It was the most memorable morning for me as I witnessed the golden view of the India's highest peak, Mt. Kanchenjunga from my hotel terrace. With rays of sun, that white mountain eventually turned Orange.
Rest of the day, we visited Pemayangtse Monastery, Kanchenjunga Waterfalls, Rabdentse Ruins, Pelling Skywalk and other places.
At last returned to Hyderabad with lot of memories of Sikkim.
Thanks for Vivek from TravelZyada for making my trip comfortable.
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