Introduction:-
Enclosing its top with vanilla, enchanting its beauty by keeping High the glories of kanchanjunga. Mesmerizing by its different varaints and giving the complexion to all other small rivers and showing its flow the river Teesta ,and this is how Sikkim came to my bucket list and this was totally unplanned. We were confused and were thinking all the way where we should go in this long weekend.and there were three different opinions. finally we flew chits and in that way Sikkim chit came into out hand. Yes! I won.. Because in my travel bucket list Sikkim was on top.
As soon we asked for our long leaves and started looking forward for planning and booking tickets. Same question before doing anything that it should be in budget and affordable as it was first time we are planning by ourself. Now how to reach
? where to stay? What would be the environment condition as it was December, So many question were running in mind. In our first phase we were stucked because we saw flight's tickets for the month of December we super high and were costing whole in budget though we planned 4 month prior. Then as we want to plan within our budget we booked train tickets before it get full.
Finally we got our tickets in super cheap price and then we started preparing slowly by getting everything ready , checking weather condition.budgeted hotel and undergoing in all sites and contacting and getting things ready, Finally we got a package of 5000 INR for 3 days from travelgantok.com as it was non season time we got everything in affordable rates. Our packaged include hotel stay in Gangtok and north sikkim package whole stay and food. Whereas for Gangtok only stay no food and other sight seeing was excluded but pick up and drop facility was there from NJP to Gangtok and vice-versa. So it was quite sufficient for us. We started our journey on 18the December 2019 and we knew this journey would be so long and we shouldn't get bored we downloaded movies, card games ludo and yes that worked we couldn't notice even how time flew so fast on 20the December 2019 around 11 am we reached NJP as trains were delayed by 2 hrs but that's fine its OK.
Day 1:-Our journey was quite long from NJP to Gangtok which took almost 4 hrs to reach but it was full of excitement such as small water flow, momo's shop , assence of incense stick and all around prayer flags, and such small things which I noticed and I almost felt my long journey towards Sikkim was Worthy enough. We reached Gangtok at 6pm in evening as temperature was low and we were in our winter garments.
Gangtok was just amazing with its landscape and infrastructure such as house's were painted colorfully and the balcony was decorated with flower pot and not a single house was without decoration and due to which at first glance only I fall in love with that place.
Our residency Mayel lyang was just 1 km away from Mg road and it was beyond our expectations because room facility was very good and from our window whole Gangtok city was visible staff over there were very caring and helpful.
Christmas was about to come and Mg market decorations were also going on we were just roaming all around and making ourself relax.
Our first day went softly and we getting ready for our next day tour which was north Sikkim.
Goodmorning for the 2nd day. We were supposed to reach Changu stand at 11 O'clock in morning and we had ample of time because we woke up at 6 and packed everything and around 8 we went to Mg market for breakfast where we had momo's and Maggie and most famous puri bhaji we hired a cab and we roamed nearby where we went Namnang view point which I believed was lovers point we left that place and reached tashiling monastery. It is peaceful place where young and old monk stay together and were grateful they greet everyone.
https://youtu.be/HPPyo_z-RpI
I prepared a short video of my journey towards sikkim
we reached Changu stand on time where we hired a sharing cab and again journey was 7 hrs from Gangtok to Lachung . north Sikkim specified why Sikkim is so beautiful where on the way there were wooden house and as usual flowering and decorated house but, still thinking about north means snow peak mountain but unfortunately till we reached it was dark and cold and felt like haunted. finally traveling for 7hrs we reached lachung.
We were managed in a home stay where we were alloted with rooms there were other travellers accompanied us in that same home stay apparently it was super cold and our taxi driver passed us necessary information for the next day . Unfortunately he told us zero point was closed due to heavy snowfall and told us to choose katao instead of zero point. We agreed for the same. We had our dinner and even purchased brandy(because it was super cool Usually due to low temperature throughout the year Alcohol is more consumable and in affordable rates) we even purchased snow boots and jackets and went inside our room and excited for tomorrow
It was about 5am morning and sky was blur winter was touching its level and we were shivering at the same moment. I exercised for about 30 minute and then my body was feeling OK. I put on my winter clothes and can outside and was astonished to see snow covered mountain and this was my first time to feel that moment.
As soon as we reached katao temperature was falling rapidly I still remember I carried brandy by my side but it was too cold to remove my gloves. Mobile battery drained at a certain point of Time. Kanda water fall was half frozen and half flowing if was beautiful scenario to describe. We couldn't even click photos because in a sec our hand used to get freeze. I don't know what was the temperature but it was in minus. But, that mesmerizing picturesque made us to wait and just to look at that place and feel the beauty of nature. Every mountain was snow covered and felt like every tree is celebrating Christmas .though holding snow over there branches and after 1 hr we headed towards Yumthag Valley.
Yumthang Valley :- Its a famous tourist point of North Sikkim. As it was non peak season we were getting everything lavishly. We couldn't see much crowd around that time.
we went back to our cab and left yumthang by 1 pm as going downwards towards Gangtok distance cover very fast so we reached back Gangtok around 5 pm and still on the way we halted on beautiful spots.
we reached Changu stand from there we hire cab and went to Mg market to all necessary shopping for our dear ones.and within a gap of one day MG market was decorated with lightings.
Our last day and we were supposed to leave our hotel by 11. But they were super co operative that they allowed to keep our baggage till 1 pm. We rented cab for 1500 INR for site seeing of gangtok where we covered famous spot like Rumtek monastry, ganesh tok.
We couldn't cover whole gangtok because we our train was there from NJP to Sealdah for our next journey but these places were worth visiting.
we reached Njp on time and this is how our journey towards sikkim was completed, but was quite sad because I could not complete whole part of Sikkim because running short of time and journey from one place to another was quite long but filled with thrilling view. I was satisfied and was very happy to be there for short span of time. Would be visiting again to see more because I love Sikkim.
Things to purchase in Sikkim
Souvenir such as fridge magnet, kukri, bells etc
Prayer flag and incense stick from rumtek monastery
Classic Sikkim ceramic cups and bowl.
Wall hangings.
I recommend that one should definitely visit our North east part of India because it not only have beautiful places but also beautiful people with heart. They treat you so well and greet you with smile. It is 100% organic and one must visit in non peak season because hotel stay and site seeings are in affordable rates.
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