PEELI TAXI & Kolkata
On this solo trip from Varanasi to North Sikkim
First stop was Kolkata (visiting for the first time), although i stayed there for a short time only but in this little period I've taken lot of flavours from this nostalgic city!
The most eye catching mobile thing in this whole city was this "Peeli Taxi" ruling the roads of Kolkata for years.
These yellow coloured taxis are very spacious and in my senses this was first time I was sitting in an ambassador.
Unlike modern motorized vehicles, it doesn't have fancy interiors or any luxury but a ride in this Peeli Taxi is as nostalgic as the visuals of this city is.
If anyone is visiting Kolkata next time then do take this wonderful ride in the PEELI TAXI (at night if possible).
Gangtok : Heart of Sikkim & beauty of India
So, on 4th of July I stayed at Kolkata only and took the flight to Bagdogra Airport(which comes in district Darjeeling) on the next day i.e. 5th July and then after completion of my journey in flight of 1hr 10mins and 5 hrs in taxi I reached to heart of Sikkim The Gangtok City.
Where I already booked my stay for a night with Tag along backpackers which is one of the best hostels in Gangtok. The ambiance, the staff and the managers everything was perfect and giving a feeling of home in Gangtok.
There I met few amazing people including a fine painter Shivam Sehgal, an intellectual teacher Sandeep and this Gujarati- American guy Krishi. Soon, we form our UNO group in which I came out as champion 😄.
Not only this affinity but Tag along also gave me an incredible experience as the view from my window as soon as i opened seems i was sleeping alongside the clouds.. eating, smoking, reading, shooting infact breathing above the clouds. If you're visiting Gangtok do stay in this hostel and try to visit in early monsoon for this experience if possible then do avoid in july, why I'll tell you!
This city is actually incredible and way different than other parts of the country, can we imagine an Indian city with small lanes without honking, noone is breaking their lanes and running the vehicles without abusing! Yeah, it is possible only here in this wonderful city Gangtok.
And the center of this city is MG Marg, it is a must visit place if you're going to Gangtok even if it is raining.
The shopkeepers here doesn't sell an unusual thing but the liveliness and charm it gives is wonderful.
Since, They told me to explore the north most part Sikkim which is said to be more beautiful.
So, I took a scooter on rent for a day (it costs around 1000 bucks a day plus the fuel and I got it easily through the accommodator), At First I decided to go to the Tsongo Lake which was at a distance of around 33-34 kms from Gangtok, so I decided to go there by covering Enchey Monastery and Ganesh Tok in between.
The Enchey Monastery is one of the most peaceful places I have ever visited and The backside of the monesty is open to dense greenery and mountains which was covered with the clouds then, if you're visiting Gangtok and have time then do visit this Monastery, sit there at the back and feel the serenity.
(Yeah, that's me with the Camera )
The weather was not being very much supportive to me and by the time I reached at Tsongo Lake it was covered with dense fog and was not visible at all so, I had to leave the place. And this was the reason i wrote at the first place to not to visit Sikkim during monsoon as I've missed so many things due to the weather but yeah, if you want to feel the amazing experience of riding bike in to the clouds then do visit.
The most common thing i found in Sikkim wherever I was able to visit was these colorful flags with mantras in Sikkimese on them
I got to know that these are called Prayer Flags. Which are supposed to spread the vibes full of Peace Strength and wisdom.
And of course it is true as it really gave me a very positive and cool vibe while roaming on the scooter with these flags flying alongside
So, Its a wrap.
Though I was not able to explore the full beauty of Sikkim but, whatever I had seen and felt was incredible. The city on the clouds. I got to know that mid of November to mod of December is the best time to visit Sikkim specially for solo travelers, coz this is the time when you can see this beauty covered with little snow layer and also, at this time it will not be expensive for us. So, I'll be going then again and I signed off from Sikkim with this promise only, hope will see few of the readers, blogger and travellers from here in November at Sikkim. Till the stay connected to Tripoto app a best Travel guide which helped me a lot.
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