Thursday 15 October 2015

Memoirs of North Sikkim - Visit to Gurudongmar Lake - Part I ( Thangu )

When you get something best beyond expectation, it seems like a priceless gift. For me, it was more of that kind. As this plan was sudden and I decided to go just few days before the trip, I didn’t get time to check the places I was going to in web. Blindly I folded my worries, loosen myself up ,packed my bags and stepped out. 

Thangu

From Lachen we started around 3:15 am. Yes for that we woke up at 2:30 am. It was midnight. Darkness surrounded us and heavy sounds of unseen waterfalls were accompanying us. We opted for playing music instead. It was chilled enough and music was somewhat pleasing our head and sleepy eyes. Even after few times from very far we could spot Lachen as fair of tiny lights surviving in those dark mountains. That view was spectacular. Imagine a dark place and all of a sudden you find bunch of fireflies sitting together in a particular place and keep on twinkling the lights. In one word beautiful. Roads were rough and topsy turvy. Continuous jerks were not a big deal anymore. For information just sharing that not a single vehicle start their journey towards Gurudongmar alone, all the vehicles start journey together like a group and because of this we were told to not be late, else that could bring risks. Because if any of the vehicle faces any accident or risk, there should be enough resources of helping hands.  Anyways we saw the morning light coming in again and that was splendid. When it actually lightened bright, we realized we were already in high altitude. We spotted several falls and those falls are far away from human civilization. They were natural and awesome. Tall and fierce falls. 

Around 6:15 we halted at Thangu valley. People live there and yes that is a beautiful village. Thangu valley is situated at 14000 ft altitude from sea level. When we got down we clearly understood that the place was colder than before and nature was open to greet us with warm adorable hug. Several wooden homes are living along the clean middle way road which tends to move towards Gurudongmar. All houses were having a unique phenomenon. Actually in Sikkim I guess this is their tradition. The curtains were way very different than other places. They had a zig zag design on them and another thing is that most of the households hung a hand fan like of thing made of yak’s tail hairs and they are black in color. Even in many Hindu temples we use such kind of thing [Bengali - Chamor]. I know I was worst explaining the thing but yes hope you got it right, if not pardon. So where was I? Yes, the homes are colorful, like blue, green, red and decorated with  flowers in front and guarded with firepots and from where hot smokes were coming up to make us feel chilled.  From Thangu one can easily spot White Mountain hills. Through those red unknown hilly flowers the height seemed magical. Overall Thangu is a small village with neat scenario. Painter can easily plot their next canvas. There was a point where we could see the green valley which was climbing up in a very tilted way to a monastery. We even discovered the way to go there too. Beside those roads, upon the green valley yaks were all around. Their movements were getting alarmed by the bells they were tied to. We wished to go there. But alas!! That road doesn’t meet the way of Gurudongmar. For this one must stay at Thangu for 2-3 days. At the time of getting in to the car when I saw long and tall Tibetan Om Mani Padme Hum flags were waving by and wind chilling air was touching my ears, I literally felt that I was at heaven and yes that was place where Mukti, Freedom could be derived into soul.


Sweet Arpita Di ♥

Can you spot the monastery ?
Check the hill at far .. 

 



Girls love striking pose ;)

Poses poses and poses ;)


Smoky hot


We were super busy 









Selfie time


to be continued to second part of this post , the actual post on Gurudongmar ....
Posted By Debarati Datta Read about me here blogging since 2011 Copyright © Debarati Datta Privacy Policy

Thursday 8 October 2015

Memoirs of North Sikkim - Visit to Lachen

Well I am not getting the point from where should I start writing about my first visit to Sikkim. It is tough to sum up the visual feelings in words and that too when there are plenty visionaries which you are still able to remember like watching it alive. So here it is my first post of North Sikkim diaries.

NJP to Gangtok

We were four members & we started our journey from Sealdah railway station, Kolkata. Our trip was all over 5 days trip. I hope my writing may help you to find proper route guidance if you are planning to visit North Sikkim. We got into Teesta Torsha Express [Please don't opt for this train, the service is too bad and it runs late. There are many trains for reaching NJP] and reached New Jalpaiguri at 4:15 am around in next morning. There we started our  journey for Gangtok and it took 4:30 hours nearly to reach Gangtok.

whenever the road steps in to Sevoke road, Siliguri I kind of feel like yes here it is, the greens are welcoming us and it is always exciting to see the first mountain view on the way. Same happened this time too. After 4 months I stepped into the same route so yes I was super happy. It was drizzling and we saw the dawn bidding good bye and morning getting in. That feeling was extra ordinary. 



                   

On the way we suddenly met Teesta and there it was we followed Teesta river all the way along till the end of our journey and the variations of Teesta were amazing. Sometimes quite, sometimes very fast, very spontaneous and sometimes dangerous to look at. On  the way we had taken breakfast, obviously momo with red hot spicy chutney and hot soup. The weather was calming and cooling down and we let our body and mind to float with the climate and to fly over the roads, keeping the interest on our minds to reach Sikkim as fast as possible.
  

                                           
                             
                               

 Gangtok to Lachen

We reached the border of Sikkim & West Bengal, Rongpo. It is true that as you enter Sikkim, you can feel a sudden difference of being in it. The bigger mountains, the tree patterns all seem to be different than of North Bengal and yes the falls. In throughout my trip I saw around 200 falls (approx). Unbelievable right ? Check this one. This one was the first noted fall which we visited. This was earlier known as Seven Sisters falls but now it is called as Butterfly fall.


Checkpost 




Sottyi ??


Seven Sisters Fall


Seven Sisters Fall

Seven Sisters Fall

Sweet

Lunch place


When we reached Lachen (via Chumthang), it was around 5:30 PM in the evening. We got into Hotel and then we had our food. In mountains hot homemade foods taste so delicious and the way the people served us the food was so warm. After having the dinner we went for a night walk. Walking in the mountain at night has different charm. All dark and cold, few crickets sound around and dogs presence will make you feel superb. Over that when you can see the dark mountains are being decorated with tiny lights from far, it feels amazing. As if toyland. Ok let me brief about Lachen. Lachen is situated at around 9022 ft altitude, adored in the lap of the mountains, protected by the high hills. Lachen is a small and neat village to stay. Temperature was 4° and night sky was so so clear. Millions of stars were twinkling and night was hush hush silent. 





Reached Lachen


The next morning oops !! I should call it midnight, we got ready by 2:30 am next day and there started for Gurudongmar lake and chopta valley. This day was .. ahh.. will express in next post. Till then check the Lachen pictures and keep your eyes on my blog for the total North Sikkim journey.

P.S Pardon if any typos !! 


Lachen village




Clouds n clouds... Fly away.. Let me see Lachen

Final touch .. The temporary Signature 

Debo - ♥

I loved that big hotel. At night it was the main thing to look at

And that monastery.. I wish I could walk up to reach there. had no time 


Posted By Debarati Datta Read about me here blogging since 2011 Copyright © Debarati Datta Privacy Policy