Hi!
20.12.2011: DAY-0:-
21.12.2011: DAY-1:-
Just returned from Sikkim Trip and would like to share my experience
with everyone out here. I am thankful to all the members who helped
planning my trip and making it most enjoyable.
this report is to say a big "thank you" to all those who have helped me
prepare for this trip, i have bombarded them with countless questions,
for a month regarding innumerable details, which they painstakingly
answered and encouraged me throughout, wished me luck for this trip,
despite it being Winter, and hence quite a risky journey after
Earthquake.THANK YOU guys...i owe this trip to you...
The trip was highly enjoyable & I am very happy to travel Sikkim.
20.12.2011: DAY-0:-
We started for Barddhaman station at around 7 pm. We were a group of 7,
me, my brother, our parents, mimi,meso,my sis. At 9:35 pm , after 10
mins its schedule time Uttarbanga express came at platform no . 2.
I
have checked indiarail website and found that everyday train was delayed
by 2 hrs due to heavy fog.but luckily our train reached 5 min advance
at 6:55am at NJP.
21.12.2011: DAY-1:-
We reached NJP at platform no 1A at 6:55 am. After taking tea, we slowly
moving to take our pre booked tata sumo which was arranged by our tour
operator Deepak Rai, Omega Tours & Travels.We started for Gangtok
around 7:35 am. We had taken our breakfast at Kirney Bazar around 10’ o
clock. It was a very clear day and the sky was blue and bright.we
reached Gangtok Deorali stand at 12:30 pm.Delayed due to heavy jam in
tadong,gangtok.Finally, we reached our holiday home Hotel View Point in
old pvt. Bus station jst below M.G MARG , 2 mins walkable distance from
there at around 1 pm by 2 private taxi . Private taxi took RS.-80/-. We
were so hungry. After a quick hot shower , we took our lunch in the
hotel around 2:30pm.After that we were taking rest in the hotel’s
balcony and enjoying the Knchanjungha from hotel’s balcony. Around 5 pm ,
my tour operator Deepak came and told that tomorrow we will go to
Nathula pass.At that time , he gave me a box of mineral water, cakes,
biscuits etc....
22.12.2011: DAY-2:-
We woke up early around 5 am and watched the golden sunrise of Mt.
Kanchanjungha from our room’s balcony.We started our journey for Nathula
@8 am. Our driver bhanu took us from our hotel room in his Mahindra
MAXX and reached some unknown places and waiting for permit.From there,
we stared our journey around 8:30 am. First, we reached 3rd Miles Police
Picket Post around 8:50am which is at 6500ft.From here Hanuman Tok is
only 2kms. Here, Permit officers checked our permit and check any one id
card and count the no. Of member. After getting green signal from him,
we further proceed towards our dream destination Indo-China
border.After that we reached 15th Miles Police Picket Post which is at
an altitude 10400 ft.From here TSOMGO LAKE is 8 kms only and Nathula is
25 kms only. This is the last check post before Nathula.On the way to
Nathula, we crossed Tsomgo lake which we will visit later at the time of
return jouney. Finally we reached Nathula (14200 ft),indo-china border
at 11:25 am. I was very happy to come there .we shake hand with Indian
army and Chinese soldiers and took some snaps. In this time , a little
bit snow is there and but cold air was blowing. According to army
personnel temp was -1° C. We left Nathula around 12:30 pm and reached
Baba Mandir(12651ft) at 12:45 pm.visit Baba Harbhajan singh meuseum and
Harbhajan singh mandir . after that took coffe at Cafe 13 thousands and
moving towards Tsomgo around 1:30 pm and reached Tsomgo lake(12310 ft)
around 2:15 pm.There was lots of snow above tsomgo lake. We enjoyed with
lots of snow and took few more snaps. Here one special thing was Yak
riding ,omg!! first time i was on yak. Enjoyed there too much and
finally we left tsomgo around 3:10pm. We reached Gangtok around 5:15 pm.
Tomorrow will be big day as we were leaving for North Sikkim.
23.12.2011: DAY-3:-
Then the day came.......We all excited for going to Gurudongmar lake & Zero point ice icy....
We started at around 10:30 am from Gangtok towards lachen. Our operator
Deepak bhaiya came & took 3 members along me with his hyundai i10
and booked another taxi for rest of the members.
then one unknown place , A Mahindra Maxx ( SK 01 J0540) waiting for us.
There , we met our driver Anup,22 yrs old, become my friend quickly as
both of us are belongs to same age. He is very jolly .
Mr rai gave us our permits, (they had been already made the previous day
as we had sent our documents by post)and packed a carton of mineral
water ,with packets of chips, biscuits chocolates and cakes to have on
the way. he insisted we have only mineral water in North Sikkim., we had
great fun with us teasing Anup and he teasing as back.
First we reached Tashi view point from there, we clearly saw the
beautiful panoramic view of Mt. Kanchanjungha. At around 12’ o clock ,
we reached KAVI LONGTSOK. Actually, this is the place where indigeneous
tribes Bhutia-Lepcha had sworn as Blood-Brotherhood to live
harmoniously in the hidden valley. We reached Seven sister falls at
Menrong gong around 12:50 pm. The falls was strictly ok, nothing
great.from here . Mangan-37 kms, Chungthang-65 kms.
At around 1:45 pm,We had our Lunch at phodong at norbuling restaurant,
with rice dal, 2 types of vegetables and chicken . the road started to
get bad right after phodong near mangan it was just terrible. We reached
Mangan bazar at 3:45 pm and waiting around 30 min as our driver taking
grocerry items.At 4:15, we started for Lachen. At 5:45 pm we reached
chungthang. The road between toong and chungthang is terrible , actually
there was no road . Earth quake damaged the road as the epicentre of
the earth quake is PAIGAU village just above the road.Our driver Anup
took chicken for us for the lunch of the next day from Chungthang bazar.
Finally , we reached our hotel Mount view Residency at lachen. The road
between chungthang and lachen also very very bad. In the backside of
our room teesta was roaring and there is so cold around 0°C & below.
The rooms were spacious, clean and the beds comfortable. they had a
nice view of the valley and the river. It was ethereal and quiet, as we
were the only guests in the hotel. we chatted for a while, and then had
our dinner by 9.pm. dinner was simple, rice, dal vegetable curry and egg
curry, with salad and pickles. as we were the only guests, they served
us buffet style, we helped our selves heartily, and went off to an early
sleep. At night ,it was too cold ,temp. Becomes -1°C or -2° C.
Tomorrow will be a big day as we will go the Holy
Gurudongmar lake(17100ft).
24.12.2011: DAY-4:-
We woke up early around 4’ o clock. Our driver informed us that we had
to be out by 5am. Not only us, but the drivers were also scared of the
road condition. the roads were not bad, the were just not there. i had
once seen a discovery programme on off roading, and thought" how
adventurous". but didnt feel half as nice to be in the same position
myself. It was as if riding through a sea of pebbles and boulders, with
waterfalls gushing on the roads every now and then, the car splashed
right through them, and more the a couple of times one of the rear
wheels would dangle in the air, while on a bend. we had to close our
eyes in some parts, it was so scary.
Reached Thangu village at 7:15 am. We took hot magi & hot tea there.
This was the last breakfast stop before Gurudongmar.we meet several
army persons there & took some snaps with nepali child.
Now, no such village.. only Army camp...we crossed several army
camp..Mimi was having slight breathing troubles. our driver gave her a
piece of camphor and also a pod of garlic to smell, which seemed to ease
her a bit.. it was freezing out there.At 8:45 pm ,we reached the last
checkpoint in Giagong at 15000 ft. our driver warned any of us who were
feeling uneasy(slight nausea, headache or breathlessness) against going
out of the car, as the army would be sure to send back the entire car,
if they found anyone to be ill. The army personnel check the health of
our smallest member , my sister(11 yrs) and take a snap of our car And
as soon as we crossed the check post, the landscape changed to that
resembling ladakh...a barren cold desert, startlingly blue sky, and snow
peaks all around. there was no tarred road, and it seemed very easy to
get lost. there were army bunkers all around, and barbed wires indicated
quick sand at places. our driver mentioned there were land mines
embedded from the time of China war,an army officer at gurudongmar
confirmed this, increasing my mother's intensity of prayers that we can
return safely and many yaks have died in explosion!
At 9:21 am we finally reached our dream destination Gurudongmar lake
(17100 ft).According to the army persons the temp. was -4°C . Cold air
was blowing and cold air penetrated into our body just like hot sands
and burns the uncovered skin. There is a sarv dharm sthal or an all
religion prayer area beside the lake, which has guru Nanak to guru
rimpoche's image. The lake was frozen except some parts. the lake itself
was a revelation.an amazing shade of blue, against the snow capped
peaks, a different shaded blue sky, and sandy barren landscapes, its
beauty should be seen to be believed.. we went down right o the water of
the lake...it was unbelievable!!..As wind speed was continuously
increasing , the 2 army persons ordered to leave the place
immediately.Blood comes out from the nail tips because of low air
pressure.My sister feeling bad and had headache..2 army officer gave her
dairy milk chocolate and hot coffe and tauffey given to us.We stayed
there for around 30 mins, and we left the place at 9:50am.We are very
lucky to go there as because that day only 3 cars were able to come the
holy Gurudongmar lake.In our car 7 persons, other cars Punjabi
couple,another 4 persons from bengaluru...so total 13.
At 10:15 am we took some snaps on frozen teesta nullah at the position
where two branch one from Tcholamu and another from Gurudongmar meets.
At 11:45 am we reached Chopta valley...took some snaps ...further
proceed towards lachen village. Due to the maintainenence of damage
roads due to earthquake, army blasted some hanging mountains & for
some land sliding , they were not allowed any vehicles to return to
lachen as work was progressing from 8 am to 4 pm.so, we had to wait some
places ..name Zeema III , 13 kms ago from lachen. We had to wait there
around 3 long hrs. We were so hungry...bt no such food is there with us
except popcorn.
After their completion of work, they had given green signal at around
4:15 pm, then we started for lachen.Finally , we reached lachen at 5 pm
and took our lunch at 5’ o clock!!!! ..Lunch was simple, rice, dal
vegetable curry and egg curry, with salad and pickles.
After taking food, we started for Lachung at 5:45 pm.The road to lachung
from lachen is really good...but we were too tired and tensed as it was
fog outside become denser.Finally,we reached lachung at 7:45pm and
checked in at Hotel Golden fish ,lachung.Deepak’s 2 hotel hotel pine
view resort and tourist centre was damaged due to earthquake thats why
he had given us diff. Hotel name Hotel golden fish. The hotel was as
good as Gangtok’s hotel.No problem is there...all r going fine to us.
But here temp was not as low as lachen. Here temp was 2°C.At 9’ o clock,
we took our lunch Garam garam rooti, dal,gobi,Egg curry...we went off
to sleep...
Next day......Mission Zero Point.......
25:12:2011: DAY-5:-
Merry Christmas.........
We woke up early around 4:30am.We were all set to start for yumthang and
yumesamdong(zero point) by 5, but the hotel people pleaded to start at
least at 5.30, so they could pack our breakfast. We started started our
journey towards yumthang around 6am...the weather was clear..we reached
the big gate of “Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary” at 6:30am and crossed
Yumthang valley around 7:30 pm which we will visit later.
At 7:45 am we reached the strating point of Yumsumdong(13700 ft).we
proceeded towards zero point. Finally , At 8:20 am we reached the zero
point (15784 ft). Lot’s of snow was there.We enjoyed a lot.My brother
removed his T-shirt and other clothes and giving poses for snaps though
the temp was -3°C.
As it was 25th December , We carried X-mas cake for zero point and
opened their in the ice of zero point.we had fun on the snow for almost
1hrs..
One word of caution, zero point is close to 16000 ft high, and
breathing problem can be seen here as well as nose bleeding. if you feel
uneasy please come back to your car immediately, pull up the glasses
and deep breath.. please remember high altitude problems can take place
irrespective of age...do not ignore it, especially in kids..it can be
serious. Be cautious please!...we left the place around 9:20 am..and
while returning, a thick white mist surrounded us as we passed through
zodang, known as the valley of essences, for its incense plants.and then
we reached Yumthang valley at 10:15 am and took some snaps ,enjoyed in
mild sunny weather and further proceed towards Lachung village.
we returned to lachung around 12.00. lunch was ready...took lunch at
12:45pm we started for gangtok around 1:30pm. the road of gangtok was a
nightmare. After 15 min, we stopped for watching Bhimnullah falls.At
3:15 pm, we saw Naga falls near toong. The road between chungthang &
toong is horrible.At 4’ o clock , we crossed Mangan Bazar .we had our
tea at phodong. beyond phodong the road condition was better, and we
could reach gangtok at around 7 pm, it is a rule in gangtok that from 7
am to 7pm no big car can enter the city, and only local taxis can be
used. no more than 4 persons are allowed in alocal taxi, and for one
extra person you need to hire another seperate taxi. the fares charged
are also rather steep. its really a nuisance one has to put up with. we
joked that this was the bright side of getting late due to bad
roads...no taxi atleast !! we were dropped at our holiday home hotel
view point around 7:30pm. we took pizza from Dominno’s and took
coffe...later moving in the Mg marg as it was 25th Dec special day.....
Feeling very good as we able to cover all the points of North Sikkim......
26:12:2011: DAY-6:-
Gangtok Sight Seen........
We started our journey at 9 am. First visit...Rumtek Monanstery, the oldest monastery of Sikkim (10 am- 11:30 am).
2nd point was Shanti view point from which gangtok city clearly be
seen. My sis wore Nepali dress there and took some snaps.We took momo as
breakfast there.
3rd point was Botanical Garden.......
4th point was Ranka Monastery , i like this monastery & Buddha murti......
5th point was Banjhakri Waterfalls......
6th point was Do-drul Chorten......
7th point was Tibetology, unfortunate as it was closed
8th point was Ropeway.....superlike it......
9th point was Flower Exhibition Centre, I have not seen such type of flowers before....so like it very much..
10th point was Chogyal Palden Thondum Namyal Memorial Park
In the evening moving in the MG Marg.......
thank you for giving your valuable time
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