GANGTOK
Heaven nearly visited! That’s the phrase to completely describe it.
High mountains, infinite waterfalls, sharp ridges, deep valleys, silver clouds and NO PPP (plastic, pollution and population)…what else would any tourist want?
How to reach Gangtok?
1) (For a non-West Bengal resident) The best way to reach Gangtok is via Calcutta.
2) To reach Gangtok, you first have to reach Siliguri. You can reach Siliguri through train or by air-means…nearest airport to Siliguri is Bagdogra…(unadvisable because its expensive + you will be very stressed up for upward journey to Gangtok).
Best train to board – Kachenkanya express (route – Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri (NJP)). Its leaves Sealdah at 7.30 p.m. and reaches NJP at 6.30 a.m. (Rate – a class 3 AC ticket costs for Rs. 700).
3) On reaching NJP…you can hire a Sumo…which via Siliguri goes to Gangtok. (Rate – Rs. 150 pp on shared bases / Rs. 1800 for private taxi)
Alter - you can go to Siliguri (12 km from NJP) and board mini-buses (plying between Gangtok and Siliguri). (Rate – Rs. 105 pp).
The final journey to the heaven (Gangtok) is just breathtaking…first passing b/t Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary…then…majestic view of mountains and along side them; THE Teesta river…and numerous ancient small bridges. As you start approaching closer to Gangtok, the cloud cover becomes more dense. Also, the degree of coldness increases. The major difference b/t Gangtok and all other major hill-stations (especially those which are in North India) is of the altitude…Gangtok with its height (5500 ft) is one of the highest hill-stations in India.
Where 2 put up n eat :::::……
There are many hotels (every type) along the MG road…and staying is not an issue. FOOD - If you are a total veggie…you won’t find many alternatives.
Places to visit :::::……
DAY ONE :
There are many places to visit : Do-Drul Chorten (Stupa), The Flower Show complex, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok, Rumtek Monastery, The Enchy Monastery, The Gonjang Monastery, Burtuk Waterfalls…and MG road (well you find this MG-type-named road on every hill-station …its basically ‘The MAIN road’ of Gangtok and contains a good market).
U can see all the above mentions places on the day of your reaching.
(Rate – Private taxies takes Rs. 600 for a family of 4)
DAY TWO :
Well all the above mention places aren’t that interesting (from a teenager’s point of view…monasteries and temples are not THAT interesting). So! on day 2 you can go (you MUST go) to Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial, Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La Pass.
The most extraordinary n the best place to visit is undoubtedly – Nathu La Pass (14500 ft). This pass was a part of the famous Silk route (if you can’t remember Silk route…then I must say u are really poor at History). Currently it is the Indo-China border. Across the border you may watch the green-grass-coloured-uniformed Chinese army guys with red stars on their caps and two toy-looking pistols beneath their shoulders. Yeah! That’s the wardrobe of our neighbouring country’s army…How can you fight in such kind of (green + red starred combo) dress?...and more wonderingly how did they beat us in 1962? Strategic reason is that hills on China’s side are higher than those on our side…and frankly speaking they are more beautiful also.
The best scene of my visit – standing within the last cms of Indian soil and looking towards the Chinese side…the picture is comparable to the endless wallpapers which keep on popping on our PC’s screen while surfing. In case you want to enjoy more…just talk to the Indian soldiers out on border…n they will tell you some very interesting…hilarious…facts about their Chinese counterparts.
The whole 4 hr long journey is worth it…the surrounding landscape is unmatchable…but sometimes the journey can become butt-paining owing to the bad route. On the way to Nathula (at 14000 ft) you will find some uncommon facilities…UTI ATM, VSNL telephone exchange, internet café. Also, nearby the border…there are shooting ranges…and one could see them practicing there.
While returning back you can visit Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial (built in the memory of an Indian soldier Late Harbhajan Singh) and Tsomgo Lake (a beauty to watch). The lake is situated at the footstep of the surrounding mountains…and as soon as the lake ends…mountains start growing up…nature at its best.
You will be back to Gangtok by 5 p.m. leaving enough time to chill-out in the local market. Rate of DAY 2 site-seeing (Rs. 150 pp on shared bases / Rs. 7000 for private taxi).
Pts to Remember
1) Carry with u medicines, camera batteries, woolens, chewing gum, water.
2) IMP – Nathula is only open on Wed, Thurs and Sat. Only 30 cars are given permit to visit Nathula per day. Each car can have a maximum of 10 persons. So make your schedule accordingly.
3) Oldies will have some problem while going to Nathula.
4) Umbrella is a must.
If you want to see more of Sikkim, than you can travel to Pelling (7000 ft). Pelling is the place from where you can go towards the base camp of Mt. Khangchendzonga (world’s 3 highest peak). In order to reach there, you have to take many permits and it’s a very cumbersome process.
Do’s n Don’t
1) Do not litter…also plastic is ban in Sikkim.
2) DO NOT sleep while traveling…u will be missing a lot of nature.
3) DO keep praying that the weather is good (especially at Nathu La Pass).
4) Be low on your appetite otherwise you will be vomiting in litres per day.
5) I know this is very unrealistic…but if possible…try to wake up around 4 a.m. to get the best view of Mt. Khangchendzonga…orange outlined peaks amidst silver background…and its unmatchable.
6) DO scream like they do as in bollywood movies “I love u”…rather…you can scream ‘I hate studies/college/teachers…or…I love sleeping/eating/partying’. After 5 seconds you will hear somebody repeating the same holy words (that’s your own echo basically). The kind of feeling u get after u hear those out-of-my-mouth words…(mind+ear)-relaxing…just…ULTIMATE.
If you are driving your own vehicle in Sikkim, you must follow this messege (as one of the BRO message-board displayed) “Be gentle at curves. They can be deadly for you”
This tiny Himalayan state contains some unspoilt natural beauty. If you visit this place do not litter there…rather do your artistic littering work in your room.
HAPPY JOURNEY