A VISIT TO DARJEELING & GANGTOK

After a gap of four months, this time we decided to visit Darjeeling and Gangtok. This was our first visit to any place in north east India.

Darjeeling, also known as the "Queen of hill stations", is nestled in the Himalayas and is famous for its tea production and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This hill town was developed in the mid 19thcentury, when the British set up a sanatorium and a military depot in Darjeeling. Before this, Darjeeling was the ancient Gorkha capital. Later, the Maharaja of Sikkim gifted Darjeeling to the British. Apart from tourism, Darjeeling is also popular for its many British style public schools, which attract students from across India and even neighbouring countries.

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim (22^nd State of India), is located in the eastern Himalayan range. The noticeable things here for us were disciplined traffic and a separate lane for pedestrians almost all over the Gangtok.

We started our journey on 14.4.2014 by Air India Flight which started at 11 am and reached Bagdogra at 1 pm. From Bagdogra one has to go by road to reach Darjeeling. One of the friends was waiting for us at Bagdogra and we reached Darjeeling at around 5 pm. The hotel was already booked in advance hence no time was wasted in search for the same. As we reached hotel, it started raining. We waited for some time and proceeded towards Chowrasta. The Chowrasta or the Mall is the heart of Darjeeling town. Located on top of Nehru Road, this is a nice flat land where tourists and locals come to lounge in the sun, take a seat on one of the many benches along the periphery, and watch the wonderful views of the mountain peaks and valleys all around. We could not view great scenery around because of clouds but we were able to see the sun-set.

We roamed around the mall, shopped white and green tea as demanded by Aditya and enjoyed the evening very much. After dinner, we went for early bed as we had to leave the hotel at 4 am next day to view the sun rise from Tiger hills and the changing colours of Kanchenchanga due to reflection of sun-rays on it.

15.4.2014

Next day, we started our journey at 4 am and proceeded towards Tiger Hills. Tiger Hill is located 11 km from Darjeeling. It's the highest point in the Darjeeling area at an altitude of 8482 feet (or 2590 meters).

The blaze of rapidly changing colors of the snow peaks of Kanchenchanga as the sun strikes was an awesome view, but Tiger Hill is great even otherwise. It's a destination by itself offering not just great views during sun rise, it's a place where you can soak yourself with Himalayan serenity anytime during the day. One can also view Everest from here but due to fog we could not see that.

Later on, we visited Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Batasia Loop and the War Memorial, Toy Train and reached Gangtok in the evening.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park – it is one of the best zoos in the country. It is a small but clean zoo. Here we saw Panda, major attraction for us. We also saw black leopard, white leopard, normal leopard, cloud leopard and many types of rare birds, etc.

The Batasia loop situated almost 5 km away from the town is a gigantic railway loop where the Toy Train makes a 360 Degree turn. It was basically built to make it possible for the Toy Train to cut the deep ascend. Strategically located the Batasia Loop offers a panoramic view of the Kanchanjunga Range. A War Memorial constructed in the memory of the brave sons of the soil who laid their lives in different wars since the independence of the nation adds to its attraction.

Toy Train – we were not lucky enough to get a ride of the toy train but we were able to click some photos with the standing train at Ghoom station.

We reached Gangtok at 5.30 pm and settled ourselves in the guest house. On our way to Gangtok we crossed the famous Teesta River. We planned to visit M.G.Marg in the evening but could not due to heavy rains.

16.04.2014

We decided to visit local places on this day which included Bathang water falls, Tashi view point, Ganesh Tok, Zoo, Hanuman Tok, Flower Show, MG Marg, Ban Jakri and Roomtek Monestry.

MG Marg, the main street of Gangtok town is a great place to chill out. The country’s first litter and spit free zone, no vehicular traffic is allowed into the marg. One can sit at the Titanic Park or at the various benches stretched across the mall and take in the carnival like atmosphere. The Mall is lined with shops on both sides of the road so shopping becomes an added pleasure.

TASHI VIEW POINT – From here one can get a breathtaking view of Mount Khangchendzonga and Mt. Siniolchu, one of the most graceful peaks in the world.

GANESH TOK - It is situated on a ridge and is only 7 kms. from Gangtok. From this spot one gets birds eye view of sprawling Gangtok town down below.

HANUMAN TOK - it is situated approximately 5 km rising from White Hall on a bifurcating road of the Gangtok–Nathula highway. And it is 11 km away from Gangtok town. The height of this point is roughly 7,200 ft. From the top of this hillock, one can get wonderful view of Gangtok town and the nearby hills. The temple is managed by a division of the Indian Army and can be observed to be completely neat and clean.

Ban Jakhri Water falls and Engery Park – It is a very beautiful picnic spot and one can spend the whole day with family here.

Rumtek Monastery - The Rumtek monastery or the Dharma Chakra Centre is located on the top of the hill facing the city of Gangtok. Rumtek Monastery is one of the most important seats of the Kagyu lineage outside Tibet. It is the largest monastery in Sikkim, and a home of the monks’ community. The complex has many sacred objects. One of the most magnificent objects is the Golden Stupa, which contains the precious relics of His Holiness, the Sixteenth Karmapa. A college or Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies is situated opposite the building.

17.04.2014

This day was fixed for Nathula Pass, Tsangu Lake and Baba Harbhajan Mandir so we started our journey at 7 am.

Nathula Pass is a mountain pass in Eastern Sikkim, on the Indo-Chinese border that serves as the trade link between India and China. Nathula Pass nestles at an elevation of 14,140 feet and ranks amongst the highest passes accessible by tourists via motor-able road. The Nathula Pass is marked by Entrance gates of both countries (India and China) and military bunkers on both sides of the gates

The road that leads to Nathula was bumpy and repair work was on full swing. It started snowing as we reached Tsangu lake. It was snow everywhere as if everything was covered with some white sheet. A few small birds were flying even during the snow. The snow was very light yet fluffy. A long pending wish of watching live snow-fall got fulfilled and it also compensated the previous day’s bad climate. This experience of the beauty of snow fall and sceneries around cannot be explained in words but can be described through pictures. We had an unforgettable experience at Nathula.

The gate of both the countries and bunkers were covered with snow. It was difficult for us to bear the biting cold as we didn’t have enough woolens. After Nathula we visited new Harbhajan Temple. While returning back to Gangtok, heavy snowfall started, all the vehicles were in rush to return back and the vehicles started sliding due to heavy snow on the road. As a result of this, heavy jam struck the narrow road. As is always there, Army came to rescue all from this …… We reached back at the guest house at 6.30 pm.

18.04.2014

This day was for returning. We started at 6 am from Gangtok so that we could reach the Bagdogra Airport in time. Finally we landed Delhi in time.