Sikkim: A Dream Destination " A traveller’s report "

For around one year, we (me, my husband and one of our friends) were planning to visit Sikkim, mainly Pelling and Uttare (inspired by some avid Sikkim travellers like Amit Hazra, Sagarneel, Mithun and Ruchira Ghosh ). Later, Gangtok also got an entry into our tour chart. Fortunately, we got a lot of necessary information that helped us plan our tour well, thanks to some of the vivid tour reports posted in IM.
As there are already a number of brilliant travelogues on Sikkim in IM, I would try to confine my experience in fewer words.

Tour route: Kolkata-New Jalpaiguri (NJP)-Pelling-Uttarey-Gangtok

Day 0 & 1 (December 24 & 25, 2011)

Though, as per our plan, we headed to book three railway tickets 3 months prior to our journey, we did not get confirmed reservation in any of the trains that we targeted. Finally, we booked three Third AC waiting tickets in Padatik Express for December 24. Unavailability of tickets could easily be traced to the Christmas and New Year leaves. And, hence, we were not surprised at all when, just two hours prior to our journey, we came to know that our tickets were not confirmed. What to do…we booked three general/current tickets and begun our first ever trip to Sikkim at 11 p.m. (Padatik’s scheduled time is 10:55 p.m.) from Sealdah.

The journey was not as bad as we feared as we managed three seats to give some relief to our legs.

The train reached 2 hours late to NJP next morning at around 11 a.m. I had already talked to Raja da, owner of Sikkim Aurora hotel (situated in Upper Pelling, near helipad), for rooms. It is worth mentioning that Raja da himself is a passionate trekker. On my request, he arranged a nice car for us to reach his hotel. Arjun, the driver of that car (a white Xylo), was a smiling young chap.

We reached Pelling via Jorthang which took us around 5 hours excluding the stoppage time for filling our almost empty stomachs. We chose thukpa and chicken chowmin, but unfortunately none of them fulfilled our expectations. I must mention that the journey to Pelling from NJP was simply fantastic—blue sky, greener and taller trees (than we usually see), picturesque river flowing down (river Rangit), serpentine hilly roads and splash of chilled fresh air led us to the land of Lamas.

Raja da’s hotel has a beautiful location. He gave us a wonderful view-room from where we had an excellent scenic view of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Fortunately, the weather did not act unfair throughout our journey and as a result, that evening I saw several thousands of twinkling stars with naked eye. It was so beautiful.

A good meal at the end of the day paved way for a sound sleep.

Thats what I had been waiting for years(Starting from 2011 and ending at 2012). Fotunately I am then first one in IM to comment on your thread. Very nice write-up.Would be eagerly waiting for the next installment... Superb start Beas.

Thank you Mthun

Thanks Beas

Planing my honeymoon in feb 12 last week.....
NJP-Gangtok-Pelling-uttrey-versey-Bagdogra....
will be reaching 10 pm at pelling
i feel i wud have to book my hotel in advance for NJP......
any suggetions......good hotel near railway station......

Hotel was decorated with lights to celebrate Christmas







Hotel Sikkim Aurora Pelling

Lovely snaps Bipasha...

Day 2 (December 26)


The next day started with an early wake up to witness sunrise over Kanchenjunga and the surrounding snow peaks. The entire process -- the slow change of colours from reddish to yellowish to orange and then finally the rise of the Sun—made us speechless. Words fell short to describe such an ecstatic moment.

Mithun knows magic and recently taught you the same I believe

Great start, see I have spotted the thread, even though you haven't shared me the link

Day 2 pictures[continue]










Pelling from Helipad

Thank you kaushik da

you are right..Mithun really knows magic

Amazing shots of Mt. K, you have got an excellent weather Beas, isn't is?

It's my pleasure

I have just started learning , will teach you someday....

Kaushik-da , You are the true magician , not only me , but many of us are inspired by your magical world of touring, and catching the nature in your camera which soothes many of our eyes.

Bipasha, absolutely stunning shots , specially Mt K. And I am sure Sagar would be happiest in the world by watching these beautiful pics of Mt K. You know why !!!!


I will remember these lines for ever- I have never heard someone who is so emotionally attached with Mt Kanchenjunga.

Yes kaushik da.
Throughout our journey the weather God didn't disappoint us, we have got wonderful weather.

I know truly. Even before our journey i told sagar to wish for me and pray to his beloved mt k to show us her stunning view.
And i know, It is sagar's pray and best wishes from my IM friends which made our trip so much successful.