The wonderland of nature, beauty and Mt Kanchenjunga

Please pardon me for creating a new thread for this trip-log. I had initially thought of completing my trip report while on move in different places of Sikkim. However , due to lack of internet connectivity in few places, and moreover I was so involved in enjoying nature there, couldn't update the thread after Sillery Gaon.
Sikkim forum is probably the most informative forum in IM , where you don't need to ask anything , if you thoroughly read through the posts of the master-travelers like Hazra_amit, Sagarneel , Cutiepie, kshil, solo_n, style_babu, piran_e and many others, you will get the answer of almost all your query. I almost have nothing new in terms of information to add to this wonderful forum. This trip report is intended mainly to share the photos with the forum. Recently this forum is enriched with wonderful sets of trip logs of Ruchira and Rana- da and everybody here including me eagerly waiting for the write-up from Sagarneel.
Sorry for getting delayed in starting this blog- I know many of you were been waiting for a long for this thread - but the office work after getting back from a long vacation and planning for our next trip- was the main reason behind the delay.

“The ever best trip of my life” – one of my friend’s dad shouted in excitement as soon as we reached NJP station after this wonderful Sikkim trip. I had got a call that day morning “ Mithunji, what is the schedule departure time of your train from NJP station?”- asked Mahinder Ji ,one of the drivers of first 6 days of our trip, “ I want to met you before you leave NJP” and indeed he came to NJP station to met us , even though we have used a different car to reach NJP station from Kaluk. Very next morning got a call from Purna ji and Dilip Ji , to enquire whether we have safely back to home… Thanks to all these wonderful people , who have became our relative and close friends in our short stay in Sikkim. In these few days we have realized that the beauty of Sikkim is much more than just first rays of sun kissing the top of Mt K – it has much more to offer. You would wake up with the sound of chirping birds , open the door and smell a burning wood, open the window and heard the gargling sound of nice little river, lost yourself in the simplicity of these wonderful local people there, enjoy the natural bed covered by so many different types of wildflowers, enjoy the hide and seek between cloud and the sun, in the evening sit below the blanket of stars and go to the bed with a bucketful of dreams that nature would offer you and hoping a clear weather the very next morning.
Sitting at the Raxual station on our way back from Nepal last year , we had decided that our next destination would be Sikkim , and above all , we will not include any touristy destination in 2011(Mainly because we didn’t enjoyed Kathmandu at all, it was full of crowd and lack of natural beauty and too much of religious place, which we don’t enjoy that much ). I have came across Indiamike forum while searching for the off-beat destination of Sikkim. And I must thank all the IM members for making the Sikkim forum as one of the most informative forum in Indiamike. I don’t want to take any specific names , but a trip report would be incomplete without taking a few names- Kaushik Da –My true role model, I am probably the greatest fan of you and your trip report, you taught me “the art of living” . Amit Da- Other than providing such a wonderful trip , IM has brought me closer to many of the fantastic mountain lovers and some excellent persons- I am grateful to Indiamike to get me introduced with a personality like you, Sagarneel- I enjoyed every moment interacting with you, and this trip might had been incomplete without meeting the duo- “Sikkim” and the “biggest Sikkim lover I know”, Style_Babu- You are a living encyclopaedia of Sikkim , Cutipie, solo_n – I salute to your love and passion for Sikkim , Jaydeepy , amber_81,piran_e and many many others who helped me every possible way during my planning phase. A special thanks to all of you- this trip might not be possible without your help.
The planning phase started a long back when I booked my train tickets for NJP station and back. There were few restriction while planning for this. One of my friend’s mom had requested , she want the trip to be commenced after Lakshmi Puja and few other member requested that we should be back home before Dipawali- and believe me or not they are the one who were more eager to spend one more week while coming back from Sikkim. Initially our plan was cover East Sikkim and North Sikkim. The plan was Sillery Gaon - > Dzuluk-> Gangtok -> Lachung-> Yumthang, Yumsedong , Damang, Katao-> Lachung-> Lachen-> Gurudongmar -> Thangu-> Lachen-> Singhik-> Dzongu. But the devastating earthquake has forced us to replan our trip. Initially most of the members of our group was scared and not at all interested to head on to Sikkim again , so we have start to toying with our alternative plans. We had few alternatives listed as
1) Rajasthan
2) Arunachal
3) Kashmir
4) Himachal
5) Uttarakhand
6) Meghalaya
7) Even for a moment I had thought of joining Kaushik Da in his Ladakh trip.
But none of the alternative plans have clicked as there was no train tickets available during that time and all other members of our group had already got their leaves approved- so there was no question of myself joining Kaushik da(Though after going though Kaushik Da’s trip report of Ladakh , I repent that I have missed a lot of things) . So finally we have no other option left other than West Sikkim – and believe me we are been blessed by the mother nature for 11 days, and after coming back from Sikkim we felt , this is the best replanning we could have done after the devastating earthquake.
Finally our trip schedule was
14th October : NJP to Sillery Gaon
15th October : Sillery
16th October : Post Lunch Sillery Gaon to Dzuluk
17th October : Dzuluk to New Baba Mandir and back, post lunch headed on to Mankim
18th October : Mankhim to Borong
19th October : Borong to Pelling
20th October : Pelling to Yuksom sightseen , post lunch toward Uttarey
21st October : Uttarey
22nd October : Uttarey to Bermiok
23rd October : Bermiok
24th October : Bermiok to NJP- never wanted this but had to come back.

Mithun,

You have set up an excellent mood; eagerly waiting for the next part...

12th October 2011:

‘ Late night work in office’ , ‘Are you crazy?’ - I am never a workaholic. But been trapped by an issue that evening and came back at 2AM the next day , was excited that will be heading to Kolkata that very day , and to Sikkim next morning. Packed my bag and been ready by 6AM before going to sleep.


Just to give you a brief about our group , total number of tourists in our group was 11- Myself , Utpal and Soumya are collage friends and our family(Comprises of our parent and sisters).

Thank you Rana-Da.

13th October 2011: By 11:30 I was ready to depart for the Chennai Airport. I have reached Kolkata by 4:00 PM and started waiting just outside airport for Soumya and Utpal to arrive in Kolkata. For last 6 years “Welcome to Netaji Subhash Chandra bose airport Kolkata” has been fascinating words to me. It gives me immense pleasure and joy to meet my family and friends , and on top of this we had plan to met Mt K. and her family in this trip. I was overjoyed and even enjoyed my waiting time outside Kolkata airport. I have interacted with few of the taxi drivers and quietly listening what they were discussing about all the foreigners (Specially female) who had just arrived at the Kolkata airport and crossing these drivers silently. I have noticed how few of them cheated any new comers to Kolkata. I had a plan to met Amit da today , but unfortunately Amit da was sick.So my dream to met a Sikkim lover before touching Sikkim was in vain.
Soumya has arrived at 5:00 PM and after having a coffee break in Café Coffee day we walked toward the international terminus to receive Utpal .In the meantime sitting at CCD , Soumya was trying to wrap up a few pending office work.
CCD

Utpal arrived at 6. We have hired a taxi for Sealdah station to catch Darjeeling mail. After reaching Sealdah station we came to know that Darjeeling mail will depart at 11:50pm instead of its schedule departure time at 10:00 PM. We have kept our luggage in clock room and start roaming around the crowded market of Sealdah. After our dinner we entered the waiting room of Sealdah station and it was over crowded and forget about a place to sit , there was not even any space stand in your own feet.

Crowded Sealdah Market

Darjeeling mail departed right at 11:50, and reached Burdwan station at 1:30AM. Rest of the members of our group have boarded the train from Burdwan. Finally we are heading to Sikkim.

14th October 2011:

We have reached NJP station at 11:30 AM and started for Sillery Gaon by 12. As promised Dilip Tamang have send two SUV( One Scorpio- less than a year old and one Xylo- less than 3 months old) . Our drivers were waiting for us in NJP station. Mahindar ji (Driver of Xylo) and Kamal (Driver of the scorpio) are two of the most excellent persons we have met in our whole trip. They are young ,energetic and excellent driver in these roads. On the way we have faced several traffic jam due to landslide and road widening work going on and that causes significant delay to reach Sillery Gaon.Sillery Gaon is in West Bengal and have to take normal NH31 till Sevok, take the right diversion toward Kalimpong and from Kalimpong road toward Pedong. Just before entering Pedong one need to take left diversion and 5 KM stretch through dense forest will bring you to Sillery Gaon. We have reached Sillery at 5:30 PM and it was already dark.

We have stopped for lunch just before the railway crossing-cann't remember the name of the place




Railway crossing


Narrow road


Landslide


Traffic in NH31


Teesta

Over Teesta bridge




Kamal Ji - The driver of the scorpio- a wonderful driver and person in our whole trip


Mahindar Ji - The driver of the Xylo- and a true friend



Kalimpong

I am also an aspiring visitor to this place. The pictures are really impressive. I do thank you so much for uploading.

We have got a very hearty welcome thereby Dilip Tamang and his family. Dilip Tamang – the owner of the resort in Sillery Gaon is an excellent person- within minutes he has became such a great friend. The resort is very well maintained and the food was very delicious . There is no electricity in Sillery , but Dilip Tamang has managed to provide electricity for 2-3 hours everyday (7-9:30 in the evening ) by generator. He had also set up 3 new rooms in his homestay. So total number of rooms in his homestay has become 10. All the rooms are very clean and specious. You would get full signal in all the cell phones and datacards.

Just to brief you about Sillery Gaon- The total population of Sillery Gaon is around 150 and there is almost 30 houses there. All the locals are so simple and friendly. There are few more persons have started homestay there , but the location of Dilip Tamang’s homestay aka Nirmala Resort is in the best-on top of the hill.
There is only a primary school in Sillery, and after that the kids of the school normally walks about 15 KM to reach their nearest secondary school. They start early morning for the school and come back by late evening. Most of the villagers are economically backward , but all of them enjoy the life, you will find an invaluable smile in their faces all the time.

Nirmala resort at night.

Sillery Gaon :
A tall and beautiful woman , with nice silvery hair , wearing a white sari , came in my dream.
“ Have you ever watched pure gold?” – she asked.
“No” – my answer “ but who are you?” I was surprised to see her .
“ I am Kanchen, sometime they call me sister of Everest” she replied “ open the window , and watch me in golden colour” , I waked up and immediately opened the window in rush. It was dark all around and I could see its just 2:00 AM in clock, sunrise is still 200 minutes away. I have put my blanket on and went on to sleep again.
Alarm in my mobile rang at 5:20 AM. Normally I am a late riser , I hate wake up early in the morning. But today the alarm so early in the morning , sounded even sweeter than Jagjit Sing’s Gazal. I jumped out of the bed and open the window to catch the sunrise on head of the beautiful lady I had met in my dream last night. But alas , it was cloudy everywhere, Mt K cannot be seen today, but for the first time in light I saw the village(When we reached here Yesterday , it was already dark), and I was in awe . I put on all my winter cloths , took my camera and opened the door. I saw Brony(!!) was waiting just outside my door as if someone told him to guide me for the whole day- “come on sir, I will show you every corner of my village”. I have saw so many different types of flowers both side of the road- and it looks like they all are ready and awaked for the whole night – posing properly so that I don’t face any problem taking their portrait. Few of the villegers have already waked up and I could see smoke coming out from few of the kitchen and the lines of smoke is mixing up with the cloud as if the friends are meeting each other after such a long time. I can smell the sweet wood burning- something which always bring me closer to the village. The birds have already started singing there melodious song. I have never been so close to nature before today.
In many poem , I have read that the writer could heard the “Silence” – How is it possible ? For the first time in my life I have realized , Yes , that is possible- I can clearly fell the ‘Silence’.
After breakfast , I have started hiking up the hill, where there are so much of cardamom plantation. From the top , I looked down to the village ,and the view I got is breathtaking , small wooden houses amidst a deep alpine forest – as if the nature is trying to hide this village from outside world.
I still don’t remember when for the last time I had walked for more than a KM- might be in my school days. We started our walk toward the road- and after sometime we have realized that we had already walked for more than 4 KM while clicking so many photos- many of us never thought that we are still able to walk that much on a hilly road. On the road we have met so many villagers, talked with them and there was an absolute simplicity in all their words.
After lunch , we have started our walk on the other direction(toward Ramitey). On the way we have met two beautiful kid playing , Sourav and Sachin . We took some snaps of them and proceed toward the road that goes to Ramitey – after a few steps , we have realized that Sourav and Sachin has also started walking with us inside that deep forest- as if , they know us since a long long time… While walking we have talked about their school, their friends etc. After 15-20 minutes a heavy drizzle started and drenched us completely. We have no other way , but returning to the resort.
The clouds has already started playing hide and seek with us- they were waiting for us for years to play with us. Sitting at the resort balcony we have experience a wonderful game of hide and seek- we used to play the same in our childhood!!!!
Bhabi ji (Dilip Ji’s wife) served us tea with hot pakoda- and believe me , we could not have anything better than this at that moment. We have lost ourselves in the natural beauty of Sillery.
In the evening we had started gossiping with Dilip Ji, he told us about his village , how his parent came in the village etc. Meanwhile , I have heard one of the tourist requested Dilip Ji not to add onion in the chicken curry for the dinner – as she is pure vegetarian. “Veg Chicken ??“ – might be possible – I don’t know, but I couldn’t control my laughter. Post dinner ,we went to bed early today expecting a much clear sky tomorrow.
No, you got it wrong this time- after a very disappointing sunrise (??) yesterday , Ms Kanchan didn’t came to my dream today. But I waked up at 5:20 , but couldn’t find her out- she must have hidden behind any of the clouds. I have again roamed around the village and experience the same ambience that I had encountered yesterday.
At around 6:30 from our resort balcony we had got first glimpses of the shy lady secretly watching us from the far sky as if someone has ordered her not to come outside . We could also see a few more snow capped peaks of Nepal. Though there was hardly any visibility , but it’s a out of world experience.
After breakfast , we started for Ramitey dara, today weather and visibility was far better than Yesterday. There is a quasi motorable road till Ramitey Dara, which hardly takes 10-15 minutes to reach there in a car. Inside the deep forest , Ramitey view point provides an excellent view of Teesta river . Sikkim –Manipal university is also visible from here. On a clear day Mt K would be visible from here on top of Teesta , as if they are romancing with each other.
Ramitey Dara located on a slightly lower altitude than Sillery Gaon , so I think Sillery would provide a much better view of snow capped than Ramitey , but to enjoy the romance between the Teesta and Mt K – one had to come to Ramitey dara experience it.
After returning from Ramitey, with Dilip Ji , I went to all the houses of the village- and drink almost 7-8 cup of tea within a hour.
After lunch we have started for Zuluk. Dilip ji also came with us and accompanied us for next 2 days.


Flowers on both sides of the road.

Flowers continues


He is very popular with the name "Tiger'


He is "Brony" for you

Flora

Fell the silence , if possible.

Girish. Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes , from your thread I come to know , that you will be staying in Gangtok for a longer term. I have never been to Gangtok - so cannot help you regarding your stay in Gangtok- but I can tell you one thing Sikkim is really really beautiful. You will enjoy your stay there.

Tinchuley View point- as the weather was not with us today , so though we cannot view the snow clad mountains , but overall ambiance was just too good.