The wonderland of nature, beauty and Mt Kanchenjunga

Hijack me???? why? I am ready to surrender to you and these humble sikkimese people anytime....That too in Sandakhphu and Phalut...great... I would love to go there again...(actualy me and my 2 other friends have a very sweet memory of Sandakhphu and always dream to go there again)

Mithun, your log is touching a new height everyday and it's difficult for me now without posting a comment. New Ralong Monastery, the flowers with foreground is simply an out of the world frame, who ever is the photogrpaher, I have just to say RESPECT!!!

The unknown stream and Rimbi rock garden slow shutters are fabulous, I wish you just had a CPL there.

This log is simply mines of information that you packaged so brilliantly with your feelings and those superb captures. But as I already told you over phone, I am afraid it's difficult now to navigate between posts with so many comments (It's bound to be with such a fabulous log) in between. Atleast your post on a particular place, related snaps and information should be linked or posted sequentially without gaps or comments like this

Link those posts which are still editable and for rest request to MOD team, as they are the only people who can help you now to reorganize this log which is definitely essential in my opinion.

Please carry on and I am feeling little sad as I understand the fabulous log is coming to an end but make the end unforgettable with some brilliant snaps from Bermiok / Kaluk

Kshil and mithun,

I don't know why you feel there is a problem with comments on a trip report!?

It is in the tradition of IndiaMike to interrupt and intersperse travellogues in this way. What's wrong about it?

Theyyam, it's not at all a problem, rather it's very encouraging when people appreciate or criticize positively. Earlier most of the IM logs are written in a compact way, sometimes may be in one post, now with more flexibility of attaching bigger snaps, IMers write their logs in multiple posts (One post can only contain 10 snaps, so multiple posts are inevitable) and sometimes spread across few days, so very normally you would get lots of comments in between. This may not be an issue when you read it during creation of the log as you are going with flow and track it regularly but consider when someone later would logon to IM and read this report, don't you think if there is a link in each of the post to navigate to next/previous (As Sagarneel is doing in his log) it would help in reading the whole report in one go or may help in finding the content someone is looking for in an easier way?

My idea was if the author could link his/her posts with a simple hyperlink, comment should and must go on like the way it happens today.

This is just my personal opinion, not questioning at all with the traditions of a great forum like IM.

OK, well my own personal opinion (as a member not as a mod) is that even before we were allowed to place photos in trip reports, they were always interrupted by comments. In fact, NOT to be interrupted would be a sign of the unreadability of the report in question, rather than an interruption. If anybody wants uninterrupted reading/reporting of their trip reports, then there is always the option of using "Journals".

Mod Note:

Now, speaking as a mod, kshil, if you wish to comment on the layout of writing (or maybe suggest a certain report - your own? - be promoted to Article status, and then have all of the comments deleted!), please write directly to the site administration, Nadreg in other words, since Article creation is not within the capability of moderators.

Ha Ha... to both Theyyam (Mod and Member), I would always want my report with lots and lots of comments (I am sure everyone wants) and absolutely agreed to your point that no comment means uninteresting report. But I would either hyperlink between two consecutive posts so that they can be navigated smoothly even if there are hundreds of comments in between or I would post whole report very fast (like one I did for Ladakh report, 45 posts in almost 24 hours flat ) so that people won't be having a chance to post in between. Once that is taken care of, I would want more and more comments, suggestions, criticism what not!! I remember you haven't yet commented or asked anything on the Ladakh log after I finished it. Does it mean anything? your comment is very valuable, please post it.

One question, why there is no choice of promoting something as article retaining all comments (may be keeping the comments at end), in that case I would never want any of my report to be promoted as article as the comments are equally important as the content to me.

Also would like to know, if I request MOD team to add a hyperlink to any of my past post that is uneditable to link another post, won't they be able to do that? Can it only be done by Nadreg?

Now this is interrupting the flow of Mithun's excellent report! Please write by "Reported" to the moderating team as a whole if you want to discuss the addition of hyperlinks to posts. I personally do not see the necessity. Others might.

Theyyam ,

There is nothing wrong, or question of interruption , if someone comment in between the flow of the report- infact all the appreciation and feedback of a log inspires me , I might not had written that much , if I would have realized , no one is reading it. As I mentioned in start of the trip report that I have came closer to so many wonderful travel-crazy people here - so no one should have any objection on any comment - and none of the comment interrupt the writting- instead they inspire to write the whole blog.

Now when I was initially planning for Sikkik , I had few questions in my mind(I think many of us had these question in common)
1) Nearby medical facility to these locations(As I was traveling with oldies).
2) Nearby ATM's
3) Nearby Market
4) Where should I bought my drinking water (If at all needed)

In my trip to these remote places , I have tried to find out the answer of these question. Now , all these answers would be meaningful only when it could help a future traveler to these area- someone who yet to join IM.

Now, suppose someone joined IM after a year , and he is planning to visit these areas , my log would be meaningful only when , if it could answer most of the questions in his/her mind. Suppose he.she has started reading the log and able to find out the answers of few questions on Sillery. Suppose his/her next destination is Zuluk , but in between Sillery to Zuluk in this log , we had several off-topic discussion (For example Kashmir trip or someone marriage). Now that person is not at all aware of us(He even dont know who is Mithun, and how could he came to know about XYZ's next trip plan) or have never interested on what is our next plan (whether its Kashmir or any other corner of India)- so there is every possibility of getting himself confused with all these off topic discussions.
So a link to previous on-topic details and a link to next on-topic details would save his/her time as well as interest on this log. Isn't it ?

Mithun,

We all understood your interest in the "medical facilities"

Sure, go ahead with the link-backs, if you find it helpful. It does no harm.

Travel time from different location

Geyzing : 30 minutes
Legship : 1 hour
Uttarey : 1 Hour
Kaluk : 1 Hour
NJP : 5 hours
Jorethang : 2.5 - 3 hours

Accommodation:
Rabdantse Residency is very good hotel(Infact one of the best) located in lower Pelling. The rooms are very clean and specious and provides an unobstructed view of Mt K.

Hospitality : Very Good
Food : Very Good
ATM : There is one ATM in Pelling and one in Geyzing
Medical Facility : Nearest medical unit available at Geyzing and Dentam
Weather : Very comfortable
Hot Water : Geyser fitted in all the bathrooms

Travel Tips : Avoid any shopping in Pelling , all the items are overpriced.
If you are in honeymoon book the Kings suit for your stay, they are the best.Otherwise room number 101 will provide you the best view from the room.

Contact Numbers :
Rabdantse Residency : Mr Suman Mukherjee- Saikripa Group - 09830292163

Pelling to Uttarey is about 30 KMs, which takes about 1 hour travel time.

On the way we have visited several places.
Pamyangtse monastery : The oldest Monastery of Sikkim. Its located only 2 KM away from Sikkim. Due to earthquake there was a few crack on the wall of the monastery , maintenance work going on.






Rabdantse Ruins: We have not visited this , but watched the ruin from Pamyangtse Monastery, is the second capital of ancient Sikkim.

Changey Falls : A beautiful waterfall on the way to Uttarey.




Dentam Valley : The view of Dentam Valley was great.


Singshore Bridge : Second highest suspension bridge in Asia, joining two of the hills.We didn't took any photobreak as it was already dark.

In my sweetest dream, I have always dreamed of a beautiful land –which has almost everything. A narrow path is hiding behind the deep forest , a small river is flowing across the small village , one could clearly hear the beautiful sound created by the enthusiastic stream , a school with about 50-60 students, the flowers will invite you to lost yourself in their beauty , one can visualize the green mountain every corner of the village, a small lake , a beautiful monastery – what else do you need in your life?
So after spending last few days in the “Wonderland” of Sikkim, finally I have reached to my “Dreamland” Uttarey- Where nature speaks in itself and one can clearly realize the whispering of nature.
Uttarey – A land of birds and wildlife, a land of crystal lake , a land of ever flowing stream, a land of the bamboo bridge over the flowing river, a land of the innocent kids , a land of Orchids- welcomed us to Hotel Swadens.
They said Rainbow brings the prosperity and happiness in life. We were been badly chased by the clouds and very poor visibility- A clear day in these hills would have given us an immense pleasure- would we get a clear day? would we get the rainbow of our life?
Next day morning we waked up with the sound of a chirping birds(No today there was no Kanchenjungha to help me out). I came out to the balcony of Swadens and find out it was raining heavily at around every corner. A moving cloud attracted my eyes , and bring my sight downward, and I was able to find out a beautiful “Hath(Weekly market)” just beside our hotel. I have never seen such beautiful and colourful ‘Hath’ ever in my life.
Due to heavy rain we had no other option than confined ourselves within our hotel premises. Suddenly I saw Utpal is coming up with a pack of playing cards in his hand. In this awful weather , hats off to Utpal, he has managed to arrange a pack of cards from somewhere. It reminded me the first day in my collage- the days when I met both of my friends.
“Do you know , I know many tricks of playing cards!!”- that’s how Utpal has introduced himself to us. And gradually we came to know , he is really master in playing cards, even cricket and football.
For more than last 6 years of my life and don’t have any connection with playing cards- didn’t got any friends , who is really interested in playing all these indoor games. But in 4 years of my collage , we used to rushed on to our hostel cafeteria right at 8 , to have our dinner early so that we could start playing with the aces of Hearts , spade or diamond and so on. Most of the days the game used to go on till 3 O’clock , sometime even till 7 at morning.
When I reached closer to the rooms , I could able to heard these nostalgic calls “ 1 spade”, “2 hearts” …. And so on all ours dad were busy in playing bridge with our expert player Utpal. Our mother has confined themselves in a room a watching these boring TV serials , which they have missed since last few days, Our sis were busy in watching a Bengali movie “Mouchak”.
Myself and Soumya put our raincoats on , lend a umbrella from Purna Ji, and started our stroll to watch our dreamland more closely.
The cloud everywhere was creating a dreamy effect , we have found out a abandoned lane where I thought nobody has passed atleat for a year. The road bring us over a iron bridge over the river.- it was an out of world experience for both of us. We came back to hotel around 12:00 and found ourselves completely drenched. After a delicious lunch , Purna Ji has arranged a vehicle for our sightseeing and at around 2 we have started for our sightseeing to Trout Breeding Centre , the Isang River just behind the Trout Breeding centre . We have also visited the location of Uttarey Jhil- a Jhil(Lake) which was supposed to be very sacred , the local started boating on this lake , and suddenly one day (Probably in 2006) , the water of the lake disappeared within 7 minutes.
The tourism Festival has happened in Uttarey last year , and these beautiful model houses of Lepcha , Bhutias and so on standing tall in the slope of the hills. We have found out a karate school there. The trainer was very carefully teaching the Karate to his students. The location of the school was a perfect place to learn any kind of art.
There was a monastery on top of the hill- Kagyyu Gompha . The Uttary valley was looking as good as the nature god has taken all his time to set up the beautiful valley. The monastery itself was in very good location. We have found out many Rhododendrons by the corner of the monastery.
The evening was chilling cold , and surprisingly we could find out ourselves beneath the Skyfull of stars – a hope of better tomorrow . I have asked Purna Ji to arrange a guide for us for trek to Mainbus waterfall tomorrow.
We waked up at 5 the next morning. Mangal Subba, relative of Purna Ji, and our guide for today was waiting eagerly for us to start the trek. Purna Ji packed some dry food for us and we started at 6 toward Mainbus. The road to Mainbus waterfall passes through near the Trout Breeding Centre. The dense forest all around, the beautiful energetic river was accompanying us all the way, the pine trees were welcoming us to their beautiful land , the sound of insects were as melodious as sweetest music I ever heard, there was so many different types of birds , we have crossed few beautiful villages (one or two huts) on the way. We have met a small group of kids playing in the deep forest as they are the angles sent by mother nature. After spending sometime we start progressing further, we have walked over a river bed , a dense forest of Sandalwood and finally reached Mainbus Waterfalls at about 8:30.
‘Main’ means honeybee in Nepali, “Bus” means where they reside. We could easily able to find out a few hives of the honeybees just on top of the falls. The fall so nicely hidden between these dense forest and the wall of the hills that we could able to find it out only after we reached in front of that beautiful waterfall. We also saw two beautiful rainbow cascading by water – One was very prominent and the other was slightly invisible. We wish we could have two wonderful day in our rest of the trip.
At 7200 m above the sea level( Soumya checked that by using the GPS of his mobile), this is a heavenly place on the lap of mother nature , where we could sit and unwind our dreams. I would recommend trek to Mainbus Waterfalls to every nature lover , who wants to find himself very close to the nature. The trek is not at all a difficult one and could be conquered by any age group. I would also recommend to start the trekking at very early morning.
We started to come down to Uttarey, we had our breakfast at the forest canteen near the gate of Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. Mangal was carrying some fruit for us. We have met a few SSB jawan there.
We crossed the Saino bridge and came back to Uttarey by the route of Konabar Village – a beautiful village on the way. We have reached Uttarey at 11:30 and start getting ready for our onward journey to Kaluk.

The colorful 'Hath(Weekly Market)' of Uttarey


Through the abandon path









The highway to reach your dreamland

Welcome to Uttarey


My dreamland




The mountain stream and the bamboo bridge