A travelogue to West Sikkim – the untouched heaven on earth

I am really very happy that you guys enjoyed my travelogue and find it useful.... Its really a great feeling...

I used 2 digital cameras : one is Kodak easyshare C330 (the photos with only date in a bigger font) and the other is Nikon COOLPIX P90 12.1 megapixel with 24x optical zoom (the photos with both date and time). I think you are mentioning about photos taken by Nikon.

Thanks
Amit

Yes, just outside the SNT bus terminal there are jeeps available to Jorethang @Rs 120, (also from SNT terminal buses are available upto Jorethang @Rs 80)....I think the road name is Hill Cart road... I may be wrong...but those jeeps doesn't goes to Kaluk... and we suspected that it may become a problem to get shared jeep from Jorethang to Kaluk (that too in the late afternoon)..... so we book the whole jeep to Kaluk....our other local co-passengers get off at Jorethang, while we only went to Kaluk.

Thanks Sagarneel for your comments on my travelogue...Actually my whole trip is based on informations from Indiamike....The first Sikkim thread that I read in IM is yours "Off-beat destinations of Sikkim". Remember I used to ask so many questions before my trip... Even the mobile no Of Abinash (Hotel Sawdens, Uttare) is given by Travo, which I didn't find anywhere...and I really put my Hats off to you and Travo and other IM frends for making that awesome trip. I was so impressed by the help from IM that I decided to give something back to IM.... Thats really a small effort of mine....

Don't mind if you can't visit sikkim, compensate with Uttarakhand and write to us.....who knows may be we will meet there....

Rohit,

I think Amit V has given you a perfect first hand experience...Just follow that... hope you have a memorable trip....

All Amit is with you....

I'd recently been to Sikkim i.e in Dec 2009 so if you need any info then pls touch base with me...Thanks

Good to know my thread helped! IM is really a wonderful site, and yes we can, definitely, meet in some remote corner of Uttarakhand, given the extreme fondness I have developped for the state
Take care,
Sagarneel.

Amit wonderful read and photos !

Photos of your Sikkim trip are just awesome....Its really mindblowing. It seems that you have covered all the corners of the state (north, south west at least). Why don't you write a bit....A travelogue will be highly appreciated. At least please send your itinerary for all of us.

Thanks
Amit

Dear Amit,

I have gone thru your report and has planned a similar itinerary. I have talked to Mr. Soumitra Sarkar , however he is insisting that he will keep us in Denzong Residency in Rinchingpong at 1000/- per night. He says that in kaluk there is poor water supply.
what do you siggest?

Thanks Sudeep and Tanusree for bringing the thread live again....Its really a great feeling that my write-up is helping somebody to plan the itinerary.I would suggest that you stay in Kaluk, which is less crowded than Rinchenpong and has a wonderful view. Rinchenpong has a lot of hotels whereas Kaluk has only 3 resorts and 1 Kanchan valley tourist lodge. Mr Soumitro Sarkar normally doesn't stay in Kaluk whereas his brother Subroto sarkar is the manager of the lodge in Kaluk. You can try calling him to get an idea of the real situation (water supply shortage).
If you pay Rs 1000 per night I will suggest you to stay in Ghonday Village Resort in Kaluk(charge is Rs 1200 but they give 10% discount on online booking)rather than staying in Rinchenpong. Though we didn't stay there but we visited the resort and met Mr D.P. Gurung (the owner, a very nice man who invited us for a tea and we chatted for a while) who showed us his rooms. Its really superb and worth paying the extra... the view is awesome from the resort. his mobile no is 9933001121 or 9434110039/ 9933001127/03592-231948. email:ghonday@hotmail.com also see www.ghondayresort.com

write to me if you have any more queries.
Wish you a nice trip ahead

Dear mr. amit

good morning and thanks for your mail, yes your write up is helping us a lot....however i have certain clarifications and facts t clear

mr. Soumitra Sarakar is no longer with kaluk, Mr. Subrata Sarkar is still there...Now for booking of kaluk one has to contact Ms Susmita Chatterjee (9836351024) in Kolkta. She has gven me a discount and charging 800 (all inclusive) for a deluxe view room. rinchingpong & mandarin are giving a disc of 20%...ghonday has not responded to my mail as yet....Plz suggest.
Initially I had planned my trip as follows as done by you:

14& 15-kalik
15 & 16- uttare
17-18 either pelling / ravangla...

had also contact Mr. abinash Subba who quoted Rs. 500/- ..however Ms Chatterjee has suggested that we will be bored in Uttare for 2 days...and hotel is very basic...plz comment....

regarding choosing pelling / ravangla, since already viisited pelling twice will look forward to go to some other destination....in case ravangla is good we can go there....

my return ticket is on 20.5.10.

looking forward for your suggestions..

Your Itinerary is perfect. I would suggest you stay 17-18 in Pelling, make the Sangah choling and Pelling Yuksom tour on 18th as I have done , and come to Ravangla on 19th morning. its not very far. stay till 20th lunch, and then return to NJP after lunch to catch the train in night. In fact today I am leaving for Ravangla, may be I can give you the details of Ravangla on next week.
Since you have visited Pelling you can concentrate on ravangla or you can trek to Chewabhanjang from Uttare (if you are willing)
in that case your itinerary will be
14-15 Kaluk
16th reach Uttare and see the Kagyuu gompa on the hill top
17th trek to Chetan mainbus waterfall (4km), its really amazing....either return to Uttare or you can trek even a bit further (another 7km on the same way)to Chewa stay overnight in Trekers Hut or tent. I have heard that Kanchanjungha is at your nosetip from Chewa. can return to Uttare on 18th. take rest.
19th leave for Ravangla (or 18th if you don't go for chewa)
20th post lunch return NJP.

Mrs Susmita is Mr soumitro sarkars daughter. Rs 800 (+10% service charge) is the normal price for a view room, she had not given you any discount... we stayed in room 401 (Rs 600 + 10 % = Rs 660), But if you can pay around 1000 Ghonday is the best (location wise its in the top among the 3 resorts)

Uttare is a very nice picturesqe village, and we do really have very good memories of Hotel Sawdens (Abinash Subba). I think Susmita has never been to it or just wanting to do business with her own property. Just ignore them.I think I have uploaded the room picture of sawdens, Uttare, you can have a look. and Abinash,s hospitality is just wonderful, we became friends...he arranged everything and the trek to Chetan Mainbus waterfall is really worth going.

THANKS, THANKS....

but one thing is very confusing....according to subrata sarkar mr. soumitra sarkar has left kanchan...soumitra sarkar on the other hand has opened his new hotel some dzonge in rinchingpong and insisting me to stay over there....if susmita is his daughter whu soumitra will mislead me? anyway none of our business....

have studied your advise, however i have a 3.5 years old son and we are not that hardy people to do all those trekking.....so kindly advise keeping that in mind....another thing is that we are quite choosy regarding accomodation, however we do not want luxurious place but rooms shd be clean and tidy ....so was a bit laid off on receiving those commenst from susmita....kindly upload some pictures....can u send them to tanusreea@rediffmail.com?

regarding ravangla plz give me accomodation details when you come back...havent you booked for your own?

bon voyage!

Thanks...
Ya its right, its none of our business.... either you stay in Kanchan valley or in Ghonday (much better).... both in Kaluk.... my opinion is the view from Kaluk is better than rinchenpong.

Regarding Uttare accomodation I will strongly suggest Hotel Sawdens (Abinash Subba). It is very clean, bigger room , very colourful, wall to wall carpeted, and a window opening to the lush green hills.... and overall superb hospitality. we were at home there..and the food are really delicious... and we can have as more as we want that too at a very reasonable price....
From Uttare no snowpeaks are visible, but its a green hamlet on the lap of the hills. since you have a kid, it will be wiser not to trek chewa, but can make the chetan mainbus waterfall (4km) or even lesser upto the trout breeding centre and the bamboo bridge over the Rangeet.
You will have a better idea if you see the pictures.just click the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/hazramit...eat=directlink


Regarding Ravangla, we haven't booked the hotel, hope we will get it.... will definitely let you know when I come back

thanks once again, i am convinced we wil stay in Mr. subba's hotel, however he is not asking for any advnce , are you sure he will keep my rooms?

I am not being able to open your link..its saying "not found"

we will stay in kaluk only,, i had made some email correspondence with rinchingpong village resort as well as mandarin..they are giving 25-30% disc...have not received response from ghonday yet....are ringcngpong & mandarain equally good compared to ghonday....