A travelogue to West Sikkim – the untouched heaven on earth

Well.........I finally got a plan and working towards it,

16th May:NJP to Kaluk(See Rheesum Monastry,Rinchenpong Monastry,poison lake,Rabindra Smriti bon).We would reach Kaluk by 11.30 am.
17th May:Start early for Hiley------Varsey.Back to Kaluk.
18th May:Start for Uttarey. En-route see Hee-Barmiok.
19th May:Start early for Meinbus Waterfall.Come back.Start for Pelling after lunch.
20th May:Pelling sightseeing including Yuksom.
21st May:After a leisurely morning start for NJP after lunch.En-route see Namchi.

I am just concerned about the 2nd day?Can anyone inform me if I would be experiencing the same at Varsey and Meinbus.I would be going through varsey rhododendron sanctuary in both the cases.

As far as my opinion is concerned, your itinerary seems to be a bit hectic considering you have senior citizens...Don't want to cover all at one go....you need to stay at least one night in each of these places to get the feel....I think Ruchira-s suggestion was quite perfect. by the way are you staying in NJP on the 15th night or you are arriving by train in the morning??? if you are arriving, then NJP to Kaluk will take around 5 hrs, then you need to lunch and come back to Rinchenpong (3 km)to see those places....its better to walk from Rinchenpong bazaar...it will take another 3 hrs...
on the 2nd day if you don't stay at varshey, its no point going there....it will be just for the sake of going and adding 1 more name in the trip...
rest of the itinerary is ok....and on the 21st morning if you wish can walk to Sangah choeling monastery in the morning...

Varshey and Mainbus is completely different....Mainbus is a falls that you trek or hike from Uttarey throgh the river bed and junge...you won't be able to see any peak from Uttare...whereas Varshey is the land of Rhododendrons and Kanchenjungha.you can have a look on this thread below

West Sikkim- Uttarey, Pelling, Bermiok, Okhrey, Barsey - After Earthquake

Thanks very much.Read your travelogue on this place and even carrying a printout for reference!!
Yes I would be staying at NJP on 15th night.Booked a car for next 6 days.Why I am highlighting it is because I have booked the car for the entire trip so they can avoid any kind of fatigue and cover as many places as possible.But it can still be tiring.Lets see.I just got this plan.But things can alter accordingly.
I would start early and would reach Kaluk by 11.30am.I believe a sightseeing of Rinchenpong in second half would be possible.
Yes,Ruchira gave me good information but if I would have come to Kaluk in the last phase of my tour I was not getting accommodation at GVR.So had to reverse the plan.
Yes I know that Meinbus is a waterfall and Varsey would be from where I can have a glimpse of the peaks.What I was wondering was if the trek through the woods would be of a similar type as in both cases I would be walking through the rhododendron sanctuary.
I went through the thread which you mentioned earlier.It is wonderful.

Hi, I am thinking of a trip to sikkim in mid-July. I want to know the weather condition of that time. Is it approachable during rainy season? Please suggest.

[QUOTE=hazra_amit;898548][[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]B]A travelogue to West Sikkim – the untouched heaven on earth[/B]

Very very useful information, thank u hazra_amit

any idea of the trekking distance & route from Guras kunj,at Varsey to Dentam..lodging in Dentam..availability & cost of drop to Njp from Dentam..lodging at Dentam..related information? please advice.

Please drop the idea for visiting Sikkim in the monsoon.It is applicable for any hill stations.But yes if it is for some raw adventure then you might take the risk.......

Dear Aniruddha,

Please let me know the contact details of United Bank co operative society as I am visiting Gangtok and like to book their holiday home at Hotel Silver Fir.

Regards
Dibyendu

Well..I have doubts Dibyendu about the Holiday home nowadays there..however this link will give you some good suggestion..http://www.holidayhomeindia.com/hhi_gangtok_1.htm

Just came across your detailed travelogue. These places hopefully are still uncrowded.

But i was taken back by the high price of hotels with breakfast 250 dinner 500 and rooms touching 5000.

Has these places really become so expensive that people with a 1000 rs daily budget can't visit?

@Bangla, Thanks for your response. Actually I am going for honeymoon purpose, so dropping Sikkim as per your advice and keeping it aside as a future tour location. Please suggest suitable location during moonsoon time. Is Kerala a good choice? What are the others?

Well......Kerala would be a fantastic option!!
You can also visit Meghalaya(Shillong) as it would be green,isolated,cool,romantic!! !Check for the threads for Shillong.

@bangla isn't Shilong overpoured during rainy season?
Is July a good time to visit it? I don't want to get confined in the room only...

You will be experiencing rain at Shillong.But at the same time Shillong unveils its real beauty.You are free from land slides and other natural calamity,paying high rates for cars,hotels.Over and above there is not much to see except for the natural beauty.
And a word of caution.....don't make your honeymoon trip too hectic!! Just relax...

Thanks bangla
After checking your post I am thinking seriously about Meghalaya. If there is no landsliding problem, that will be great. But one point is bothering me...raining for some time is ok...but continuous rain, it will be boaring.