Ambling along the “Old Silk Route” – a journey through East Sikkim

Wayfarer, great job…. Really a lovely report and it is so informative. Thank you so much for your sincere efforts. And thanks for sharing these awesome photographs ….

Raji, Please do not miss this area. It is not that touristy you should visit before it becomes another Tsomgo lake

- cheers.

Hi Wayfarer, howru. I just stumbled upon ur article & mentally visualised what youv witnesed. For 15 years I had stayed in Bhutan & gone to Darj., & also to Changu lake but Nathula hadnt opened then. So Nathula I havnt gone till date but will definitely go some day. But man ur experience I wonder if ever Il have.This is a very belated reading but made gret stuff.My case is like being nearest to temple but farthest from God.

Thanks somnath & ashok2a

Nice report WayFarer. Some of your photos show clear cutting. How much clear cutting has been done in that region?

Excellent Post WayFarer and a really inviting one

I'm personally a Sikkim lover and been there quite a few times, especially the Northern part. But this route is still to be visited and after your post I feel to be there by this winter only although I'm just back from a Himachal trip

Would surely try to be there in coming Feb'2011

WayFarer - Thanks so much for sharing your adventure with us! I enjoyed reading about your travels on the old silk route. I loved the photos - amazing!

Thank you iamani and DaisyL

Hi WayFarer!! Loved the way you have penned down your experience. I can almost feel myself physically flying above the region. I had freezed my plan for North Sikkim this new year. But after going through this (2nd time in 3 months), I have decided to head towards Silk route myself. Wonder how my tour cost for the same itinerary as yours would behave in comparison to a north sikkim trip (economy)?

North Sikkim should be cheaper on 2 counts:
a> Discounting Gangtok , the trip duration for N Sikkim is much less.
b> if you take the shared package with other tourist groups , the cost too ,is low . This is a very well traveled route with many packages being offered. The cost will be high , only if you opt for your own itinerary and book your personal vehicle.

E Sikkim is a lesser known destination. You will seldom get any packages and will need to move on your itinerary using a car hired for yourself. (I prefer it this way though ). The duration is also higher than N Sikkim. However the accommodation on this route was much cheaper when I traveled, though I am not so sure about it now )

Incidentally I did cover E Sikkim in Dec 09 and N Sikkim in May 10. Both were fantastic , you simply cannot share your vote between Majestic Gurudongmar , Icy Yuemsamdong or the mind blowing Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from the Zaluk Loops.

See both in different trips , is my advise

For a winter trip , my vote is E Sikkim. Do a summer trip to N Sikkim , better chance of reaching till Gurudongmar and also seeing the flaming Rhododendrons at Singba.

Hmmmm North has been covered more than once by me in the past. Reaching Gurudongmar has not been a problem uptil now. I wonder how it will unfold this time round. By the way, what was your approx overall expenditure for the entire trip?

Dear Friends
I would like to inofrm you that i have plan to go to Gangtok from njp via silk route, itinary is as follows:
Day 1(16/10/2011): NJP to RESHI (Stay at Reshi)
Dsy 2: RESHI to ZULUK(Stay at ZULUK)via ENROUTE RONGLI (FOR INNER LINE PERMIT), LINGTAM, KUEKHOLA FALLS, PADAMCHEN
Day 3: START FOR SUNRISE AT 04:00AM TO WITNESS THE CHANGING COLOURS ON MT. KANCHENJUNGHA & HIMALAYAN RANGE FROM GANEK/ THAMBI VIEW POINT/LUNGTHUNG & BACK TO ZULUK. AFTER LUNCH VISIT HELIPAD GROUND, HERBAL GARDEN & ENJOY THE SUNSET AT ZULUK FROM BALASUR SUNSET POINT BY WALKING. ENJOY THE EVENING AT ZULUK.
Day 4 (19/10/2011): ZULUK to GANGTOK. AFTER BREAKFAST START EARLY FOR THE SILK ROUTE TRAIL AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF ZIG ZAG ROAD COVERING THAMBI VIEW POINT, LUNGTHUNG, LAXMI CHOWK, GNATHANG VALLEY, TUKLA VALLEY, KALAPOKHARI, OLD BABA MANDIR, JELEPLA PASS VIEW AND REACH KUPUP. DON’T MISS THE ELEPHANT LAKE AT KUPUP, SEE THE WORLD’S HIGHEST GOLF COURSE, THE YAK GOLF COURSE AT 13,025 FT (GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS ACCLAIMED), THE ICE HOCKEY GROUND AND PROCEED FOR GANGTOK COVERING NEW BABA MANDIR, MEINMEINCHO LAKE (12,500FT), TSOMGO LAKE then we will reach at Gangtok (Stay at Gangtok)
I have already contacted regarding the same to Mr. Sebastian Pradhan (He told that total transport cost Rs.8000/- & per day per person fooding & lodging will cost Rs. 2500/-)& Mr. Arijit Mukherjee (He told me for 3 Nights & 4 Days package will be Rs.6600/- per head, (at Reshi- Reshi Eco Tourism Cottage& Zuluk- Dil Maya Retreat-for staying)
Please suggest me to whom i should contact for booking, Please let me know which one will be best & cheap?

Rs 2500/- per head per night for fooding and lodging, isnt it too expensive. I was also planning the same later this year. Please let me know what comes up. Thank you so much.

I had got a quotation of Rs 600 per day per person for loding and fooding for Reshi & Zuluk from Mr. Pradhan.

Yesterday only I stayed there @500 per person per night, so it's all about bargain and ofcourse to some extent season and when and whom you are approaching!! Few more twists are there in the whole stories as sometimes you would get it cheaper if you broken down your full trip into 2 different one and take each part from different operator. Only thing I can see, the people there are changing because they have tasted money now, the places are still have the charm but fast loosing its aura as more and more tourists are venturing there now. The ambience is being contaminated and these people are getting changed for ever and I have seen a few guests asking minute details on every possible breakup of lunch / dinner / breakfast / only lodging and what not during a brilliant sunset, a middle aged couple complaining the car audio system was not working in a sunrise trip!!! So with the varieties of people, the original culture and simpliclity is bound to be lost and oneday it would be another Gangtok or Pelling. Those who really loves nature act fast and visit the places as soon as you can.

[QUOTE=kshil;1175105]Yesterday only I stayed there @500 per person per night, so it's all about bargain and ofcourse to some extent season and when and whom you are approaching!! Few more twists are there in the whole stories as sometimes you would get it cheaper if you broken down your full trip into 2 different one and take each part from different operator. Only thing I can see, the people there are changing because they have tasted money now, the places are still have the charm but fast loosing its aura as more and more tourists are venturing there now. The ambience is being contaminated and these people are getting changed for ever and I have seen a few guests asking minute details on every possible breakup of lunch / dinner / breakfast / only lodging and what not during a brilliant sunset, a middle aged couple complaining the car audio system was not working in a sunrise trip!!! So with the varieties of people, the original culture and simpliclity is bound to be lost and oneday it would be another Gangtok or Pelling. Those who really loves nature act fast and visit the places as soon as you can.[/QUOT

with 5 friends are plannig for trip to zuluk in Dec 24th 2011.plz suggest me the sehedule and plznner.