Trip to Sikkim In Puja Holidays

I have planned to go to North Sikkim in the month of 20th October'2012.We 3 families with 3 kids will be going.I have planned a tour itinerary. Please guide me if any changes required for this trip.

My Tour Plan as following:

Day 1 : Kolkata Dept. at 10.05 p.m. –Darjeeling Mail
Day 2 : Arrival at NJP at around 9 a.m. Take a cab and move to Gangtok(4/5 hrs journey )
Day 3 : Move to Lachung ( 51 km. 2 hrs journey ) –Lachung Stay whole Day
Day 4 : Lachung to yumthang (25 km.) and zero point (15 km.)
Day 5 : Visit Katao in early morning & after lunch back to Gangtok
Day 6: Visit Nathula Pass, Baba Mandir & Ysomgo Lake.
Day 7: After breakfast take a cab, visit Rumtek/Lingdum and move to NJP.

My query:Is there any possibility to touch snow in last october?

Debashish

As I travel in peak time during Durga puza, I had already booked a 3 bedded delux room [For 1 day] Himalayan Retreat Hotel. I have already asked the manager of the hotel to arrange a 2n/3D tour for Yumthang-Zero Point-Katao and the lachung hotel is Golden Fish(1 three bedded room and 3 double bedded rooms).

My queries to the senior members of IM like Pkanti, sagarneelDa and many others are as follows:

a) How far the the gangtok hotel(Himalayan Retreat) from M.g.marg (Walking Distance)?
b) in some thread p_kanti said that Golden Fish is good, but food is not better. please advice.
c) And the same question again, which is the correct option (Katao or Zero point) to touch snow during our trip days.
d) Is there any problem to hire car in the time of 'Tika' festival in Gangtok as I faced the problem in Pelling in 2006 puza holidays.

Debashish

Debashish ,

I will try to answer a few of your question , I know Sagarneel is in long hibernation and Pkanti-Da will surely pitch here with some additional information.

Few points to notice:
1) As you would be travelling during Durga Puja Vacation , be ready for the madding crowd and nevertheless , many of them would be more interested on Tigar Prawns availability in Yumthang Valley than what nature offer there.
2) Going all the way to North Sikkim and coming back without visiting Gurudongmar is a absolute sin- you would be missing the best place of Sikkim on your tour. I know its high altitude but most of the beautiful things in the world never come easily.

--> All the hotels in Gangtok are very nearby from MG Road , so dont worry , you will be at max a few KM away from MG Road. I have never stayed in Himalayan Retreat , but heard its good. Even Norling or Cherry Guest house would be a good option.

---> Snow in October is depends on the weather at that time. Katao is officially closed for the tourist(Unless there is some recent development) , but sometime the driver manages to take to Katao. Try to visit Damang forest Reserve staying at Lachung , and please let the world know how good it is. It is one of the unexplored places in North Sikkim.

---> You might face some problem due to "Tika"- however prior booking /package booking would definitely help.

At last I got the answers. I am eagerly waiting for this and I am so happy that the real help flourish to me from your end.

Yes not to see Padmasambhaba [Gurudongmar] Lake is a real sin. But I am helpless in this case. Mostly I travel with my family. But In this time I will go with another family[Office friend] who are seldom travel guy. He has a 2 years old sweet girl and from some of indiamikers travel diary I found that they faced a real trouble with infant. In a group tour I can't left the child and a 70 yrs old young man in Lachen. If I did, It is another sin.

Actually I choose 2N/3D for not to make the trip hectic for those 2 members. But I want some details from you uttered unexplored places Damang forest Reserve if you don't mind.

One of my friend live at Durgapur, WB informed me about Himalayan retreat and its helpful manager Mr. Bishnu Roul. I directly called him and he is instantly ready to help me. Otherwise my first preference always is Cherry Guest House.

Many thanks again.

After a decade I saw you Mithun.............I know you are working hard & gathering fund to get married .............and may be IMs again going to loose another great member (atleast for first 1/2 years of marriage)

so dcyouth, hope you got all the details from Mithun who is always very details and informative in his answers & suggestion ..........here is my two cents:
its 120km and estimated travel time 8/10 hrs including few sightseeing, lunch

use taxi Rs 60 .........dont think you cant make it on foot if you dont know or able to climb the highly stepping shortcuts

tell here your hotel budget and expectations in Gangtok, definitely you'll get good suggestions from IMs

both are unique, dont loos anyone while you are staying there more than 1 night..............if you are not born-unlucky, snow can be found there, this year, at the end of Oct

as its manly performed by the hindu Nepali people and as you are going to N Sikkim, I dont think (never faced) it may be a problem


its open & accessible

Many thanks Pkanti. Before writing the post I have a strong belief that you respond with latest and valuable inputs.

The distance & the timing is realy wrong and its my own mistake.

My joy knew no bound when I know that Zero Point and katao both are accessible. Realy thanks for this great info. yes we visit both of them at any cost.

My hotel manager quote 22,000 for 8 Adult, 2 Kids & 1 infant [Lachung stay at Golden Fish with 4 rooms] for the 2N/3D trip and no extra cost given to driver for Zero Point. Is it reasonable?

Am I take a correct decision for the case of Gurudongmar! mithun123 said about unexplored places Damang Reserve forest. I have no idea about that beauty. can I get help?

Again ton thanks for a realy deserved IM.

Debashish

Ha ha ha .... Yeah , not very frequent to IM these days. Reason being so much of office work plus had 3 trips in between. Started my TL in Himachal Forum , if you get time , you can have a look. Even the same title there in bcmt (If you want to view larger size photos.)

Please enlight me about the beauty.

Debashish

Debashish,

I have not personally been to Damang Forest Reseve, but heard from the locals that it provide a wonderful view of the surrounding - Its just 10KMs(Or slightly more ) from Lachung.

Damang was also in news last year during the earthquake in Sikkim , when many of the workers had died.

When I searched for a photo of Damang in Net , I didn't found anything. So it must be an unexplored world , away from the madding crowd , and you could be the Columbus of that part of the world , and you will enlighten all of us about the beauty there.

After getting the name I had search for a minimum information about that place. But still not get a cent.
Is it Dambung!! I have found a place near to Lachung in google Earth marked as DamBung.

Perhaps other seniors enlightened us for that place.

Thanks again for your input.

Debashish

@ dcyouth

as you have plenty of time at Lachung, try to visit this place, Damang, a small tribal village, very scenic and worth to be there..............the left hand side road after Loha Bridge leads you there (around 8km)........this can be done as an easy sightseeing from Lachung..........please ask your N Sikkim package provider to arrange necessary papers in advance

Thanks Pkanti.
I had already told my Tour Provider[Mr. Roul] about that place and asked to arrange the necessary papers in advance. I am awaiting only for his positive reply as in telephonic conversation with him I feel that he is not so aware or confident about that place.

For Damang Village is it necessary to arrange extra permit or it can be set with Max driver after reaching at Lachung [Obviously we have the normal north sikkim permit for our 2N/3D Trip in that time]?

Now I want to visit that place at any cost......

Another query about my last day plan. My return train from NJP is Padatik Express [9 pm], If we start before 10 o'clock from Gangtok to cover Lingdum/Rumtek or both of these and take Lunch roadside hotel/Dhaba, any problem to reach NJP on time? In that case what would be the perfect fare for a exclusive car for my group?

Debashish

generally, need permit

possible...........expected fare Rs 2800-3500

Thanks Pkanti for the permit information and a lot of thanks for a good news about the Tunnel in north Sikkim in another thread.

My Query is about the Permit. It is clear that that we need extra permit for Damang.

Is it collected from gangtok with the normal permission for North Sikkim Package as most of the tourists should have.

OR

Is has to be collected from Lachung or from any other place or Office with the help of Driver/Tour operator.

Please help.....[Till now my tour operator is not give me a positive answer.]

Debashish

well! I went there five/six times.............twice with the locals without permit (not recommended), once with the help of Lachung Police Post (not recommended) and rest of the times ---------------------------------------------- (specially not recommended).............so if you ask me how I got the permit.........to be frank never had it officially..............but; AFAIK the permit issued from Gangtok along with Lachung/N Sikkim permit.........so ask your agent to arrange it for you or look for another agent who can handle it