Destination Sandakphu-Falut

Sadanand Kamath

KS,
Congratulations for a successful completion of the trek despite all odds. As a trekker one should get all types of experience to make them memorable though in trekking situations one feels miserable.

Your best trek is yet to come

Sadanand

__________________
Sirf ek kadam utha tha galat rahe shauk mein
Manzil tamam umr hame dhunti rahi.

[Just one wrong step on the way of the quest
My destination looked for me all life long]

ks_bluechip

Hi Sadanand,

Thanks! This (Your best trek is yet to come) is always true!

I mean, I am looking beyond Roopkund in June-08 for the Best!

I am returning to Mumbai by 11th April .... postponing Bhutan trip for now (as wife couldnt get leave & come).

__________________
ks_bluechip [My Travel Blog] [My Flickr Photo Sets]

Bhaswaran

Hi KS,

Congrats for completing the trek. Eastern HImalayas see a lot of clouds and rain. However, clear weather is predicted mostly in November and January. I got clear views of the Kanchenjunga range in these two months. The rest, better forget. I visited these areas 7 times and got good views only 2 times. But the mist creats a different mood. Isnt it? You can even see Mt. Everest and his guards around from Sandakfu on a clearer day.

regards,

Bhaswaran

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....life is a journey.....and the journey is more important than the destination........

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ks_bluechip

Hi Bhaswaran;

Thanks ... yes even 4/5 days delay in my schedule would have been better, I think, as it started improving by 4th day. I wasnt so particular for kanchenjunga views (as I have seen that closer from Dzongri in Sikkim)....

But i was keen for views from the Singalila Ridge of Nepal, WB & Sikkim mountains and rolling hillsides/forests .... and rhodendrons on the foresty trails ... that got a bit dampened by poor visibilty in swirling clouds and rain.

Still it was a great experience and 4-5-6th day treks were fine. I met your friend/colleague Indranil_Dutta at sandakphu.

- KS

Bhaswaran

Great...I thought that I would ask MR. Dutta about you, whether he had met you, as you both are trekking in the same time. I would recommend you that one time you spend some leisure time at Varsey Rhodhodendron Sanctuary, stay for 3-4 days, a soft 4 km trek and a nice forest bunglow overlooking the entire Kanchenjunga range. It is good. Visit there is April-May, you will see brusts of alpine flowers, and if weather is clearer, you get great views of the Kanchenjunga, much nearer than Sandakfu.

ks_bluechip

Bhaswaran ... thanks .... can you give me some details of this Varsey Sanctuary ... where is it and how to get there etc. If already in another IM-thread let me know link of that.

Luckily Dutta had planned an extra stay day in Sandakphu (the worst weather day); when I left for Phalut and got drenched and chilled.... KS

Bhaswaran

You can proceed from NJP/Siliguri or even Darjeeling. Firstly, go to Jorthang from Siliguri (you can also come from Darjeeling, there is shared jeep service to Jorthang from both Darj and Siliguri). Then take a jeep to Hilley. You can stay at Okhre on the way for a night halt at Okre Lodge run by Mr. M.N. Sherpa. The road ends at Hilley. Here, obtain pass from the forest check post and then start for a 4 km walk to Varsey. In Varsey, there is a forest bungalow given on lease to Mr. Adhir Pal (mobile: 9832005703). Fooding and lodging are both provided. There is only one double bed and the rest, dormitory. You can call Mr. Pal and tell him about me and he will arrange everything for you. Varsey is one of my favorite places and I got some of my best Kanchenjunga views from here. You can see them in my images section here.

ks_bluechip

Thanks for a detailed reply ... will try that on later trip.

sandeepbwn

Congrats KS

Hope Jeebanda came handy with info & suggestions.

ks_bluechip

Thanks .... I am stuck in Darjeeling today ... there is Bandh here and in Siliguri areas ... no share-jeeps are plying. There are street marches and slogan shouting (for Gorkhaland) here in Darjeeling, by local people. But all peaceful. All shops, restaurants and transport are closed .... but I am luckily in a Hotel, with its own cybercafe! .......... KS

ks_bluechip

I am back in Mumbai now, after completing the Sandakphu Trek .... My Bhutan trip got postponed .

See Pictures of Sandakphu here.

If you "View as Slideshow" ... remember to set Pictures Titles display ON ... by mousing-over the picture centre & clicking on the large "i" taht appears there.

- KS

somnath

Lovely photographs !!!! I was just trying to compare the landscape ………. A lot of change is visible. So many buildings at Meghma, less number of trees after Tunglu and I can spot the place after Bikheybhanjang but again cannot see those trees. But the beauty of the place is still unchanged.

Congratulations for a great trip, Sir.

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Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.

* My Travel Pix...

Bhaswaran

Nice pics and they brought back memories. As Somnath said, less tress and more houses (hotels) but still has the charm. That was my first trek.

sics66

Nice pics KS.Especially the closeups of Kanchenjungha from Molley.The hotel u stayed at in Sandakphu was not there when I went there in 2005.Otherwise not much seems to have changed since then. Here are my memories of the trek:http://picasaweb.google.com/sics66/Sandakphu

glbtrotter

Hello All,
Thank you very much for all the information you have put up on the forum. This is way better than any travelogue that I have come across.

I am planning to trek from Manebhanjan to Rimbik via Sandakphu and Phalut in September between 20-30. I have done good amount of research on the trip but was wondering if September is a good time to do the trek.


Thanks.
GT