Darjeeling strikes

somnath

Awwwww….. I’ve lost their tariff card where another tel # was printed. BTW, you can reach there directly. It is located just beside the Gymkhana club.

Wish you a happy journey, Nitesh . I am sure you'll enjoy Darjeeling trip.

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somnath

Hi sannna,
Any update, Plz?

Hi F'Anh tse, what was your observation?
BTW, you have a very rich photo album...... naice pix - sply. this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meredit...7594121556148/
-

F'Anh tse

hello!
well i had booked a ticket to go there in mid-April. the following day i had a conversation with a person who had lived in darjeeling for 3 years and she said it is not like nepal or dharamsala...where "life goes on" when there is political problems. she told me that during problems in that region usually there are water and electricity shut downs amongst other things.
yes i know i could have gone and gotten by but i don't feel good as a foreigner using the people's supplies during these tough times.
and even if that is mere speculation and that was not the case, i did not want to finish a lengthy india journey in a place with tense vibes. so i canceled my ticket there.

on the other hand!!
i spoke to a couple in late april who had just returned from a visit to darjeeling and they said that it was TOTALLY FINE.

and, as with everything in life, you can only know if you go and experience it yourself...rather than living on rumors and hearsay. my gut feeling is that darjeeling and vicinity are totally fine to visit with no fear of harm...there just may be some inconveniences here and there.

somnath

Wise decision !
Violence and all ….. OK that’s a different issue but generally tourists do not suffer for that but your friend is right, shortage of water / electricity sometimes (Darjeeling has experienced strikes of longer duration) shortage of food makes life difficult. And this becomes the problem with the tourists.

aral

hello!

i'm gonna be in kolkata late may and am planning to go to darjeeling on the 26th from kolkata.. i wanted to know if it's a good time to go.. is there anyone who's been there lately?

also i have only 4 days to make a round trip and no flight money.. anyone who's been by rail from kolkata to new jalpaiguri n then by road to darjeeling - will the time suffice? and can i manage a kalimpong tour for a day?

any help would be great.. i have very lil time to plan and have to be bak in mumbai on the 31st latest!

thanks and regards,
lara

somnath

Hi Lara,
Welcome to IndiaMike
BTW, you mean Kolkata - Darjeeling - Kolkata 4 days?
I would like to request you to read all the posts of this thread:
seeking Darjeeling info and advice
.
Fastest routes / hotel recomndtn. and other info is available here. And there are other threads too. But I really doubt about Kalimpong in the same trip.

- Somnath

aral

thanks somnath.. the thread really helped.. ur right i need to make the roundtrip in 4 days.. i was looking for a trekking option in darjeeling but i seem to be running short of time.. and ur rt there's no way i can make the kalimpong trip unless i do a one day hotel tour which doesnt make sense!

i guess i'll hafta stick to darjeeling only.. im gonna be in kolkata on the 24th but can leave earliest 26th morning (perhaps by kanchanjanga express at 6:45 am - ticket available) which will get me to njp in 12 hours.. from thr i can take a cab to darjeeling..

the problem is to get to kolkata on the 31st since no train tickets are available.. but worst come i'll take the bagdogra kolkata flight at 2 40 on 31st may and then the evening flight to mumbai.. any idea how bad it is travelling without reservation from njp to kolkata?

i was wondering wat all i could fit in meanwhile.. i have the whole of 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th.. that's where i was wondering on going to kalimpong or gangtok or somewhere around.... since i have no idea whatsoever abt the place or whereabouts any suggestions would be helpful.. i'd love to explore another place alongwith darjeeling to have a more wholesome experience..

thanks again.. regards,
lara

somnath

Hi Lara,

26th – Kolkata to NJP (stay)
27th – NJP to Darjeeling (local tour)
28th – Darjeeling (local tour).
29th – Darjeeling to Kalimpong
30th – Kalimpong to Shiliguri (and overnight bus for Kolkata).
31st – Kolkata (morning).

As per your feedback this could be the itinerary but on 26th you are wasting a complete day in train. 6 am train …….. well, I would prefer to avail a bus journey (if train ticket is not available) on 25th night. Well, bus is not as comfortable as train but you are going to get an extra day !

BTW, there are some places around Kalipmpong but you do not have much time to vist those places like Lava, Loleygaon or Rishap. Lara, if you like to spend a quiet place with a breathtaking view of Kanchendzonga (if weather is clear) – drop the idea of Kalimpong and try to visit “Lepchajagat”. Not far away from Darjeeling ( http://www.ttmi2.com/images/Road/northbengal.jpg ) and you can easily come down to Shiliguri / NJP on 30th.

Lepchajagat info : http://www.himalayan-adventure.com/a...epchajagat.htm

2. Availability of rooms: http://www.wbfdc.com/Booking_Display1.asp?RecordID= 55 (room)

Advance reservation for Lepchajagat is must. NJP to Kolkata without reservation – if you are habituated with this.. I mean if you know the tricks to manage…… no problem. But difficult in touristy season.

- Somnath

aral

hey somnath..

i wont be done on the 25th before midnight.. the 6 45 am kachanjanga ex seems like the only option i have.. tho i was hoping that i'll try getting a cab from njp the same night..

thanks for the Lepchajagat info! i checked it out and it sounds quite nice.. i think i'll go there instead of kalimpong.. i researched a bit last nite and came up with a modified plan.. however i'm not too sure it will work practically.. lol.. u'd be more aware..

26th - travel to njp.. cab to gangtok? (is it possible at 7 pm?) orelse to darjeeling
27th - visit to tsomgo lake / if in darjeeling then tour
28th - spend day in gangtok and evening to darjeeling / if in darjeeling then spend day at teesta
29th - morning tiger hills and afternoon joyride
30th - goto Lepchajagat
31st - leave for njp and then to kolkata (by a night mode preferably, no train tickets available! hoping for a volvo?!)
1st - evening 6 30 flight to mumbai!

if i take kalimpong out can i manage this or is it too unrealistic?! orelse i'll stick to the darjeeling plan which you've best described.. tho i wouldn't mind exploring a bit more! if there's any place which is not too well known but a definite see, i wouldn't mind changing tracks!

i'm in the process of booking all the base tickets which should be done in a few hours! the schedule in between can be figured! there's one thing tho - will i get a cab easily from njp at that time or do i need to do some sorta booking?

thanks a ton for the effort!!! i'm quite excited to go lol..
regards,
lara

somnath

Hi Lara,
Thanks for your reply. I can understand you are very excited and trying to cover as much as possible. But plz don’t try to mix Darjeeling and Gangtok in 4 days. Ultimately you will spend your trip in jeeps / taxis only.

26th – I don’t think you’ll be able to leave NJP. I cannot recommend someone to drive on Darjeeling / Sikkim hills at night. Once I did the same but it was an extreme emergency. So just drop the idea to reach Darjeeling / Gangtok at night.

28th – as per your modified itinerary : that’s just impossible. So…… plz don’t go for both. You have decent time for Darjeeling and Lepchajagat, so just relax and enjoy your holidays.

Hey, don’t forget to enjoy evening programs at Nightingale Park, Darjeeling. And there are some threads regarding good restaurant / good food and staying options in Darjeeling.

Darjeeling is my favorite place so I love to plan for my friends also.

- Somnath

niteshsingh

ok guys.. so I am back from Darjeeling and Gangtok. And want to say just one word YYYYYEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPEEE.. Darjeeling and Gangtok ROCK.... And yes their is no fear/inconvenience of strikes in Darjeeling. Actually it is good for travelers. Hotels are giving heavy discounts because of less number of people even in peak season. I think the hype is created by WestBengal Government that Darjeeling is not safe for tourists. But I stayed for 5 nights in Darjeeling and never experienced any kind of problem. No power cut, no water problem.. And Yes I got a very very good view room in Hotel Amba Palace for just INR1100 with taxes (Actual cost of that room was around 2200+taxes but note the discount. I loved it... ). The food was good the view of great.. I am sure I am not going to get such a good room for the same rate next time (unless the hype is continued).

I enjoyed a lot.... I will write my full experience of Darjeeling(GangaMaya/RockGarden) and Gangtok/Sikkim(Tshamgo,BabaMandir,Tugl akPoint,Luchang,YumThong,ZeroP oint) soon..

somnath

So Darjeeling guys are fighting for their rights and you are enjoying the best part !!!! ha ha…. Thank you Nitesh, thank you so much for sharing your firsthand info. This post will really help us to decide the Darjeeling trip.
Just one point I would like to mention (though you said from your personal experience) that
“I think the hype is created by WestBengal Government that Darjeeling is not safe for tourists. But I stayed for 5 nights in Darjeeling and never experienced any kind of problem. No power cut, no water problem..”
- but that’s not always true. May be as a tourist we do not get the real scenario during our short span but hey, we are really glad to know that it was a trouble free tour for you. Nitesh, we are waiting to know in details and for your travel pix.

Cheers.

somnath

Hi,
We cannot trust any of the political parties. All are same @#$%& and ready to take any extreme decision for their cheap politics. Just see the newspapers :

1. http://www.telegraphindia.com/108061...ry_9390492.jsp


2. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ow/3115570.cms

God knows, I guess this step will not be very helpful to the common people of the hills.

mantru

Hey guys,

The much dreaded indefinate strike has started in the hills from today.......tourists were askd to clear darjeeling by 6 am today...nobody nows what will happen now...we just have to cross our fingers and pray for the better.......

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Mantru
http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/m...0489&protype=1

niteshsingh

That's a bad news for the people of the hills....