TravLAromancing Sikkim!

"Let's go to Sikkim Darjeeling next year" said Bharat. We were in Mussorie then and I nodded my usual half-committed'yeah'. After hazy planning uncertainties and multiple cancellation certainties we finally made it to Sikkim - the border land state has plenty to offer in cultural and scenic beauty.

View from Samuel's terrace

We are indebted with gratitude to Samuel for being the best host ever. He opened his sprawling, cosy,

MG Road, Gangtok

comfortable home to us which had a scenic valley as not the only added bonus. Samuel met Bharat on Instagram, of all places, and their friendship resulted in being a well planned vacation. All of 16, he smiled through patiently as we Bombay laggards tried to match his excitement to show us as much of Sikkim as time permitted. He rec
kons we need at least ten days to get the full deal of Sikkim.



Bharat was little let down that it wasn't as cold as we anticipated. We did bulk up on sweaters and layered winter clothing which we used only at one place.

Baker's Cafe

We covered the Bombay - Bagdogra flight (via Guwahati) by noon and reached Gangtok by 5.30. After keeping our luggage we walked around the Gandhi road, the main market of the city. Hungry after the long journey we stopped over at Baker's Cafe - beautiful inside, scenic outside & our regular hangout - before window shopping around town.



Day 1 - Around Gangtok

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

After breakfast at Baker's admiring the Kanchenzunga (got addicted to how Sam would call it) we started off with Namgyal institute of Tibetology. Peaceful, atop a hill, we paid our respects by rotating the chanting dials.

Banjhakhri falls

After warming up our respective SLRs we moved on to Banjhakri Falls Energy Park. The elevated garden has some depictions of the local culture and several spots for potential profile pictures.

We visited a monastery I didn't note down the name of. I loved the way several stories were depicted on every inch of the walls.

 From Tashi viewpoint, on a clear day, you get an elevated view of the Kanchenzunga & co. It was cloudy, so we trooped down for lunch.

Red Panda

The enclosures in the Himalayan Zoo are clean and has as natural a landscape plausible in a zoo. Bharat me were lagging behind as we would wait like wanna be wildlife photographers capturing different expressions on the animals. The Red Pandas, the Tibetan Wolves and the Leopards are the money winners of this park.

The city from Ganesh Tok

Ganeshtok is one of THE sunset spots. You can have a quaint look of the city, the tower, the
mountains and indulge in sunset photography. It was past sunset by the time we reached Hanuman Tok. It is much higher and has a wider horizon to look down from, but the poor lighting didn't help. You can also find samples of the Sanjivani tree, famed for being used on the wounded Lakshmana in the battle of Lanka. Back to Gandhi road we tried a new cafe, witnessed a local dance show and shut shop for the day.


Day 2 - South Sikkim

It takes the whole day to cover the sights here. But the long drive is a series of soothing wallpapers livening up in front of you. Note - never sit behind the guy with lens unless you don't mind chilly winds on & off your face. Bharat was going crazy (check out his gallery  here) with landscape beckoning you to keep the lens uncovered. We stopped at the Tea gardens. We drove past many, but this one was open to visitors and sloped downwards. Clicked an all time favorite single picture there too.





Samdruptse monastery is one of the regal ones, with a giant sculpture of one of their saints depicted on the top. Across the valley from here you can spot the giant sculpture of Lord Siva in Char Dham, out next destination.





Chardham is unlike any place I've been to. It has replica temples of the four main Hindu destinations, as well as the 12 main lingas of Lord Shiva.



Rounding of the visits to witness Giant statues we reached Ravangla by sunset, so we did not get to enter the park. But the wait outside was worth the chills the lights came on - 1 by 1- on the beautiful status of Lord Buddha. It is one of the sights to never fail your memory. On a clear sky day, they say you could even spot the Kanchenzunga, the heavenly sunset glimpses of which we enjoyed on the drive to Ravangla.
























Day 3 - North Sikkim

This region is more famous for the Nathu La pass. We did not go because the roads were supposed to be strewn with ice which would make driving difficult. But we overheard many families who were headed in that direction. Lendup, or driver, added that the permission costs a little more for the trip there.

So we settled on Tsomgo Lake (pronounced Chang-huh). We expected it to be frozen. But we arrived to a clear water view painted with a reflective glow from the sunlight. There was plenty of snow along the banks to prompt a snow ball/shower fight in the group and of course the customary photo sessions. We took the rest of the day off and dinner was served by Chef Samtani.

Day 4

Rumtek

We woke up easy today. The guys went on a cycle ride around town (& Tashi viewpoint). My limbs were still a bit sore and I didn't reckon my fitness was good enough to cycle in the mountain air. So I stayed back and enjoyed a sun bath, while idly staring at the valley. Witnessed the para gliding, the helipad movements and the dance of the shadows on the valley from Samuel's gallery.

We visited the Rumtek monastery post noon. The Buddha deity

here caught my attention sharply. I just paused and soaked in the grandeur
of the main chamber. You just can't help but admire & feel like having time travelled a few centuries back. Samuel met up with some friends at the cafe ( also visited by Amir Khan) with whom he was having a guitar jugalbandhi. We drove through the city to the other end. There was a flower show and only Bharat, with his micro lens, was into it. We were a bit too late for the cable car ride. That would have been ultimate!

The last view - Sam's spot

But we winded up at one of Samuel's favorite spots of Gangtok, which ended up being one of my favorites as well. He regaled us with some local stories and I also caught sight of my first satellite!(I thought it was a plane.) Was too reluctant to move from there. We observed the sunset and the lights coming on in the city below. We then walked down to the main market, some of us shopping while I clicked and chomped on some snacks on the go. We signed off on Baker's Cafe yet again for the night. We honestly felt heavy and were reluctantly going through our last walk and talks around Gangtok. Sikkim won our hearts, to say the least.

If you aren't just into the winter feeling and the sights then you can even try trekking, paragliding, river-rafting and jamming into the local music scene -some of the other activities you can enjoy there. A second trip is due in the future. And Mr. Tshering has already planned the itinerary for it! Those are into cultural studies you are bound to meet a steady mix of people. Though a predominantly Christian population, most of the spots you visit are influenced by Tibetan Buddhist culture. The interiors and decors used by them are pleasing, not just the serene settings they are surrounded by.

Check out the entire album here - Kissing the clouds in Sikkim. Or follow me on Instagram - Ananda_Kishore where I will keep posting some of my memories from the trip.

How...

..to reach Gangtok - Flying Indigo we reached Bagdogra by noon and the cab reached Gangtok by 5.30 PM. A cab ride should be Rs. 2500 for an Indigo / Rs.3500 by Innova. Or take the helicopter ride Rs. 3500 per person.

..are the road trips.. not the best of roads, but not the worst of roads(compared to Ladakh). The "Aami Nepali" was a clear favorite.

Don't fall of to sleep during the road trips

Border roads organization have done a good job. But be prepared for dust ups, frequent curves and of course shifts in altitude. What makes the rides fun is some good music, and you should check out the local rock bands..

..the weather in December.. they say Jan is when it gets colder with snowfall. We enjoyed the sunshine in the day which took the temp up would generally be in 3 layers adding 2 more for Tsomgo lake.

.. the food.. shouldn't be an issue. Considering most of us were pure veg. with a half-jain diet, we ate quite well. Others may also enjoy the local cuisine.

..are the travel arrangements.. I have been suggesting to people to travel in groups of 5-6. Works out convenient. If you have to go to North Sikkim you are only allowed 6+driver max in a car. Innova suits the best. Hiring charges vary as per season.

..plan for the trip.. You can connect with Samuel (again, not a guide, just a guy happy to help) on Twitter - @meophiscated and _notsamuel on Instagram.

Well - kuch din to guzariye Sikkim mein!!

Delhi Belly!

A project at the client office landed me in Delhi for 8 days, in the month of November just at the onset of winter.

God bless the client, god bless my company for my first stay in Delhi, having traversed through the capital city in transit quite a few times.

And those transits were during the scorching summer, and I was only too glad to be in Delhi for only two hours. This visit churned my heart, to bring out new-found fondness for our capital city. I arrived on Monday the 7th, evening delayed by half-n-hour. And soon as we started by taxi, I was met by the most shocking sight.

No traffic! And big fat roads. One-way in Delhi is bigger than both ways in the widest of our roads. The night quiet post-dinner walk around Safdarjung enclave, where I stayed, was blessed by cool weather. There are row-houses there and every person made it a point to inscribe their profession on the name-plate. That's how I know where the ONGC chairman stays.

And to top it all, ice-cream in the cold weather night!

Our client would drive us back and forth from Noida. Would rather call it flying v/s Bombay speed. We shifted to Noida after the third day and stayed opposite The Great Indian Place- a mall so huge, I couldn't even capture it in one frame.

Noida is like Navi Mumbai. Got all the facilities and the quietness of the suburbs.

Here the roads are planned a notch better.

So on Sunday 13th November I had the day to myself. I decided I had to go to as many spots I could.

So i logged in to Google, the very brilliantly made Delhi tourism website and planned a trip centered around the Delhi Metro.

First stop - a brisk walk to Noida Sector 18 Metro station. A brilliantly planned Metro stands to amaze me. Took a 100 buck for the day pass. They have a simple swipe-in, swipe-out feature using a card.

First stop was Rajiv Chowk, which is like the Dadar of Delhi, from where I took another train to Chandni Chowk.

Getting off the station I walked instinctively towards my first destination, the Red Fort. By that I mean, I didnt have a map nor did I ask anyone. And slowly found my way to the destination, so elated to spot it from far!

Didn't have enough time to take an inside tour. So caught a rickshaw to Raj Ghat.

Just stood at the place and soaked in the quiet and vast silent place. Then paid a silent homage to Mahatma Gandhi, and a silent wow.

Then I moved further to Rajeev Chowk station, which is located at the center of the Connaught Circle.

From here I caught a train straight to Qutab station. And right from the Metro you catch the sight of the famed minaret.

It looked really beautiful specially in silhouette against the setting sun. Clicked a lot of pictures there.

Then took the train to Central Secretariat. Came out, took some directions from the local policeman, and walked along to the parliament. The sight out there is amazing. It was really dark, with low lighting. Not many vehicles or people in sight. It looked like a hill station!

The parliament looked quaint in appearance, in the dim night lights. Met some soldiers guarding the place, three of them.

I had a pleasant chat with the trio, one of them from Maharashtra(and chatting up with him in my faltering Marathi, as he seemed too delighted by it). They got into Mumbai v/s Delhi. Asked me which I liked better, I just said I love Delhi. And then they replied - 'Dilli hai Dilwalo ka' and I nodded in agreement.
So I was in all awe, walking up the dimly lit lane, with the north block to my right, south block to my left and Presidential palace straight ahead.

If you swivel 180 degrees, your met by the sight of India Gate in all its glory on the other end down the Rajpath.


Presidential palace is like a huge mansion, I only wished more people like Dr.Kalam get to stay there.

I found a rick down to India Gate, since I was short of time. And saw a few VIP houses and various ministry buildings.

India Gate is beautiful. It was built to commemorate the battalions from India who lost their lives in WW1. At least the Britishers know to honour their martyrs better. The iconic architecture has inscribed the name of each soldier who lost their life in the war.

Passed by a few more ministries on the way back to central secretariat station. The rickshaw chap, who earlier told me - "jo dil chahe de dena" now demanded 120 bucks. I felt 50 was gud enuf, plus a little premium for waiting for me. He didn't like my pay and said "saab ye theek nahi hain." I reminded him - jo dil chahe dialogue. He said - aap khud vichar kijiye, to which I said vichar karoonga to aur kum kar doonga! Then I said Thank You and we parted ways with a smile.

From secretariat starts a separate line to my next stop, Nehru Place.

From Nehru Place you can visit the Lotus temple or the Bahai temple. I saw it from far and rushed off to ISKCON Delhi. My final stop.

I sat ere, praying, singing for an hour n half. There was sweet n melodius kirtan being sung. I just sat at the Temple Hall, didn't venture to the other areas. Met my friends Murari Gupta and Manish from Mumbai there.


Had to then rush back to Nehru place station, as I had a long metro ride back to Noida and the metro shuts by 11.

And the last day we took a cab to the airport. In the process got another Delhi Darshan. Got to see the houses of all the Top Politicos, the embassies beautifully arranged. You could be forgiven to think that this city was made on Cityville!