We had to seek details since we were travelling with kids aged 6 and 3 .
All the above meant that we provide business to a localite. Sikkim’s business venture is mostly controlled by people from Bihar or West Bengal.
I am hoping that below is of some help to nature loving folks who want to travel to Sikkim, which in my opinion is a beautiful place. I am leaving out all adjectives of how sikkim is , how my mind feels etc. - the below can be treated as a hands on info for folks who wish to visit North sikkim.
Our specifications to the travel agent who helped us with the travel was a bit complicated.
- We wanted to stay over in a venture owned by a localite.
- Did not want to stay at a place which is near city / gangtok .
- I believe there is too much sewage/untreated water let into the streams.
- Wanted to hire a taxi which again was owned by a localite and preferred home stay’s
- With kids around , we wanted to drive not more than 3 hrs and use the rest of the day to hike or stroll down the locality.
- We wanted to choose a place where, if we stepped out of the room we could go into the backyard , natural garden [ not the manicured lawn garden ]
Day 1 – Reached Bagdogra airport .
- Airport is 20Km from Siliguri. Drive to Gangtok – 4 hrs drive.
- Crossed into the Sikkim border , Refreshing Teesta river welcomes you. Reached Ranka Village [ about 5 kms away from city ] checked into a hotel/homestay – run by a couple who had their own backyard with vegetables. Hotel Park Rana Village.
Homestay Vegetable Garden - We were greeted by hail stones – Khushi first exposure of “ice” from sky [ and not from the fridge!] . Very [ but manageable] cold evening.
We realized that 5.30AM is bright and people start their daily chores at 5am. Breakfast at 7.00am and drove to TSONGO LAKE. 35Km – high altitude but with previous days rains had caused landslides and thus further delay.
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| Army base up in the mountains. I was allowed to take this picture. I wish I could find a Kodava there!. |
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| Tsongmo / Changu Lake |
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| Drive upto the Lake |
Day 3 and 4 : Drive to Dzongo area – stay over at Pasing Dang Village.
We wake up as early as 5.30am . Plan is to drive for 60 Kms which is 3 - 4 hrs of drive. Stop in between at water falls , walk around for a while.
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| View at 5.30Am |
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| Waterfall |
Mallaylayang is close to the river Teesta. One can feel the 'roar' of the river from ther room or sitout . A 20 minute steep downhill hike took us to the river bed .
Below construction was interesting. Notice that there are no bricks. The bottom part is completely concrete. The support is wood. Between the wooden support bamboo is used as walls and the metal roof provides theshelter from rain/sun .
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| Another lovely water fall. A Drop from over 100 feet. |
Day 5 : Drive to Lacthung - 60 kms - 4-5 hours drive.
We stayed at hotel Golden Fish goldenfishhotel@gmail.com, another vegetarian hotel/Homestay run by Kezang Bhutia and his wife. We took the 'Super view room ' . Open the window of the room and you see the snow capped mountains!.
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| View from the Hotel room |
One can hike to Latchung Falls from this hotel. We hiked up to this water fall , steep climb up the mountain terrain . The water falls from a height of 100+ feet . Awesome!.
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| Lachtung Falls |
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| Base of the water Fall |
We suggest folks to walk , even if it means walk along the road. We did the same and enjoyed the view and the breeze .
Day 6: Drive to Yumthan Valley -30 Km - 1 hr drive.
We woke up at 6am ,cold morning and drive to Yumthang Valley . This Valley is unique , with Snow capped mountains, huge alpine trees and river on the other side.
We hiked along the alpine trees and attempted to reach the mountains where we could play with snow. Very tiring but refreshing. At Yumthang , I encourage folks to spend time by hiking up the mountains through the alpine tree forest. We found lot of people on the road but very very few who preferred a hike through the forest.
Day 7 - Drove back to Gangtok - 6 hrs .
Woke up early , and reached Gangtok . We took a stroll out to MG Marg Gangtok .
Day - 8 Drive to Bagdogra Airport 5hrs.
Note :
- Sikkim is a place where you want to spend time with nature.
- Walk most of the time . This is not the place to visit if one does not want to get off the car.
- Ensure your taxi driver does not chew Ghutka [ and spit all through ] and can drive without music [ arent we tired of FM channels back home?]
- Most of the Drivers are Owner drivers – treat them well . People of Sikkim are very nice and helpful.
- Settle for a taxi which has a mileage of 35K to 45K . A new vehicle will mean the driver is new and an experienced driver would mean that his vehicle would have clocked 1L above mileage. So settle for a 3 year experienced driver.
- Sikkim govt takes tourism seriously. Ensure you have the details of the Travel agent association information in hand www.taas.org.in. This will ensure that the agent will take extra care when handling your journey.
- Expect roads to be in bad condition. Bumpy jeep rides are fun.
- Stick to Vegetarian food. Sikkim folks eat rice. Meat at High altitude may not be fresh. electricity is uncertain so the freezer may not be working 24/7.
- On our way we found several Hydro electirc projects with Dams built. I was told that Lephcha have fought the govt and have been succesfull in preventing 8 such dams in their area. they still have 2 more to go . The total usage of power in sikkim during Peak time is 64MW, whereas the same power is used up in a single Mall in blore. [like ... Folks who use elevator to reach the first floor ]. I agreed with the Dzongo people , Sikkim will export the power - but at what cost ? . We can live without an elevator in a mall but not without the mountains / Rivers.
