Into the North Frontier: Sikkim, 'The Paradise of India'

It's when the body gets tired of all the city dust, and your mind asks for some fresh air, a person seeks for mountains and valleys.

It has been a month since I visited Sikkim for the first time, on 23rd of February 2024. It was a five days tour into the 'Garden of the God of War'- Sikkim.

A beauty decked in snow covered mountain peaks, cotton-like clouds and the sun gazing high and loud. If you have never been to Sikkim, I can guarantee you with an imaginary trip to the mountainous Sikkim, through my write up.

It was February 23, 2024, when you boarded the Darjeeling Mail from Howrah and stopped at NJP station on 24th morning. Jalpaiguri is just like any other cities, except the platforms, the display boards and the red-yellow painted benches will make take you to the page of Byomkesh Bakshi by Sharadindu Bandhyopadhyay, and being a Bengali, you will never leave to cherish the nostalgia of the scene corelating the mystery stories. After we moved out from the platform, there was Rup Singh waited with his car for a pickup. Rup Singh was our guide cum driver for our five days tour. The guy with a black leather jacket, steady figure, with look like the sherpas, along with his Bhutani-Hindi style of taking spells helped us load our luggage in the car. It was a journey of nearly five to 6 hours approach to reach Gangtok: 'The Land of Monasteries'.  On the journey Rup Singh briefed us about our five days sight tours and along the way drove through the spine-chilling but adventurous ups and downs of the high mountain ranges. 

The first stop we took during the journey was at the Oasis Cafe, for some breakfast. The cafe was a beautiful one at a great height, facing the shores of river Teesta. It was a cafe cum boutique hub, with the ground floor full of replicas, buddha statutes, wall hangings, show pieces and many more room decor elements displayed for the customer's purchase. The first floor was a rooftop cafe with perfectly designed chair and table arrangements and with a small bar to the front. As its mountain and over that Sikkim you can never forbid your stomach from relishing the taste of momos and dumplings. We order aloo parathas and a plate of hot and juicy dumplings. After the breakfast break, we again started our journey for Gangtok. 

It was around 1:30 PM we reached Gangtok but decided to visit some of the sight-seeing before laying our tired backs in the hostel rooms. 

Day 1: After reaching The Land of Monasteries, we couldn't help ourselves from starting our sight views with monasteries. We visited the Lingdum Monastery also Ranka Lingdum or Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery. It is a Buddhist monastery near Ranka in Sikkim. The monastery is within the heart of forest, located admist 21 acres of forested mountains and privy to stunning lush mountains, away from all the din and bustle of the city life. People sat in front of the monastery selling mementos and replicas that one can buy for their friends and family, as a token from Sikkim. They were even offering Bhutani garments for photoshoot. We climbed up the stairs and reached the roof. Inside the monastery lied lord Buddha with his pose of a saint and the walls painted in vibrant colors of its history and stunningly pleasing arrangements for prayer. View from the rooftop of the monastery can surely fresh up your mind just in a snap of finger. The green mountains surrounding the monastery and the clouds blessing the place with absolute peace and freshness can make you stay all throughout the day.

From there we took our car to the Banjhakri waterfalls. The place is quite a tourist spot. A very pleasing sight for students, family, friends and newly married couples. The splash of water when you stand near the falls will surely give you the chill of the perineal river. The place also some has arrangements of hanging games and children park for the tourists.

After visiting Banjhakri Waterfalls it was the most awaited time for getting on the famous ropeway ride, one should never miss. The ride was a mesmerizing one with a picture-perfect ariel view. The city seemed a just like an empire of a big gaint in between the sky touching mountains. The people, cars and houses seemed like match boxes from above and the scenery was splendid, seemed like as if an artist has given his best while painting the canvas with splash of water and colors. 

 

With these sightseeing being completed we finally reached our hotel, Hotel Tempo Hertiage, in the JN Road, below Mintokgang Road near White Hall, at around 4:00PM. The hotel indeed is one of the best places a person can prefer to stay during his visit. It had a beautiful lawn, and other facilities like swimming poll, gym, play zone and dining area. The beautifully dressed hotel with its perfect hospitality can give you the best luxury stay for sure.

     

In the evening near around six-ish we again went for a short taxi drive towards M.G. Marg. Locals and tourists call M.G. Marg, the heart of Gangtok. It's a busy road with thousands of footfalls, shops, eateries, local people and tourists. We walked through the roads seeing the shops and had some traditional platters like thukpa and dumping. The food was finger licking delicious. We bought some gifts as a token of visit in Gangtok for our friends and family. And the day ended with a delightful mood.

                    M.G. Marg

Day 2: It was our second day at Sikkim, and we moved for our second destination Lachung at 7:00 AM in the morning in a chilling temperature of 7 degree Celsius. 

While the way to Lachung we visited the Tasi Viewpoint, a prime spot from where you can please your eyes with the elegance of mountains standing high like a massive rock giant. We were quite lucky for the weather being clear and we saw the astonishing view of Kanchanjungha.

                                              Tasi Viewpoint

In between we stopped for lunch and again stopped near the Seven Sisters Waterfalls. We stood there for few minutes and enjoyed the view and conversed with the locals about the place. 

           Seven Sisters Falls

From there, we moved over the bridge over Teesta, seeing the destruction at Chunthang caused by the flood that took place in October destroying the Hydel Project Dam at Chungthang. Climbing the scary rough peaks and cherishing the tea in bamboo cups by the locals we finally reached Lachung. Mr. Singh also made us drive in front of one of the tallest falls of Sikkim, the Bhima Falls also known as Amitabh Bacchan Waterfalls, locally. The hotel where we booked our stay was 'Hotel Montarama'. An excellent place for staying, with eye catching view of snow-covered mountains, village lights and the gushy waters of river Teesta.

 

                                        Bhima Falls

    

Day 3: 'A tour loving heart never stops', it was that time when I realized the fact and we were all ready to start for the day's sightseeing. With a bone freezing temperature of 2 degree Celsius, we started for Khanda Falls. Slowly the greenish and brownish scenario turned white snow, pretty just like the moon. The waterfall was frozen and covered with deep snow with the sunshine reflecting from them and creating an eye snatching moment. There were tourists enjoying and clicking beautiful moments both for their phone and to cherish the memories in their minds. Some climbed up the mountain and some played with the snow balls.

   

 

Khanda Falls

Moving forward from Khanda Falls we proceeded towards Yaksha Gate. From there the whole place was snow decked with almost 3 feet snow. People rented snow boots to walk the snow mountains and click pictures. Some were also making snow figures out of the snow. There were stalls selling Maggie, chanas and most astonishingly, in the cities where you have to stand in lines for hours to purchase hard drinks, those drinks specially the very known Old Monk was being sold by them. But yes of course, don't start thinking that it's for getting drunk, but to keep yourself warm in the freezing temperature. It was all white and shinny with a glamour of peace in it.

  

                                                                 Yaksha Gate

After exploring the beauty of Yaksha Gate, veiled in thick snow we climbed down the mountains enjoying the overwhelming scenic beauty of North Sikkim. 

Day 4: With our last day of staying in the lap of the nature with complete ecstasy and solitude, with the weather luckily being clear and sun stormed, we hit for Nathu-La Pass, 'the passage that has listening ears'. The place is as cold as death with freezing cold air blowing the place, but it seemed lively for the tourists, who visited the place to witness the history. Standing at the Point Zero, and blissing your eyes with the wander of international border between China-India, hits your heart with full of patriotism, when you recall the soldiers who have scarified their leisure and enjoyment, for their motherland and given us a peaceful life. The soldiers on guard were disciplined and strict and did not allow visitors to click pictures inside the entry gate for national security. The roads were all covered with thick layers of snow and footprints of the many. Standing at Nathu-La Pass, you are at the crossroads of history, marked by conflict and cultural exchange. Despite its turbulent past, it offers a glimpse into a unique culture and breathtaking scenery. 

                                                Nathu-La Pass

Departing from Nathu-La we reached the frozen lake of Changu. In warm seasons the water stays blue as the sky with small waves flowing above its surface, but if you ever visit the lake during the winters, it seems like frosting on cake. You can enjoy Yak ride and local souvenirs to carry in your lasting memory. Standing beside the still water of Changu Lake, evolved by the majestic Himalayas, is a memory that will stay with you forever.

                                                                  Changu Lake 

Visiting Baba Mandir, was one of the most interesting turn points. The story of Baba Harbhajan Singh will give you goosebumps of how he sacrificed his life for his motherland on a night hault. Baba Mandir in Sikkim is a unique shrine dedicated to Baba Harbhajan Singh, an Indian soldier who died serving near Nathu-LaPass. There are actually two shrines - the original, "Old Baba Mandir", sits at the high-altitude bunker where he was stationed. The "New Baba Mandir", built for easier access by tourists, lies near Changu Lake. Both sites are revered by soldiers and civilians alike, who believe Baba's spirit protects the region. The soldiers till date feels the presence of the holy spirit of Baba Harbhajan Singh and rumors say that the high official of the soldier gets alerted before any danger for the Indian Army force. Rich in legend and reverence, Baba Mandir stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of a soldier and the faith of those who believe.

                                                                 Old Baba Mandir                                

                      New Baba Mandir

At the very end before returning back to Gangtok and boarding our flight, we visited Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tak, two of the most visited and famous temples of North Sikkim.

                      Hanuman Tak

                           GaneshTak

North Sikkim's breathtaking beauty is only matched by the warmth of its people. With a heartful of cherished experiences and a renewed appreciation for the nature's grandeur, you bid a farewell to places of echoes of prayer flags fluttering in the mountain breeze and the majestic tapestry of snow-capped peaks, etching them in your memory.