Darjeeling Jomjomat

If I visit Darjeeling for 1000 times & any1 says "Hey let's go 2 Darjeeling"-- My response would always be "Yes". That's what my view on  "THE QUEEN OF HILLS".

This was my second visit to Darjeeling without any plan. Initially we thought of visiting Sikkim & come back to Kolkata. But travelling has no fixed plan and that's how it should be. So I decided on the way having momo @ Gangtok that we are travelling to Darjeeling before going back to Kolkata.

Those who have read my blog on Sikkim can continue reading below or else I recommend you to read my previous blogs on Sikkim because there is a mystery connected there that I am going to narrate while having hot chocolate @ Keventer's.

Keventer's is one of the popular restaurant with an open rooftop & beautiful views of the Himalayas. It is one of the place where Satyajit Ray used to visit frequently and bring solutions to the mysterious puzzles through our favorite detective character FELUDA. This is the place where I feel like sitting I don't know for how long & may be write or enjoy the nature.

Well I was talking about a Mumbai guy right? Who was travelling with us @ North Sikkim? Who was trying to act like a mysterious guy? What happened to him finally?

He was suppose to come back to Gangtok with us before we headed here. But he didn't. He chose to get down from the car while coming back.

Now coming back to Darjeeling it can be sometimes tiring to walk if we compare with Sikkim because Darjeeling is situated on the slopes of the mountain. So the roads are stiff and for the city people it's like mini trekking. But I enjoy walking around here watching the beautiful buildings, Mall, Tourists etc. One thing I haven't mentioned yet that when people come across the view of Kanchenjunga for the first time in the morning, it really takes one's breath away. WOW. Let's have a look @ it...

Sunrise @Tiger Hill where almost everyday Kanchenjunga appears with golden reflection

One never forgets his/her first encounter with KANCHENJUNGA

Who is She??...

So stay tuned for my next blog to have the flavor of best Darjeeling tea &  untold mysteries surrounding this trip .....

Frozen MYSTERY at North Sikkim

Before we go on a trip 2 one of the highest lake in Asia, let me share 1 short story that reminds me of Danny Boyle's movie "Trainspotting". There was a Mumbai guy of our age in 20's who was traveling with us from Gangtok 2 North Sikkim for this 2 nights journey. He seemed 2 be a cool guy & was traveling solo. After attending the local party with the Sikkimese people, when we were at our room chatting, this guy suddenly asked "Do you know why I am traveling alone?". I said "May be U njoy ur own company"... The guy replied "No. I am running away from Mumbai"...

So with chilling weather outside, this conversation was pouring more adventure, where I had a feeling that we were not there for traveling only but to solve some hidden mysteries buried somewhere in the mountains like our very own popular Bengali detective character "FELUDA"(to b contd... somewhere after).

Let's go to the starting point of our journey 2 Gurudongmar lake at around 3-15 a.m. in the morning or night you can say. I was half asleep & once in da car I was trying to sleep on da way but due to the rough condition of the road, constant jerking kept me half awake. We reached a place called Thangu (altitude 14000 ft.) @ 6 a.m. in da early morning to have some garma garam Maggi noodles. I started shivering with the icy-cold weather of Himalayas & it was almost close to ZERO degree Celsius. I was not carrying any gloves & it was difficult to take pictures from my camera as my fingers were frozen. At last I bought a pair of gloves there.

I was trembling bcoz of da big temperature drop

Garma Garam Maggi

While having Maggi, my friend told me to come out & see the outstanding sight of the mountains that have started appearing slowly under the dawn. At first, after getting out of my drowsiness, I was totally mesmerized what I was watching in front. What my eyes were witnessing, my mind was transmitting different views of the nature. If I have to explain I can say it's a volcano with golden lava erupting from the peak, a mountain full of gold all over its surroundings or the first reflection of our god i.e. Sun. Whatever seems logical, pictures (#copyright) say many things.... 

With our driver

After having breakfast, our journey began towards the higher altitude. After crossing 15000 ft. we saw the river water that were flowing alongside the mountains, were frozen all over and the temperature was dropping with increasing altitudes. There were some military check points & one can see the military people with their green Indian uniform & covered face. This is because the China Border lies only 5 Kms from our destination i.e. Gurudongmar lake. Special permits are required for the Foreigners to visit north Sikkim. All the permits can be collected from the Indian Missions in different countries. It can also be collected from Foreigners' Regional Registration Offices in Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai & Mumbai or the Office of the Assistant Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Sikkim, Kolkata or the office of the Deputy Director (Tourism), Govt. of Sikkim, New Delhi.   

NESCAFÉ :)

Frozen water from da mountains

Frozen Gurudongmar Lake

5183 meters --Almost equivalent to da Everest Base camp altitude i.e. 5380 meters

First Selfie

My friend became a temporary brand ambassador of HONEY BEE brandy :p

                            

                           

While clicking pictures I was also enjoying the beauty of World's highest mountain ranges with my eyes. May be there are plenty of ways to express the happiness of traveling there. That's why da photos (#copyright) here express their own meanings to the readers.

And da MYSTERY continues.....