Sikkim Symphonies
It is not everyday that an average southie gets to go to Sikkim. after my short stint at Calcutta the decision to go to sikkim was not that well planned. I took my parents along. in fact they joined me at Calcutta from Chennai.
the travel from calcutta to Siliguri (the closest railway station to gangtok) was not a short one. traveling through the sweaty and humid sleeper coach of the train was a bit tiring. Reached early morning o Siliguri, and after some early morning goofing up with the train tickets for my return to calcutta we started from siliguri towards Gangtok. The journey was excruciating. The jeeps that ply to Gangtok are cramped with 10 passengers and one driver. well in this case it was 11 as te driver decided to share his precious seat with a chaddi friend of his. the journey was very very tiring. we reached gangtok late early in the evening. checked in to one of the Guest houses there, which was pretty good and decently priced. all three of us took a stroll at the market and also got ourselves some souvenirs. My favourite one was the Budhha statue made of Bronze. went back to the guest house. Slept.
woke up. took a taxi for rent. we set our compasses towards Tsomgo lake and Rumtek monastery. Our compass was a bit confused, cos it incidentally happens that both a
re in opposite directions. :) The way to Tsomgo lake was pretty awesome. It was a bit sad looking at all the military guys stationed in those peaks. Its a pleasure to be there for once in a while, but being about 2-3 hours away from civilization for years together is no jolly ride. We reached the lake. It was a decent lake. i mean what can u expect out of a lake which is at an altitude of 12500 feet above sea level. It was a good one, in fact. My mom loved the place. My dad was dancing with joy. :) By the way, we did not go to Baba Mandir. U're going to think am crazy once you read what i've got to say about this 'temple'. The temple is supposedly been built of a hawaldar/sepoy of the indian army. He lost his life during one of his parole' across the snow clad mountains. Incidentally, he did not actually die. He informed a fellow Sepoy of his about the whereabouts of his corpse. But there was none to be found and what was found is only his rifle with few other personal artifacts. The temple has been built in this exact location, with the rifle on display. And his soul is still around. It slaps other army men who sleep on duty, informs the Indian army of possible intrusion by the enemy countries 2 hours prior to the actual event, writes letters to people back home, goes on vacation to home town, uses the official vehicle and quarters to stay. No.. am serious... I have heard this first hand from an army man posted in that base. And mind you he is currently been promoted to a colonel by the Govt. of India and is due for retirement in couple of years. 
After the trip tsomgo lake we made a trip to the Rumtek monastery. which is supposed to be the seat of the Karma Pa who still has not been allowed to enter it. It is a replica of the monastery in tibet. It was nice to see Lamas playing football, some wearing cool wrist watches, younger lamas hiding biscuits under their robes to avoid the eyes of the teacher. I also saw a teenage Lama 'making out' with the girl in the little shop outside. I did. Unless the girl kissing and fiddling the lamas' non-existent hair does not fall under the category of 'making out'. Anyway, contrary to my belief I came to know later about my ignorance. the lamas actually can also get married (at least that is what the chinki girl in the bus told me). After Rumtek we hit back on road back to the guest house.
Next day morning we started for Pelling. Had to take a break journey from Jorethang. Pelling was a really beautiful place. There is nothing much to 'do' here.. But its a really nice place. And for all those die hard trekkers Yuksom is just 10 kms away from here. stayed there for couple of days, saw around and had been to Kichiperi lake, Kanchenjunga falls, and Rimbi bridge. Then i hit back towards Siliguri and Calcutta. My parents continued their trip and made it up to Darjeeling, Mirik and also to Nepal.
I came back in the freezer box (to be read as deluxe a/c bus) to Calcutta. Went back to the TCS TQ and then caught the evening flight back home to Chennai.
Thats how that trip went on.
the travel from calcutta to Siliguri (the closest railway station to gangtok) was not a short one. traveling through the sweaty and humid sleeper coach of the train was a bit tiring. Reached early morning o Siliguri, and after some early morning goofing up with the train tickets for my return to calcutta we started from siliguri towards Gangtok. The journey was excruciating. The jeeps that ply to Gangtok are cramped with 10 passengers and one driver. well in this case it was 11 as te driver decided to share his precious seat with a chaddi friend of his. the journey was very very tiring. we reached gangtok late early in the evening. checked in to one of the Guest houses there, which was pretty good and decently priced. all three of us took a stroll at the market and also got ourselves some souvenirs. My favourite one was the Budhha statue made of Bronze. went back to the guest house. Slept.
woke up. took a taxi for rent. we set our compasses towards Tsomgo lake and Rumtek monastery. Our compass was a bit confused, cos it incidentally happens that both a
re in opposite directions. :) The way to Tsomgo lake was pretty awesome. It was a bit sad looking at all the military guys stationed in those peaks. Its a pleasure to be there for once in a while, but being about 2-3 hours away from civilization for years together is no jolly ride. We reached the lake. It was a decent lake. i mean what can u expect out of a lake which is at an altitude of 12500 feet above sea level. It was a good one, in fact. My mom loved the place. My dad was dancing with joy. :) By the way, we did not go to Baba Mandir. U're going to think am crazy once you read what i've got to say about this 'temple'. The temple is supposedly been built of a hawaldar/sepoy of the indian army. He lost his life during one of his parole' across the snow clad mountains. Incidentally, he did not actually die. He informed a fellow Sepoy of his about the whereabouts of his corpse. But there was none to be found and what was found is only his rifle with few other personal artifacts. The temple has been built in this exact location, with the rifle on display. And his soul is still around. It slaps other army men who sleep on duty, informs the Indian army of possible intrusion by the enemy countries 2 hours prior to the actual event, writes letters to people back home, goes on vacation to home town, uses the official vehicle and quarters to stay. No.. am serious... I have heard this first hand from an army man posted in that base. And mind you he is currently been promoted to a colonel by the Govt. of India and is due for retirement in couple of years. 
After the trip tsomgo lake we made a trip to the Rumtek monastery. which is supposed to be the seat of the Karma Pa who still has not been allowed to enter it. It is a replica of the monastery in tibet. It was nice to see Lamas playing football, some wearing cool wrist watches, younger lamas hiding biscuits under their robes to avoid the eyes of the teacher. I also saw a teenage Lama 'making out' with the girl in the little shop outside. I did. Unless the girl kissing and fiddling the lamas' non-existent hair does not fall under the category of 'making out'. Anyway, contrary to my belief I came to know later about my ignorance. the lamas actually can also get married (at least that is what the chinki girl in the bus told me). After Rumtek we hit back on road back to the guest house.
Next day morning we started for Pelling. Had to take a break journey from Jorethang. Pelling was a really beautiful place. There is nothing much to 'do' here.. But its a really nice place. And for all those die hard trekkers Yuksom is just 10 kms away from here. stayed there for couple of days, saw around and had been to Kichiperi lake, Kanchenjunga falls, and Rimbi bridge. Then i hit back towards Siliguri and Calcutta. My parents continued their trip and made it up to Darjeeling, Mirik and also to Nepal.
I came back in the freezer box (to be read as deluxe a/c bus) to Calcutta. Went back to the TCS TQ and then caught the evening flight back home to Chennai.
Thats how that trip went on.
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