Sikkim, The State. Part - 1

Sikkim,The State, Part - 1.

The state of Sikkim is one of the northeastern states of our country. It is bounded on the north and northeast by China, on the east by Bhutan, on the west by Nepal, and on the south by the Indian state of West Bengal. Many years after independence, Sikkim became the 22nd state of independent India in 1975. Until then, the monarchy was established in Sikkim and India was the only country to provide military defense to Sikkim at that time. At present Sikkim has established itself as the most literate state among the hill states of our country. This state with a very small population is currently the only declared organic state in our country i.e. all the food items produced in this state are nourished by natural fertilizers. Kanchenjunga is the highest mountain in India and the third highest in the world.

The state is not yet connected by rail to the other cities of our country, though the Union Ministry of Railways is currently thinking of connecting the state to the railways. This state is very nearer to the city of Siliguri in West Bengal, Currently the nearest railway station from this state is New Jalpaiguri. The state can be easily reached by road directly through Siliguri. The capital of this state is Gangtok.

The state of Sikkim is situated on a hill and the most admirable form of Kanchenjunga in the majestic Himalayas can be seen from this state. During the Shardiya Puja Holidays, and during the Summer Holidays Sikkim attracts a lot of tourists.

The tourist attractions of the state can be roughly divided into several sections for the convenience of tourism. It should be kept in mind that if you want to enjoy this state, you will get more pleasure by visiting this state in stages. Among these popular categories are:

1) Old Silk Route

2) Gangtok (Local, Changu Lake, New Baba Temple, Nathula Pass) - Pelling - Rabangla - Namchi - Tammy Tea Garden.

3) North Sikkim Tour (Gangtok with Lachen, Lachung, Yamthang, Gurudongmar)

There are also many other places, such as Utrey, Hilley, Versey, etc., which are now considered to be quite popular destinations.

Sikkim Old Silk Route Tour

In ancient times, the merchants of India used to trade with distant lands by overcoming many obstacles and overcoming the barriers of rough seas or remote mountains. Merchants from other countries also used to come to our country. The details of these trade routes have come up again and again in our history. Today I will talk about such a trade route. 

This trade route in the eastern part of the state of Sikkim has become a very popular name among tourists lately. This tour can be arranged according to one's time and budget as soon as one gets a few days off. This trip will remain as an unforgettable travel memory with some of the little known places of West Bengal. There are many trains from Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri or Siliguri now, there will be no problem if you book the train seats in advance. Even if not, many buses from different parts of Kolkata are going and coming directly to Siliguri throughout the day. Nowadays bus tickets can also be booked in advance online. You will get all types of AC, non-AC buses, and if you don't feel like taking a bus or train, then catch a flight. You can reach Bagdogra Airport on the outskirts of Siliguri in a very short time.

In my opinion on your first day you should reach Siliguri very early in the morning. Arrange the car according to your complete travel schedule in advance. Try to take the car with Sikkim number plate. Otherwise, it may be harassing to change the car unnecessarily in the middle. After having a snack in Siliguri, keeping River Teesta on your right side you arrive straight to a less known small hilly village of our state the  West Bengal, called The Silary Gaon. Instead of Silari Gaon, you may stay at Ramdhura or Icche gaon even.  However, the look of Kanchenjunga from Silari Gaon is amazing. These places are located in our state of West Bengal, which borders Sikkim. Remember, you will not find so-called hotels in almost any place on this Old Silk Route trip. Everything is home stay. In other words, the locals decorate their houses in a very beautiful way and arrange the accommodation and food almost like a hotel. You will not find TV in most places. You will get mobile towers, but not all networks everywhere. The food is almost the same everywhere in the home stay. Rice, bread, pulses, vegetables, egg curry in the morning, chicken curry at night. You will find this menu in almost all places along the way. You will get these with pickles, papads, salads. Tea and biscuits in the morning, puri-vegetables for breakfast. In the evening you will get hot pakoras with tea. Same menu everywhere. Clean and tidy rooms and in the bathroom english style commode have been arranged for the convenience of tourists lately. 

After spending the first day in Silarigaon, walk in the morning and visit Kanchenjunga and Teesta rivers from Ramitey View Point, two and a half kilometers away. When you come back, get ready, have a snack and go out with your belongings. Today is the second day, we will be in Aritar. At first visit Aritar Lake, Aritar Monastery, Mankhim View Point. After that you arrive at  homestay and take your lunch. There is a very beautiful lake in a dreamy heavenly atmosphere a little away from Aritar. Its name is Fusre. So far, Fusre has not been destroyed by the greedy aggression of tourists. But if you want to visit Fusre, you will have to stay one more night at Aritar. Anyway, at the moment we're not going to Fusre, so go to bed early at night after dinner. Eat breakfast on the third day and go out early. You can go to Zuluk if you want to, but my advice is, as you do not know whether you or any other member can tolerate the problems which arises suddenly due to change of higher altitude, so do not take any risk. Many times it has happened that passengers have to be dropped off at night due to impossible breathing problems, and in all these areas you will not find a doctor or a hospital if you want. So do whatever you want, but gradually. Especially if there is an older person in the team, such an attempt should not be made. So I usually recommend staying in Padamchen or Nimachen.

On the way from Aritar to Padmachen we have to stop at Rangli check post. Rangli is a big place. Remember, after leaving Siliguri on this entire itinerary, you will only find banks and ATMs in Rangli, not even anywhere else, so pick up cash from Siliguri when traveling on the Silk Route, otherwise it may be inconvenient. Permission letter has to be collected by submitting Xerox of ID card and one copy passport size photo. This is called Inner Line Permit. It is not possible to travel on the Silk Route without this Inner Line Permit, so before leaving home, pack a few passport size photos and  few xerox copies of  voter ID card of all the members of your team in a bag. Many times additional photos and xeroxes may be needed on the street, so it is important to keep a few copies with you. Permission and paper for the car have to be done at the same time at Rangli check post. For this, according to the government norms, one has to deposit some money along with the car papers. Your driver will do all the work, so talk to him and give him required money and other important documents. Shop with the rest of the group at the bustling Rangli Bazaar, eat Momo, have tea, by then the driver will take the car and come back with everyone's permit and car permit. It takes about two hours or sometimes more to get to Rangli. Let's go out of Rangli and cross the bridge and see the Keu Khola fountain.

The Keu Khola fountain is flowing very fast with a strong current over the road here. After spending some time with the fountain, proceed towards Nimachen. In Nimachen, after re-showing the permit paper at the check post of the forest department, you will get the receipt by depositing money per head as per the government rules. These receipts have to be deposited at the check post on the way back. Keep all the papers carefully. After crossing Nimachen, reach home stay in Padamchen, wash your face, hands and feet and have lunch. Then enjoy a beautiful afternoon and evening in the presence of pure nature in this beautiful cool weather. If you want you can walk slowly on the hilly path, it would be good to walk on the smooth path up and down, but remember that you must return to today's residence before it gets dark. There are no street lights in this area, in some places some people may have installed solar lights in a small part of their private area with their private initiative, but it is very less in number. Smoking is prohibited in public in Sikkim, so it is better not to smoke on the roadside.

The next day, that is, on the fourth day, get up very early and get ready. The night before, you must tell the homestay to give you a snack by 7 am in  the morning. However, let's leave early and go to Zuluk Zigzag View Point first. The line of the hilly path thrown down from here looks very beautiful. From Zuluk go to Thumbi View Point. From here you will always remember the wonderful form of Kanchenjunga. After spending some time in Thambi, proceed to see Nathang Valley. The form of the remarkable valley from top to bottom is truly memorable. After Nathang Valley, let's visit the Old Baba Temple. Fully controlled by the army at an altitude of about fourteen thousand feet, this Baba Mandir is dedicated to the memory of  Baba Har Bhajan Singh, a soldier of the Indian army. All Army personnel, irrespective of caste, and religion, believe that Baba Har Bhajan Singh,  is still performimg his duty as a soldier in this tough china border to protect the honor of the motherland. Here all the guests  are given tea by the army. One thing must be remembered here. The amount of oxygen in the air will continue to decrease as the altitude is rising after Zuluk, so please do not talk, sing, shout, or run unnecessarily in this area. If you feel difficulty breathing at Baba Mandir, tell the army personnel immediately. They will take care of everything. 

After Baba Temple let’s go to visit Kupup Lake or Elephant Lake. From here a glimpse of Nathula Pass can be seen. The small lake looks like the back of an elephant. After spending some time here, let's go back. Now we will go back to Padamchen the same way we came. Please try to remember that today we will be a little bit late to have our lunch. so please keep some dry food with you when you go out in the morning for your own convenience. Another thing you please keep in mind that in our complete tour to Silk Route you will not get any shop except at Rangli. So if you want  to do the shopping do it  in Rangli only. 

After spending the fourth night in Padamchen, the next morning, that is, on the fifth day, come down the hill to Reshikhola, which is located on the banks of the River Reshi. Surrounded by green hills, this is a wonderful place. The river Reshi is flowing in a loud voice, you are right on the bank of the river. One bank of this river is in Sikkim and the other bank is in West Bengal. I'm sure this reshi khola will take your mind. 

Is your vacation over on this trip? If there is no more holidays, then on the sixth day, get out of Reshi Khola, finish your lunch on the road along the Teesta, reach New Jalpaiguri before evening and return to Kolkata by night train. And if you have one more day in hand, you can go to the third day from Aritar with a little change in the schedule. In that case, spend the third night in Rolep. Rolep has an extraordinary Rolep River. You will remember the sunset over the bridge for many days. Apart from this, there is a wonderful mind-blowing fountain called Buddha Falls in Rolep. On the interference of the sun rays, a magical design of  color spreading in the smoke like water droplets of Buddha Falls, this scene is never to be forgotten in life. If you go to Rolep, stay in Padamchen on the fourth and fifth night and stay in Reshikhola on the sixth day.

The beautiful Sikkim invites her guests with open arms. The people of Sikkim are very hospitable and good. Hope you will enjoy the Old Silk Route.

In the next part I will discuss in detail about other places to visit in Sikkim. If any of you have any questions, please let me know in the comments box, I will try my best to answer.

Stay well, stay healthy.