[BlackPearl]

Most of the bhpians by now must have known that I love the hills and I love Sikkim. Kolkata to Siliguri route is a gamble and bhpian Sheel is trying to bring some order to the chaos by giving near real time update about the traffic on Vikramshila Setu. There is a an active thread on tbhp on bypassing NH34 and every day people are coming up with new routes to reach Siliguri. But whatever be the odds, a long weekend is not going to stop us from visiting the Himalayas. As the saying goes, if there is a will there is a way to reach Siliguri.
If there is a person who loves Sikkim more than me on tbhp, it is undoubtedly the one and only Himadri (himadrimondal). There are few jokes about his love for Sikkim as well and those can't be shared on a public forum .
He told me to visit Borong in South Sikkim and being an avid bird photographer he was visiting Borong as well. So I just followed his Thar
through NH34 and then the hills till we reached Borong. After reaching Borong I realised that I had visited this place last year without knowing it. Thanks to Himadri, we had a gala picnic enroute to Borong. The menu consisted of delicious Chicken Kebabs and Chicken Noodles .













We stayed at Wild Flower Retreat in Borong and it is a beautiful place.













Engaging 4WD discussion with the boss




Next morning we took leave from the stalwart and left for Club Mahindra Baiguney. We visited Borong Monastery and Tathagatsthal enroute to Baiguney.













The Club Mahindra property is beautiful and a must-visit for all the members. It is a shame that we could only spare one and a half days there. The resort is just beside the river Rangeet.























We came back via NH34 and the gamble paid off. It took us less than 12 hours from Siliguri to Kolkata.

[BlackPearl]

A parting shot of the Thar on Sevoke road..

[GhostRider28]

Wonderful pictures Sumitro da!
Your travelogues have always inspired Newbie's like me who spend more time pondering over road conditions than on the road! This year, I am definitely doing a road trip to N Bengal and/or Sikkim during the winter! That's a protigya!

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

We came back via NH34 and the gamble paid off. It took us less than 12 hours from Siliguri to Kolkata.

When did you start from Siliguri? (Also, is the route safe for night driving?)

[petrolhead_neel]

As usual and as expected, great travelogue Sumitro Daa. I wonder how you put so much thoughts and details into a TL this crisp. Coupled with great pictures, this makes for a superb read. Kudos!

And what more does a petrolhead want than seeing pictures of two Thars (one black and one white) wearing the coolest of alloys chilling in the Himalayas. The Sherpa is looking great!

You should seriously consider building a house in the Himalayas, a weekend house.

A small correction, shouldn't the title read two Thars instead of one?

[mi2n]

Absolutely gorgeous pictures! You are doing the hills on whim now. Seems even the rowdy NH34 is being tamed by the recent influx of Bhpians. We also come to know the second bhpian Sheel met. Loved Borong, loved the pics of Rangit river. I am already conceiving the idea of repeating my Sikkim tour in winter. Will definitely keep Borong and the Club Mahindra resort in my itinerary.

WB02AG1331 has to be the luckiest Thar in Bengal, if not in India. It gets to be in its elements so often!

[SouraC]

No words are enough to explain your love for Hills and Sikkim. Sikkim was an ever favourite destination for Kolkattans but due to Himadri and you it seems that it will surely become Hot favourite for this regions Bhpians.

Regarding the Travelogue, it is crisp with awesome photographs. I have taken a note and would surely visit the club Mahindra property as it looks attractive. At the same time the Wild Flower Retreat in Borong has also attracted me for its simplicity and being so close to nature.

I also must admit, it is a pleasure and a pain for us to go through these kinds of Travelogues as we are so close to these places yet so far.

[Samba]

Yet again another crisp travelogue with some lovely pictures. The black and white duo looks great.

First time i heard about Borong was from Himadri Da's travelogue and i was blown away seeing his skills in bird photography!

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...-paradise.html

[Sudipto-S-Team]

I think the most interesting part of your trip is NH34 :-) Please give us some detail on the status of 4-laning. A friend had to spend around 6 hours in Kaliachak in January. Has the situation improved or is it still a gamble?

[AJ-got-BHP]

BlackPearl,

I just beat the heat by going through your travelogue !!

This getaway must be an epic one with both the Thars raiding the Himalayas ........ together !! What better can it get

The amazing snaps do most of the talking in your compact travelogue as always. The snaps have come out really well and the Black & White Thars look awesome together !!

Club Mahindra Baiguney has been on my to do list for a long time; in fact we had planned twice in the last year but sadly had to cancel the reservation due to some unavoidable circumstances. Hope can do it sometime in the near future with kiddo as the river flowing beside the resort shall be fun for her.

Keep posting such nice and crisp Travelogues !! Loved every bit of it

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

And what more does a petrolhead want than seeing pictures of two Thars (one black and one white) wearing the coolest of alloys chilling in the Himalayas. The Sherpa is looking great!

You should seriously consider building a house in the Himalayas, a weekend house.

Neel,

A small correction ! Sumitro's Thar has got Wheel Caps on which are painted black in colour. The camouflage is such that they look like alloys. However, now he has replaced them with a new set of Alloys.

We shall not even know when Sumitro actually does buy a weekend house up on the hills someday. At least one thing is for sure that our weekend expenses would drastically come down if he does so. He would be our host and we would be the uninvited guests who would barge in every now and then !!

Originally Posted by GhostRider28

Your travelogues have always inspired Newbie's like me who spend more time pondering over road conditions than on the road!

(Also, is the route safe for night driving?)

BlackPearl is and will be an inspiration to most of us BHPians indeed, especially the ones in the eastern side of the country. There is lots to learn from him.

Regarding driving on NH-34 at night - I would like to comment here by saying that I personally find NH-34 better for driving at night for the following reasons :

1. Considering the road, the road condition, the traffic condition, the villages/ towns that the NH crosses through - it will not allow you to doze off under any circumstances because you will be kept busy all the time
2. Now, since 50% of the stretch is still single lane, the lights of the oncoming traffic makes it easier for you to overtake and ascertain the degree of the bends better

Disclaimer :
Personal comfort levels and preferences are always there which cannot be negated

[psurelia]

Great pics complement nicely the cute & tiny travelogue. Going to Sikkim with Himadri da must be an experience in itself! BTW, did you go on this trip before getting the new alloys? Just curious.

[petrolhead_neel]

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[BlackPearl]

Posting a few more pics from the mobile camera, sorry for the image quality..








Trying my hand at a panorama

[himadrimondal]

This is a lovely travelogue, thanks so much for rekindling the lovely memories. Excellent photographs, but the pov of the two frames with the bag and stones in the foreground is just superb. There is a very good photographer hidden inside you with a lot of potential. And as far as driving skills goes, anything I say will be an understatement. Regarding the suggestion of Neel, yes we would visit your house in the Himalayas, if you would allow us. We could even turn up as free labours for the house building.

[drk_411]

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[Swapnil_Alto]

Great travelogue Sumitro Da. We're actually getting to know how much you love the hills..
The pic in which both the Thars are standing together looks superb! Those are some really beautiful pics which you have clicked near the river, specially the pic in which stones are kept one upon another.
Visiting Siliguri next month while going towards Gangtok, hope Siliguri welcomes me the way it welcomes you every time you go.

Regards,
Swapnil