Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 2717644)

I remember trying to reach Sandakpu in my Ind-Suzuki AX100 mobike in 1994. I started off on the first part of the climb from Mane Bhajang, fell down a couple of times, then finally landed the bike in a ditch. Since I was riding solo, I simply could not not lift the bike up on my own, so I gesticulated to a guy sitting way up the hill - and he actually came down, taking almost 10 minutes to reach me - and helped me lift up the bike. Thus, I abandoned my ride to Sandakpu, and to return down the hill, it was not easy since the dirt road was very steep - and I had to keep toggling the gear lever in first gear to brake & finally came down. In those days, the old African Safari Land Rovers were the only means of getting to the top, no other vehicles used to attempt the journey.

Originally Posted by Sutripta (Post 2718081)

Hi,
There are some lovely walks in that area.

Regards
Sutripta

Originally Posted by wanderernomad (Post 2718543)

Excellent pictures and the scenery. Must ahve had a lovely time. The roads look typical of the interior himalayan roads. These landy's are 4X4? The engine swap with Mahindra DI needs replacement of the transmission as well?

Originally Posted by nkrishnap (Post 2718601)

Amazing trip there. Loved the Pics. I can imagine how wonderful this trip would have been.

Do leep the thread updated with the log and the pictures.

Originally Posted by sanjoy50 (Post 2718758)

Originally Posted by BlackPearl (Post 2718810)

Please give some more details if possible.

Originally Posted by Kandisa (Post 2718889)

Great narrations and pictures, that is some justified journey for a new 4x4 vehicle. This is one destination where i really want to drive down in my jeep some day.

Originally Posted by 1100D (Post 2718904)

Superb. Heaven exists in India and can be reached by not many things with wheels.

Planters looks restored. The last time we were put up there, 2001 end, it was a little starting to break down. However, it was lucky for me and reassured me of something that is very close to my heart.

Originally Posted by adg_andy (Post 2718953)

Jioh Mama!!! is the word that comes first to mind after reading the t'logue and looking at the pics..Wonderful narration. Kudos to you and the White Tusker.. one of my biggest regrets is staying almost 2 decades in siliguri and not being able to make this trip :Frustrati

Originally Posted by Ketan (Post 2719059)

A geat trip narrated wonderfully!
Kudos to your courage, white tusker and your navigator! initially, I thought its a planned journey and you know the route you will be taking, but then it seems you just kept exploring as you moved on and that needs a lot of courage!
Pictures of those Kangchenjunga ranges and other peaks are awesome!!

I recollected the time when we went to those Jayenti River range inside the buxa for a small trek, we had the water stream flowing then and we took some pictures when our jeeps (hired boleros) crossing the river at high throttle. It was wonderful experience and I can imagine how amazing it could be when you drive your own vehicle!

I'm not an expert about those areas, but it seems much difficult than the Ladakh trip and less traffic compared to those Ladakh routes.

I wish I can plan a trip to such places in future, I can just wish for now!
Every single picutre and your narration was inspiring to go for it! Thanks for sharing and keep posting pictures and more experiences.

Originally Posted by Sutripta (Post 2719322)

Requires facetime, map and a scratchpad. (At a pinch, paper napkins!)

The two local peaks are Tiger Hill, and Bagora. You could walk from one to the other, through Senchal. And lots of walks from Bagora.

The other walking area is north of Darj (Badamtam) down to the river, and up again.

Regards
Sutripta

Originally Posted by nilanjanray (Post 2719342)

Feeling nostalgic. Had gone there in 1993 with friends. Saw an amazing panorama of the peaks on a full moon night. Almost twenty years back...even then Land Rovers used to ply on that rocky trail. We of course hiked up with backpacks.

Originally Posted by nilanjanray (Post 2719414)

It was drizzling throughout when we hiked up. We were wet and cold. No brandy to warm us up. So along with a friend, I crossed the border, went into Nepal and bought 4L of Roxie (Roxy?) from a shepherd hut - and brought it back in a jerrycan! That lasted us for two days and warmed us up. Anyway, around 9 pm, the weather cleared and that is when we saw the amazing panorama of the peaks shining in the moonlight.

Next night we did a campfire with some Israeli backpackers, and feasted on some chicken bought from the village a few kms down. While the negotiations were going on, our local guide helped himself to a few round of Roxy. On the way, he and my friend (who had been given the money to buy chicken) decided that since the chicken were about to die, they deserved a last drink (the guys were somewhat sloshed and feeling sentimental). So in the middle of the forest track, they started force feeding the two chickens some Roxy. One lay comatose after having some of the fiery stuff. So they put it down and focused on the other one.

Big mistake. The comatose chicken had a delayed reaction of super stimulating fiery liquid. It gave a squawk, jumped 10 feet into the air and then ran down the hillside forest. Securing the other chicken, the guys gave chase, but couldn't catch it. They got plenty of gaalis for squandering our precious money (were on a tight budget, being 1st year college kids 20 years back), and bringing back one chicken instead of two.

We hiked down to civilization through the forest via Rimbik. Another noble village chicken sacrificed its life to feed a few ravenous college guys. It was executed with my own Kukhri, no less (those days I used to carry a big Kukhri when trekking through the forests or mountains - for chopping firewood and for misc. stuff).

Good memories, those. Sorry for hijacking your thread, but your lovely narration and pictures brought back those memories.

Originally Posted by Joy (Post 2719477)

Thanks BlackPearl for the execellent travelogue. Was planning for a trek last year to Sandakphu but never made it due to some family problems. And you fulfilled my dreams this year along with some wonderful photos to complement. But if I ever go there, I would love to spend a night at Tonglu, heard that the sunrise from Tonglu is awesome.

Once again, thanks for the travelogue and please post as much photos you have.

5* no doubt.:thumbs up

One more question, can Maneybhanjan, Chitrey be done with normal cars like hatchbacks.