Originally Posted by predatorwheelz (Post 2738172)

Whoa! The tight turns video is scary!:Shockked:

Originally Posted by BlackPearl (Post 2718249)

The last stretch of road to Sandakphu was incredibly steep and had to be done in 4L 2nd gear. The Bolero or The White Tusker as named, was able to go up most of the slopes in 2wd mode. But problems occurred when a Landrover came from opposite direction on one those steep slopes. From a standstill I was not able to go up even in 4H. 4L was the only option on those slopes. I am not saying that these slopes cannot be done by a 2wd SUV, but I don't think I am capable enough to do it. Either it will need to maintain the momentum or use some technique unknown to me.
We reached Sandakphu at around 11:30 a.m.
We wanted to go till Phalut as we were not aware of the distance of Phalut from Sandakphu. But a trekker returning from Phalut told us that it was about noon and if we chose to go to Phalut we would have to stay there. Going 21 Kms and would take two and half hours to reach there. It was already 12 back on this route at night is same as committing suicide and we did not have enough clothes required for a stay at Phalut. So we made the wise decision to go back to Darjeeling after taking some snaps and a promise to be back to that amazing place as soon as possible.

The White Tusker posing
The road not taken - leads to Phalut
Returning to Darjeeling
The roads looked menacing while descending. A few pictures of the slopes though it is impossible to capture the steepness -
The right after the first left looks like a passage to hell
[u][b]Steepness everywhere
Roads divide, one goes through India and the other through Nepal

Originally Posted by Durango Dude (Post 2738877)

You sure have been to hell and back, looks very scary, reminds be of the 'Mountain Dew' ad: dar ke aagey jeeth hai.

Originally Posted by sumitkalindi (Post 2744492)

Thats a very nice trip log Black pearl. When did you do this trip? Is it last weekend? Last weekend I also did a road trip to Ravangla & Gangtok, in my Venture (Sara).

Originally Posted by Sutripta (Post 2756638)

^^^
How do you get so much leave?

Originally Posted by Sutripta (Post 2756638)

Did you use the same route (NH34) for Calcutta - Siliguri this time too?
Regards
Sutripta

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar (Post 2756872)

Sometimes I think these guys (they work in the same company incidentally) have employed body doubles who attend office for them while they are off-roading and on-roading their way to glory.

Originally Posted by adc (Post 2757817)

A travel is done to see a land and/or its people, but when that includes a 4wd drive and a fantastic driver - I just relax and watch all these three - the land, the 4wd and its driver [Blackpearl] - just from the passenger seat.

Originally Posted by BlackPearl (Post 2757848)

Lol samarjitdhar. But this time I went with the legendary Adc da :D

Originally Posted by BlackPearl (Post 2757848)

But this time I went with the legendary Adc da :D

Originally Posted by Sutripta (Post 2758003)

Waiting for someone to do the Dumka - Bhagalpur - Purnea route and report back.

Originally Posted by octane1002 (Post 2722416)

Since you have encountered the terrain first hand I have a query.Is it possible to go to Sandakphu in a 2WD SUV or is 4WD imperative..I dont intend to take it off the road or anything but the roads enroute to Sandakphu would they require 4WD?