[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by predatorwheelz

Whoa! The tight turns video is scary!

Yes and it was during one of these turns that my wife had almost decided to abandon the car and do the rest of the trip on foot

[Durango Dude]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

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

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

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

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

Yes, it looked scary while coming down. We are planning to go there again this month. Hopefully we will be able to go till Phalut.

[sumitkalindi]

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).

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by sumitkalindi

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).

Thanks sumitkalindi. We did this trip in March and again during the last week. This time we went till Phalut. The details and pictures of the trip are pending.

[Sutripta]

^^^
How do you get so much leave?

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

Regards
Sutripta

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

^^^
How do you get so much leave?

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.

[adc]

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.

Including some random pictures from our [Blackpearl and adc] 4-day journey to Sandakphu and Phalut from Kolkata.

The map, we are headed towards Sandakphu and Phalut from Manaybhanjang via Tonglu and Gairibas. The track runs along the Indo-Nepal border



The 4wd white tusker as we leave Kolkata at 11 pm for the overnight journey to Manaybhanjang



The way we [BP & adc] move. Blackpearl [Sumitro] is a fantastic understated driver on this forum. The tenacity and adaptability seen from him was exemplary - I was the passenger all through this journey



The ride - White Tusker, Bolero LX 4wd



And we cross these auto guys, on a journey from Cochin to Shillong. The drivers nicknamed themselves as "Stuffed Pioneer" and "Flat Dog"



Around Mirik



At Manaybhanjang, where all the 2wd drives stop and the 4wd Land Rovers take over











The steep blacktop continues for some 2 km till Chitrey and then it is all rocks and with much more incline







At Lamaydhura, a further 3 km from Chitrey



And the rough journey continues, a LR can be seen going down towards base



Kachendzonga from Tonglu



Blackpearl and White Tusker



At Gairibas



Rhododendrons along the way












At Sandakphu





Towards Phalut and FRH at Phalut

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

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

Yes, the same route. While coming back we were stuck at Dalkhola due to some accident and took a detour by following an Innova. The route was through Kamki-Chaulkhola-Domona and then to NH34.

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

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.

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

Originally Posted by adc

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.

Adc da, thanks for the lovely words and pictures and also for accompanying me. It has been my long time dream to do a travel with you. Next time we will go to a place where you can take the TMT and do not have to be tortured sitting in the co-driver seat .

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

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

Yes lucky you and the great ADC da making a trip together . So my hunch was right. I need to find a body double for myself too

Fantastic clicks. Its such a beautiful place to be in. That's the advantage of using a 4X4. One can go to some places where there is no crowd and you can enjoy nature's beauty to its fullest.

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

But this time I went with the legendary Adc da

How did this role reversal happen? Normally, ADC is the driver on the lookout for companions.

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

Regards
Sutripta

[adc]

Aare what both of you have started!!

BP, I have enjoyed this journey thoroughly, it was a pleasure to see you drive and adapt as the terrain changed. Again, as I say, one of best drive skill he has! And what more for the first time I could doze off on a NH34 highway overnight journey!

Originally Posted by Sutripta

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

Rahul -da would be on this route by around May end, most probably.


Some more random pics


At Sandakphu









Some fun time with a group of trekkers we met



Sun for both the ride and driver



Kachendzonga range




Towards Phalut and FRH








Some more rhododendrons

















Mist and rain predominated the other days, other than the few hours of clear weather that we got



BP checking out a LR







And also another Mahindra 4wd



Around Bikeybhanjang, for Sandakphu one can follow the Nepal track also [the left one]. Seen here as a trekker also gets ready for the walk


And some part of the track that the White Tusker climbed till now

[BlackPearl]

Awesome pictures Adc Da. I will put up some pictures once I come back on Tuesday from the Koochbihar-Lava-Lolegaon-Charcoal trip.

Originally Posted by octane1002

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?

Last time I was not able to answer your question properly. This time we spoke to a few locals and found out that a Tata Sumo Gold was taken there to test if it could go up the slopes. The locals said that the sumo was not able to make it. I have heard that the Sumo Gold with 3 litre engine has good amount of torque. If it was not able to make it, it will be hard for other 2wd SUVs.

[Alias_6]

Such a comprehensive write-up and stunning pictures to complement it !

This sure does make one feel like there is is a lot left to be explored and there is the urge to just pack the bags and set off.

[amrisharm]

Great great drive! I just have a few questions, firstly how much was the accommodation and how was it? decent? Do you need advance booking or are there enough places to stay there? I am thinking of going there with family so is the accommodation acceptable for women and children?