[debuda]

During end-Dec 2012 and early-Jan 2013 my wife and I drove from Jamshedpur in our 2-month old XUV-W6 to Gangtok, Nathu La, Lachung and Yumthang in Sikkim, India. It was an awesome driving experience. The total distance covered was 1925 KM out of which about 550 KM were in the hills.

The route we took to Siliguri while going was : Jamshedpur - Chandil - Purulia - Dhanbad - Giridih - Bengabad - Madhupur - Deoghar - Hansdiha - Bhagalpur - Purnea - Dalkhola - Islampur - Siliguri (total distance 700 KM).

While returning, we took a slightly different route : Siliguri - Islampur - Dalkhola - Purnea - Bhagalpur - Hansdiha - Basukinath - Jamtara - Mihijam - Purulia - Chandil - Jamshedpur (total distance 630 KM).

Let me share my travelogue with you through some pictures.


At Dhanbad, we passed through 'Randhir Verma Chowk'. Randhir Prasad Verma was a daring IPS officer. He and I were good friends and studied in the same class together at St. John's School, Ranchi for a few years in the early 60's. Some information about Randhir can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randhir_Prasad_Verma. Also note illegally mined coal being carried on a bicycle.




On the way to Deoghar.




Crossing a shallow river bed near Deoghar. This was a cakewalk compared to the terrain the XUV would have to negotiate in North Sikkim.




A lane near Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar.




Poster at a cinema hall near Baidyanath Dham.
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A lane near Baidyanath Dham.




Holy pond (Shiv Ganga) near Baidyanath Dham.




Inside Baidyanath Dham temple.




Shiv Ganga aarti (6:45 PM daily).




The XUV passing through dense fog on the way to Purnea.

[debuda]

Camels pass by the Cheetah on a foggy morning near Purnea.




I captured this silhouette at Rangpo.




At M.G. Road, Gangtok.




M.G. Road at Gangtok is like a City Centre, with walkways, benches, shops and eateries. No vehicular traffic is allowed there.




To go to Nathu La and North Sikkim, even Indian citizens need a special Inner Line Permit from Army and Police Authorities. Here is my North Sikkim permit issued by Sikkim Police.




On the way to Nathu La.




Tsomgo Lake along the road to Nathu La.




Landslide being cleared on the road to Nathu La.




At Baba Harbhajan Singh temple near Nathu La.




Road to Nathu La.

[girishglg]

From the time you had mentioned about your planned travel to Sikkim in your other posts, was awaiting eagerly to hear and much more see it through your words and pictures.

Sikkim especially holds a special place for us since our trip in 2011 to West Sikkim and Nathu La hence looking forward to see it all over again through your eyes and in your ride especially the North Sikkim part (which we missed due to the earthquake then). Just curious did you do Gurudongmar bcos thats our must do in our next trip for sure!

So let the journey begin!

[debuda]

Standing on a frozen lake near Nathu La.




There are many small lakes near Nathu La. Most were either fully or partly frozen.




Near Nathu La.




The Indian Army conference hall at Nathu La (14,300 feet).




Flag meetings between Indian and Chinese military authorities are held in this conference room.




Snow-capped peaks on the Chinese side of the border.




A Chinese border post at Nathu La.




Posing in front of the Nathu La border Trade Gate.




Returning from Nathu La.



At Tsomgo Lake.

[debuda]

While returning from Nathu La to Gangtok we had to stop again as another part of the road was being cleared. Subsequently, during the drive to Lachung (North Sikkim) and back we had to wait for road clearing activity on a couple of occasions.




View of Kanchendzonga from Tashi view point in Gangtok.




Many snow-capped peaks are visible on the way to Chumthang.




One of my two horns packed up during the drive to North Sikkim. A wire had broken and I fixed it myself.




Roads in North Sikkim are far worse than the Nathu La road. Roads were badly damaged due to the earthquake in Sikkim. Also, mountainsides became brittle, leading to more frequent landslides and boulders breaking loose.




There are many waterfalls on the way.




At Lachung valley.




Mountains such as these surround the Lachung valley.




Driving to Yumthang.




The old girl throwing snow-balls!

[samarjitdhar]

Too good. I am sure now the XUV will cover all those terrains hidden and known in the eastern and north-eastern parts of India. Thanks so much for the wonderful pictures, excellent subject selection and framing. Did the fact that you were in the navy help you with the permissions to travel right up to the trade gate in your own vehicle? As far as I have heard the Sikkim administration is hands in gloves with the local taxi operators such that they won't allow private vehicles (including 4WD ones) to go to these areas even if there are no army restrictions. Waiting for the rest of the pictures.

[Rahulk76]

Great travelogue.. reminds me of my stint at Nathula
Nice pictures and narration.

Eagerly waiting for the next set of pictures

[debuda]

Near Yumthang.




Road to Yumthang.




Road to Yumthang.




At Yumthang (13,000 feet).




At Yumthang valley -- awesome combo of mountains and Teesta river.




When will Indians get civilized? The most pristine tourist spots in North Sikkim are littered with trash.




At Yumthang.




At Yumthang.




It was a heady feeling for me at Yumthang -- not because of the rarified air though; The realization of having 'conquered' Yumthang was the reason!




The Bridgestone Duelers of my XUV frolicking in the snow!




A kerosene fired radiator in our cabin at Lachung. We stayed with 14 Mahar Regt.

[debuda]

Ice over my bonnet. Car was parked in the open overnight at Lachung.




Windshield completely iced over. I (foolishly) first ran the wipers -- they didn't make any difference as the ice was frozen solid. Pouring hot water over the windshield was the only way out. Thank god the glass did not crack.




Ice on wipers and windshield.




It was minus 4 deg C when we left Lachung at 7 AM. God knows what the temperature was during the night.




The Garmin navigator was used only for altitude. The Garmin maps were completely useless in Sikkim. Even in the plains of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand the Garmin maps misled me many times. On some occasions I felt like throwing the Garmin on the road and driving my XUV over it. But I refrained from doing so as it is a gift from my daughters. I also hope that future map upgrades would be better.




Descending from Lachung.




Oh no! Another road clearing operation in progress. Time to click some more pics!




I have seen many many views of the Kanchendzonga massif from various places. But the view from Singhik (9 KM north of Mangan in North Sikkim) is one of the best.




Descended to the plains.




Reached Jharkhand after a wonderful driving holiday.

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by debuda

The Garmin navigator was used only for altitude. The Garmin maps were completely useless in Sikkim. Even in the plains of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand the Garmin maps misled me many times. On some occasions I felt like throwing the Garmin on the road and driving my XUV over it. But I refrained from doing so as it is a gift from my daughters. I also hope that future map upgrades would be better.

Even the altitude reading from GPS devices is an approximation as I read somewhere. Sad to hear that Garmin maps for the eastern India is pathetic. Seems the best of the lot in the navigation devices seems to be Map My India though many a time my device has shown me driving through water or non-existent roads. Hopefully Garmin gets its act together here. Most GPS devices in India need to do a lot towards accuracy of their maps for India.

[arjab]

Was eagerly awaiting your travelogue and had been checking the site umpteen number of times!
Simply brilliant in all ways!!

[M35]

Dada,Excellent travelogue and photography. Keep revving and do you take very well care of your selves and of the Cheetah too.looking forward to your update on this testing period for the machine in your ownership thread.

[A.G.The Rambler]

Originally Posted by debuda;3009117

At Yumthang valley -- awesome combo of mountains and Teesta river.
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Debuda, wonderful pictures. It must have been a wonderful experience. Sikkim is a place i love a lot and you made me nostalgic as if i was there yesterday. Just wanted to share one information i.e. Lachung river flows through Yumthang which meets Lachen river at Chungthang. Both the rivers meet together and form Teesta river at Chungthang.

BTW, how did your XUV perform in that terrain? Did you use any diesel antigen so that the diesel does not freeze or rather what was it like in the next morning?

[anujatwork]

Originally Posted by debuda

Ice over my bonnet. Car was parked in the open overnight at Lachung.

Cdr, its amazing to see the places you managed to reach to. I had been to Tsongma myself, albeit chafferer driven in an Innova, in the summer of 2012 but most places remain out of reach for civilians despite summer time. The roads are virtually non existent in many places and the terrain unleashes the worst possible behaviour on your car.

I also note that your XUV isn't wearing snow chains in Dec whereas in June all the army trucks going further above Tsongma needed them in diagonal wheels! Even our Innova in that month was skidding when we would happen to hit a few meters of frozen road in between.

[.anshuman]

Beautiful pictures Debuda!

Nice to see your XUV visit such beautiful places. I always wanted to visit Sikkim and Bhutan, will surely do sometime soon.