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-   -   From Snarl to Old Silk Route : Rishi Khola, Gnathang, Kupup (East Sikkim) & Icchey Gaon (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/169785-snarl-old-silk-route-rishi-khola-gnathang-kupup-east-sikkim-icchey-gaon-3.html)

Yet another stunner from you! Absolutely superb travelogue!

The colours of the Fall are surreal. I somehow had never thought that Autumn in Sikkim are so colorful. It brought out our memories of Fall in North America. Thanks to your travelogue, I am definitely putting it in our "to drive" list of near future.

Secondly, your mighty Eon seems to be amazingly capable! How did you manage to put those chairs and table in the car? The idea of carrying those itself deserves a kudos! :thumbs up

Cheers,

Thanks a lot.

Thanks! The weather was good in most days, but it was a bit harsh in Gnathang due the low level of oxygen and severe cold temperature. It was 11 deg celsius (max) and -7 deg celsius (min).

Thanks a lot.

Thanks, Himadri da. Thanks to you as well. It was indeed an awesome journey.

Thanks. I read your travelogue on East Sikkim as well. It was awesome! Also, I am a big fan of your travelogues on trekking to different places.

I don't exactly know why didn't I ask for permit at least till Changu lake. Initially I did plan like that. But, on seeing the inspector stamping on the permit till Kupup, may be I was so overwhelmed, that I completely forgot about extending it. At that moment, my wife and myself were just waiting when he would hand the permit over to us and we would literally flee from there. :)

Thanks a lot. Comments about pictures coming from you and Himadri da are something different. My wife takes the credit for majority of the pictures shared here.

Absolutely agree to this!

Thanks a lot Pawan!

Though, I am not at all the candidate to answer this, but I have heard somewhere about anti-freeze add on for Diesel cars. You may ask other knowledgeable guys in the forum.

Thanks a lot! That's really great to hear that Punto, with long overhangs, made upto Sillery. Put up a travelogue.

Thanks!

Thanks a lot!
She is also a great navigator, always alerting me of something in the road. :) She remains awake for the entire time period I drive.

Thanks!

Thanks! We do have Kolkata meets in Summer/Monsoon and Winter. Join in.

Thanks a lot.

Thanks, GTO! I forget to thank you every time. :)

Thanks a lot.

I was actually a long time wish to carry chairs and coffee tables in a long road trip. I also carried a charcoal barbecue grill with me and 1.5 kg of charcoal, but the evening I was planning to take it out to prepare one BBQ exotic dish (second day at Iccheygaon), it rained heavily, spoiling the plan.

The chairs are actually two different pieces of wood. It collapses to occupy much less space and coffee table can be folded to small briefcase. On top of that, EON's boot space is very good for a hatchback of its size.

This is a brilliant travelogue with lucid and vivid narration. Brilliant pictures make it even more attractively real. You are a star for having undertaken this trip. Goes on to show that it is not the vehicle that counts so much, it is the will and determination.

Many thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

Wonderfully detailed travelogue lovely pictures. Thanks a lot for sharing and rated a deserving 5 stars. It feels strange to see the same places that we have been just a few days back, deja vu :) . You got better weather than us. Heard that it is snowing in Zuluk now. Heart wants to go back again but no leaves :Frustrati

Congrats on a great holiday! Thanks for sharing fantastic pictures and a superbly narrated travelogue - rated a well deserved 5 stars. Taking a small hatchback in this route speaks volumes on your courage and driving skills. clap: :thumbs up

When we visited 5 years back there were no places to stay in Ngathang valley., at that time Gopal Pradhan mentioned that some home stays were due to come up , it is good to know that there in now accommodation for tourists in that beautiful valley.

Wow! What a travelogue!

Insane pics ..

Kudos to you 2 for sharing this incredible journey with us.

Interestingly I am planning a Mum-Nathu-La-Mum road trip 1-14 Dec 2015...

Plan to be in Darjeeling and Gangtok for ~5 nights and use the days to roam around.

I have a question regarding the permits. I have a company owned vehicle (Company car policy) and hence all papers and insurance are in the name of the company. Would I need a letterhead authorisation from them or showing them my business card and company ID could work for getting the permit? Also, I usually carry only photocopies of the RC and insurance. Would they need originals for verification?

You may not have the answer to this question but if anyone on the forum can help, it would be greatly appreciated...

Once again, I am even more excited after looking through your photos and travelogue..God bless and happy motoring!!

You have proven that a car with a smaller engine, but the person with a bigger heart can take his car to the terrains that are usually not meant to be covered this way. This route is in my list now. Will get in touch with you when I plan my trip next.

Thanks a lot, BlackPearl! Yes, I agree that the weather was good, but it was too cold for comfort. We couldn't get out of our rooms after 3 pm in the afternoon, the lowest temperature being -7 degree Celsius.
On day two in Gnathang, in the afternoon we witnessed "Ice fall" first time in our life. No rainfall, no snowfall, but it was only ice that was coming down and the resultant noise is deafening, specially with all the tin roofed homestays there. :)

Thanks, Sir! Here also, I thought I would see a AWD Duster parked in Gnathang, but it was not the case. :)

Yes, Gnathang do have a number of Homestays, along with the Daftar Bungalow for the tourists as well, but for that one has to contact Sikkim Tourism Development Authority.

Thanks a lot!

I think you should refer to this post from himadrimondal:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post3845240

Also, you can contact him regarding permits, as I think he is the most knowledgeable point of contact in this route, having done the circuit four times.

As for the photocopies of RC copy, Insurance and car documents, you can carry them. But the original documents would be required as they verify the original documents only. In my case, they verified my original documents, but haven't asked for the photocopies.

Thanks! I surely would help.

OMG! Is it in India? is the question I asked to my friend who was zooming in on the “car in the colorful parking lot” picture & subsequent Gnathang valley pictures in his laptop. Breathtaking clap:

Rishikhola River – I felt like am sitting there & enjoying an incomparable natural foot massage! Reminded the time i spent sitting on the rocks of the mighty Beas river (a few months back).

Breathtaking sceneries, amazing waterfalls, beautiful zigzag roads, orange & green valleys, eye soothing green fields, rivers, lakes , mesmerizing Iccheygaon and last but not the least, the Mighty Kanchenjunga! You have carried everything in your camera for us to enjoy! Magnificent travelogue.
Rated 5* :thumbs up

Just fantastic. Enjoyed reading every word of it. This is the type of travelogue that provide courage and confidence. Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Avishek

Thanks a lot, Raaj*. The diversity our country offers is just beyond words.


Thanks, Avishek!
Regarding a question you asked earlier - I stay near Manton in Behala.

Wow clap:. Thats very close to my house. I stay near Rabindranagar Bus Stand. And I pass through Manton every single day. Hope to catch up with you soon.

Regards
Avishek

Congratulations on yet another exceptional journey! Exemplary narration and great photos. Would you believe I've been planning to do the same route in January! Seems I'll be following your trails once again after the Kaluk episode. Special thanks for the detailed permit related information.

I'm however, skeptical about two issues :
1. Whether snowfall would prevent me from completing the circuit in January ? I'll be happy to make it up till Dzuluk atleast.
2. The diesel freezing issue! I do not have the luxury to heat my fuel tank with a stove with the Figo having a plastic fuel tank and low clearance.

Thanks a lot, mi2n! Strange coincidence, isn't it? Wish you all the best for your upcoming journey.

Unfortunately, can't really comment on this. Snowfall is heavy during January and if that's the case, then permit would not be given to low GC vehicles or without snow chains.

As far as I know, snowfall doesn't go hand in hand with freezing temperature. So, you are most likely to face one or the other during January. I have witnessed the condition of diesel SUVs at that temperature, that too in October.
So, please do research a bit before you venture.

Just read through the entire travelogue in one sitting. Mesmerising is the only word I can think of. This definitely will go my list of Places to visit and the Zuluk loops goes to my Roads to drive on. Thanks for sharing!