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Old 8th October 2017, 08:22   #1
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Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

I know the title itself will make you angry with me thinking “not again, Sikkim!” This time I have a better reason for you. One of my uncle was very frequent traveler of Sikkim and North Bengal in his young age. Asking him the reason, I heard few words from him, which I will never forget. Sikkim and North Bengal are having many places where you would see two sky at the same time. One is below the hill where you are standing and another is above the hill. Before that, I never thought this way but these words insist me to do a little camping to see the sky being on the sky. I don’t know whether I could feel the same things which my uncle used to feel 30-40 years ago, but what we felt is really exciting and beyond explanation and tend to imagine what my uncle felt long days back when the places were really empty.


Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim-collage_sikkim_2017.jpg


To be continued ...
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Old 8th October 2017, 10:52   #2
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Day 1 (Kolkata - Siliguri):



In general, I avoid day drive on NH-34. However, this time the situation drove me to drive at daytime. My cousin sister reached Howrah station early morning from Cuttack to join us in this trip. Directly from the station she joined the trip. After driving the complete day, we reached Siliguri at 9:00 PM and took rest for the day.


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Morning at New Town, Kolkata



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Ready to start from Howrah


Last time when I went to Yuksom, Mr. Ds. Limbo become a very good friend of mine. From Siliguri we confirmed him about next day jungle trek and camping plan. He assured us that he would arrange a porter, a cook and other few utilities might require for the camping. As I had only one tent and bedding set for two people, I asked him to arrange another set of tent and bedding set for my sister.



Day 2 (Siliguri - Legship - Tashiding - Yuksom - Camp):
Most of the people know that it was Gorkhaland Strike time. We started early from Siliguri to cross the Sevok road as soon as possible. While we were travelling beside Teesta we saw all shops are closed where we generally see tourist crowd for breakfast. For a moment I felt that we are driving through a haunted place. Near the Sikkim border, we found couple of shops were open and had our breakfast there.

Due to the heavy rain this year the road from Melli to Legship was damaged in many placesand so it was not a very fast drive. Still we were able to reach Legship by 11:00 AM. There were few local people who confirmed that the road via Tashiding is okay and good to reach Yuksom by 1 and ˝ hour. It was very lonely and amazing drive from Legship to Yuksom and the road was completely empty and probably we were the only traveler for the day through the road.

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Random Snaps from Legship to Yuksom


Near about 1:00 PM we reached Yuksom and got freshened quickly. As per Limbo’s confirmation, everything was ready for camping. Mr. Limbo was not in town but his brother arranged everything for us. After taking some rest, we started our trekking at 3:00 PM.

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At Yuksom

While we were taking rest at Limbo’s home-stay the cook and ported were sharing some suggestion with us. It was just after the rainy season and so they warned us of leeches. They suggested us to keep small pouch of salt with us. Although I knew that my cousin sister is chicken-livered, suddenly she shouted and said that she is not afraid of leech.After 10-15 minutes of trek when we reached into dense forest, suddenly I heard scary screams and soon I come to know that it was my cousin sister who was shouting at the top of her voice seeing leech on her leg. As suggested, we touch the leech with the salt pouch and it happened many times during the trek.

At 5:00 PM we reached the hilltop where we decided to do the tenting. Mr. Phangzong Limbo and Bashant Thami joined us for from Yuksom for helping were very decent and caring. Within couple of minutes they searched for a place near small waterfalls for cooking and their stay for the night. We first sprinkled enough amount of salt on the land to protect our camp from leeches. As soon as we completed our tents, they served us tea and pokora within a short time.

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View of Yuksom at night from out camp. Sorry for bad capture..

The view from the top paid for all the efforts. One side the Yuksom village was clearly visible and on the other side, the mountain ranges were bushy green. At twilight, the sky was covered with orange hue. At night, we had a wonderful dinner under the sky experiencing chilling and dark surrounding.

To be continued ...
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Old 8th October 2017, 11:02   #3
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Day 3 (Camp - Yuksom - Tashiding - Rabong - Borong):

Chaba Naga (Good morning) Yuksom. At the break of the day we woke up to see the snow clad mountain peaks. The dew drops would make climbing down more tedious so we planned to have breakfast and then step down. Climbing down didn’t take much time though the risk of skidding down was more but still we managed to do so in around 45 minutes. Surprisingly while coming down my cousin sister was the most enthusiastic person and did not shout of leech. Probably she learnt to live with it.


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Chaba Naga (Good morning) Yuksom.


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Few random snaps at Camp Area



Trekking down from camp to Yuksom


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On the way from camp to Yuksom

After getting fresh at Limbo’s homestay we started for Borong but before that we stopped by Tashiding Monastery.

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Ready to move towards Borong.

Last edited by PointZero : 8th October 2017 at 11:09. Reason: Spelling corrected
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Old 8th October 2017, 11:08   #4
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Day 3 continued ...

Tashiding Monastery is believed to be a place where nature and spirituality dwell together, urging the human race to be ecologically upright. The monastery is built above the confluence of the Rathong and Rangeet rivers, with the Mt. Kanchendzonga providing the scenic backdrop.

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Entry road to Tashiding, There is also a alternate walking road.

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Few random snaps of Tashiding Monastery

Last edited by PointZero : 8th October 2017 at 11:12.
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Old 8th October 2017, 11:22   #5
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Day 3 continued ...


After spending couple of hours in Tashiding monastery, we moved towards Borong via Rabog and Ralong. At 3:30 PM we stopped at the doorsteps of Sachita Gurung who was already in contact with me through WhatsApp for stay in Borong. She took us to Prema home-stay. My sister and brother-in-law were put up in a room of the homestay and me and wife decided to use their garden for tenting. Searched for a place from where the Mt. Nursing was clearly visible and put the tent there. I had no idea of the hospitality they would welcome us with.

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On the way from Tashiding to Rabong



Hanging Bridge West Sikkim Near Tashiding


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View from the garden at Borong.

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Few Random snaps of the home-stay and surrounding.

Borong is completely organic village. During our stay at boring whatever we ate were freshly taken from their garden and it was very tasty. The evening was well spent with bonfire and Koipa (Thungba). There we met a person who taught us Gurung language in a primary school.

Just before the bonfire started, our host the oldest member of the home-stay returned back home. You might be surprised hearing that she is 85 years old and still she do farming every day. Like other days, she came home in the evening after farming and joined us in the bonfire with some old stories of Sikkim. Before that, we came to know from Sachita that there are only 4-5 old traditional woman still alive in south Sikkim who still wear traditional ornaments.

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Out Host at Borong.

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Our stay at Borong

To be continued ...
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Old 8th October 2017, 11:35   #6
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Day 4 & 5 (Borong - Ralang - Rabong - Namchi - Sadam - TareyBhir - Kolkata):

In the morning, we walked around their kitchen garden to breathe in fresh air. At the end, they finished their custom of bidding farewell with a white scarf and waved goodbye to us. One of their friends came along with us, as she needed to go Ravangla. On the way we took a break at Ralang Monastery.

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Bye bye Borong

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Ralang Monastery.

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Ralang Monastery.

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Old 8th October 2017, 11:45   #7
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Day 4 continued ...

After dropping Vishnu (friend of Sachita) at Ravangla, we reached Tareybhir. Fog has covered the valley and we were quite disappointed but we waited for a while as we could see the clouds rising up.

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Returning from Borong

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Random snaps from Rabong to Namchi


It was cloudy from the morning and we were worried that we would not be able to see the scenic view from Tarey-Bhir. After roaming here and there for 2 hours the place was clear enough and the place took us aback with its vivid beauty.

Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim-tkd_3461.jpg
Tarey-Bhir when we reached ..



It is situated on a beautiful locale near a rural hamlet called Sadam, which is about 18 km away from Namchi. The word ‘Bhir’ means cliff in the local Nepal language which has a breathtaking viewpoint of the river valleys below, the lush green forest coverage, panoramic view of the confluence of the two rivers of Sikkim Teesta and Rangit. TareyBhir also presents a comprehensive view of the tea garden sprawled on a sloppy hill of Peshok with a train of houses all aligned along the road to Darjeeling.


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Tarey-Bhir in clear sky

Next day we reached Kolkata at evening safely.



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Teesta from Sevok

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Near Burdwan.. Its Puja Time ..


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Gasazaya (Thanks You)
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Old 8th October 2017, 12:49   #8
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Very well articulated and as informative as expected from you. Once again you prove that it’s the man and not the machine!
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Old 8th October 2017, 19:35   #9
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re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Your travelogues never fail to amaze me & its no different! Rated 5*!
This has all the essential ingredients- Great pics, awesome narration, Himalaya, Camping, a robust vehicle ideal for the terrain.
Keep travelling and keep posting such amazing travelogues.

Last edited by Samba : 8th October 2017 at 19:51.
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Old 9th October 2017, 11:39   #10
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Re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Amazing! You have managed to lure me and now Sikkim has been added to my places to visit. Every time I read a travelogue from this side of the country, I'm humbled with the courtesy shown by the locals.

Camping is something I've last done some 7-8 years ago, but I remember it fondly. There is something special about waking up to an awesome view just outside your tent. You have managed to take me through this journey through your photos.

Good weather, good company, reliable and robust vehicle and the Himalayas. What more does one need on a small trip to the mountains? Unfortunately, the nearest Himalayas are some 1,800 odd km away from me. So, I will have to be content reading travelogues like yours till I manage to do a trip there .
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Old 9th October 2017, 23:56   #11
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Re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Lovely blog there, awesome narration. Loved every bit of the virtual journey. The places you visited are very close to my heart and would like to do them again in the duster. The camping part was something new this time. The WB teambhp team is given blockbusters one after another, thanks a lot for sharing these experiences with poor souls like me.
Keep traveling and sharing such beautiful blogs.
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Old 10th October 2017, 18:09   #12
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Re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Thank Aray Da,
It was my first camping experience and that is why I took porter with me. Now many things are clear to me and what to carry and what not to carry for camping with little bit of trek and/or camping without trek (vehicle accessible). Hope to do some more camping to be more closer to nature at the same time cost effective.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ARAY View Post
Lovely blog there, awesome narration. Loved every bit of the virtual journey. The places you visited are very close to my heart and would like to do them again in the duster. The camping part was something new this time. The WB teambhp team is given blockbusters one after another, thanks a lot for sharing these experiences with poor souls like me.
Keep traveling and sharing such beautiful blogs.
Thanks blackwasp. I also fell very happy thinking that an overnight drive can take me to Himalaya .

Quote:
Originally Posted by blackwasp View Post
Amazing! You have managed to lure me and now Sikkim has been added to my places to visit. Every time I read a travelogue from this side of the country, I'm humbled with the courtesy shown by the locals.

Camping is something I've last done some 7-8 years ago, but I remember it fondly. There is something special about waking up to an awesome view just outside your tent. You have managed to take me through this journey through your photos.

Good weather, good company, reliable and robust vehicle and the Himalayas. What more does one need on a small trip to the mountains? Unfortunately, the nearest Himalayas are some 1,800 odd km away from me. So, I will have to be content reading travelogues like yours till I manage to do a trip there .
Thanks Samba Da,

Quote:
Originally Posted by Samba View Post
Your travelogues never fail to amaze me & its no different! Rated 5*!
This has all the essential ingredients- Great pics, awesome narration, Himalaya, Camping, a robust vehicle ideal for the terrain.
Keep traveling and keep posting such amazing travelogues.
Thanks hikersoul. I do believe it's combination of man and the machine.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hikersoul View Post
Very well articulated and as informative as expected from you. Once again you prove that it’s the man and not the machine!

Last edited by .anshuman : 14th October 2017 at 09:32. Reason: Edit on request. Thanks
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Old 10th October 2017, 22:13   #13
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Re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Contact Details :

1. Yuksom - Limbo Homestay (Mr. DS. Limbo) >> +91 83481 67763 | +91 97351 06236
2. Yuksom - Mr. Ram Limbo for porter Booking >> +91 97331 13179
3. Borong - Borong Homestay (Nir Gurung | Sachita Gurung) >> 90020 22455 | 97359 17591
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Old 11th October 2017, 22:30   #14
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Re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

I've recently visited the same places, but you have put it up in a pleasantly different perspective. The pictures are awesome, especially the night shots of the tents. Rated 5 stars!
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Old 13th October 2017, 17:00   #15
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Re: Watching the sky from another sky - West & South Sikkim

Sikkim with a twist of taste I must say !! Enjoyed the pictures and the essence of the travelogue. Rated it a 5* for the content in it. Keep traveling and writing such wonderful experiences.
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