[navsjab]

It is always fun to be able to make a trip with friends. Superb TL. Great narration and pictures (thanks for PB, Teesta and Meghna) .

Loved the addition of Darjeeling at the end. I am sure we would have done the same if there was time.

[PapaBravo]

I am a bit late to the party, but WOW. I don't think I would have done such a fantastic job of writing the travelogue. Felt like I went on the trip again.

This is the reason why penning the travelogue is good. You can revisit your memories anytime and we sure made hell lot of good memories on this one.

Meghalaya is very beautiful this time of the year indeed. But our next venture in this state would be in monsoons to enjoy the grandeur of the waterfalls that we missed this time.

Blackpearl has posted most of the pictures will just add these three :

The cars near Laitkenskew



Parked at Chel Chittong



And a group selfie of the gang

Originally Posted by sayakc

This travelogue has again proved that when you and Pawan travel, you set new benchmarks - in terms of the detailing and the distances covered.

Thank you Sayak !!

1. Do you advice taking the Malda Bypass in a hatchback? I mean, previously it was all dusty/muddy and the bypass back then, used to divert the cars back to the city traffic.

It is morre less okay for a hatchback if it is not raining. You mihght get one or two tight spots which can be tackled with some technique.

2. Did you get a chance to check out the Tripura Castle in Shillong? Also if you have reco about any restaurants pls.

You can try ML05 Cafe, Dylan's cafe & Cafe Shillong.

Cheers,

Pawan

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by navsjab

It is always fun to be able to make a trip with friends. Superb TL. Great narration and pictures (thanks for PB, Teesta and Meghna) .

Thanks Navtej! I don't think Meghna took any pictures, she was mostly busy stopping at every possible roadside shop.

Originally Posted by navsjab

Loved the addition of Darjeeling at the end. I am sure we would have done the same if there was time.

Between Gangtok and Darjeeling, which one would you vote for? Last year we had a discussion regarding this where PapaBravo and Ghostrider28 voted for Gangtok while Teesta and I voted for Darjeeling.

Originally Posted by PapaBravo

I am a bit late to the party, but WOW. I don't think I would have done such a fantastic job of writing the travelogue. Felt like I went on the trip again.

Thanks Pawan!

[Vikram Arya]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Thanks Vikram Arya! Yes, North East is a must if you want see untouched non-commercialised beauty! You should visit with your lovely white Gypsy and post some stunning pictures

I used a Nikon D80 for 10 years, but always wanted to buy a full frame camera. Did a lot of studying before buying the D810. It is a very good camera, but I am not the right person to use it. By the way, which APS-C format camera did you buy?

My better half is also on this forum and she loves the Thar more than me! The Thar has done close to 60K Kilometers.

Surely one day, BlackPearl...

You have one great camera indeed & going by the quality of the pictures in your travelogue, the camera is in the right hands.

I had a full frame Canon EOS88 (film camera) back in the day & then the whole digital thing happened; its still lying at my parents place in pristine condition (had only used it for 3 years). In 2008 I bought a Canon 450D (APS-C) and have been shooting with it till I handed it over to my daughter couple of years ago who is actually turning out to be a much better photographer.

Have been contemplating about the Canon 5D Mark IV when I read a few articles about onslaught of mirror-less movement & bought the Sony Alpha 6500 ten days ago & what a revelation it was. Diminutive dimensions as compared to a full bodied SLR & also easy on my back when we go for hikes etc.

Lugging camera & lenses on the road trips had started to become a drag & I increasingly started depending upon my cellphone. The best pictures that I took during my trip were taken by my $300 cellphone (the Barot section). However in low light conditions there is nothing to beat a camera. The sensor size does play a part especially for medium to low light landscape shots.

Now that I have this manageable device I will surely be making full use of it.

[jkrishnakj]

Very beautiful Blackpearl and thanks for sharing. Timely for me, given that i am still planning my trip. Lovely pics.

[navsjab]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Thanks Navtej! I don't think Meghna took any pictures, she was mostly busy stopping at every possible roadside shop.

Between Gangtok and Darjeeling, which one would you vote for? Last year we had a discussion regarding this where PapaBravo and Ghostrider28 voted for Gangtok while Teesta and I voted for Darjeeling.

For me it would definitely be Darjeeling, probably due to family's connection with the place and the numerous stories heard because of that.

[kshivaa]

Wow! wonderful pics and a great travelogue... I have seen the pictures of the clear river in some Facebook posts and WhatsApp forwards, but thought they were photoshopped. Great pics again!

If I were to do the trip in ONE week (cover the living root bridge and Dawki mainly) , and starting from Chennai, what would be the best place to fly down and rent a car from ?

Thanks
Siva

[PapaBravo]

Originally Posted by kshivaa

Wow! wonderful pics and a great travelogue... I have seen the pictures of the clear river in some Facebook posts and WhatsApp forwards, but thought they were photoshopped. Great pics again!

If I were to do the trip in ONE week (cover the living root bridge and Dawki mainly) , and starting from Chennai, what would be the best place to fly down and rent a car from ?

Thanks
Siva

It would be Guwahati. Selfdrive rentals are available in Guwahati. It would take you 2.5 hours to reach Shillong. The while circuit can be comfortably completed in one week. If time permits, you can add Kaziranga to your itinerary as well.

Cheers,

Pawan

[GwD]

WOW!

Your words and pictures are an inspiration for us. I was toying with the idea of going to Meghalaya but after reading your journal I have put it on my bucket list.

How was your Farakka experience on your way to the north? I made a short trip to the Dooars last December and I lost around a couple of hours just to approach the barrage from this end. On the return journey I took the Vikramshila Setu at Bhagalpur, but it was no better because of very heavy traffic comprising loaded trucks.

Cheerio.

[supreddy77]

Hi BlackPearl,

Simply amazing travelogue and photos. I have read your posts on about your Sikkim trip as well and this one is much more beautiful especially Dwaki photos. Also, it is great that you did this trip when visiting India from abroad.

Some of the photos reminds me of my 2011 trip to Meghalaya, we went to the single decker living roots bridge near Mawlynnong village. I wanted to go back and trek to the double decker ones. Your post has re-ignited that longing.

[coolrats]

Its beautiful the way you have written and capturing the locals as part of the pics adds a new dimension to the pics. Well done and thanks again

[sachinwadhwani]

Originally Posted by gunin

Thank you Blackpearl for this wonderful log. I don't know what is wrong with the waterfalls of Cherrapunjee. Almost everyone reports less water in any season. Do give me a holler when you come during monsoons, I would like to join you

Hi, where did you stay for two nights when you went to the double decker root bridge? Ans the pictures you've posted are great. Im going soon. Thanks

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by Vikram Arya

You have one great camera indeed & going by the quality of the pictures in your travelogue, the camera is in the right hands.

Thanks Vikram Arya!

Originally Posted by Vikram Arya

The best pictures that I took during my trip were taken by my $300 cellphone (the Barot section). However in low light conditions there is nothing to beat a camera. The sensor size does play a part especially for medium to low light landscape shots.

The problem with mobile phones is that even the good ones don't last more than 4 years and cost more than 50K INR nowadays. Whereas a decent camera easily last more than a decade if maintained well. The problem is that one hardly carries a camera all the time, even pocket size ones. So a mobile phone with a good camera makes sense. I wish we could get a basic phone with a good camera that would last a long time.

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Very beautiful Blackpearl and thanks for sharing. Timely for me, given that i am still planning my trip. Lovely pics.

Thanks jkrishnakj!

Originally Posted by kshivaa

Wow! wonderful pics and a great travelogue... I have seen the pictures of the clear river in some Facebook posts and WhatsApp forwards, but thought they were photoshopped. Great pics again!

If I were to do the trip in ONE week (cover the living root bridge and Dawki mainly) , and starting from Chennai, what would be the best place to fly down and rent a car from ?

Thanks
Siva

Thanks Siva. Even I had thought that those pictures were unreal till I saw the place with my own eyes.
PapaBravo has already replied to your query, so not replying any more.

Originally Posted by GwD

WOW!

Your words and pictures are an inspiration for us. I was toying with the idea of going to Meghalaya but after reading your journal I have put it on my bucket list.

How was your Farakka experience on your way to the north? I made a short trip to the Dooars last December and I lost around a couple of hours just to approach the barrage from this end. On the return journey I took the Vikramshila Setu at Bhagalpur, but it was no better because of very heavy traffic comprising loaded trucks.

Thanks GwD! Our Farakka experience while going towards Siliguri was excellent as the traffic was open on our side and we did not have to wait. While coming back we had to wait for 45 minutes.

Originally Posted by supreddy77

Hi BlackPearl,

Simply amazing travelogue and photos. I have read your posts on about your Sikkim trip as well and this one is much more beautiful especially Dwaki photos. Also, it is great that you did this trip when visiting India from abroad.

Some of the photos reminds me of my 2011 trip to Meghalaya, we went to the single decker living roots bridge near Mawlynnong village. I wanted to go back and trek to the double decker ones. Your post has re-ignited that longing.

Thanks supreddy77! Please do go back and post a travelogue

Originally Posted by coolrats

Its beautiful the way you have written and capturing the locals as part of the pics adds a new dimension to the pics. Well done and thanks again

Thanks coolrats!

[gunin]

Originally Posted by sachinwadhwani

Hi, where did you stay for two nights when you went to the double decker root bridge? Ans the pictures you've posted are great. Im going soon. Thanks

Hi Sachin, there were a couple of homestays just near the double decker root bridge. I will PM you the numbers if I find them.

[sachinwadhwani]

Originally Posted by gunin

Hi Sachin, there were a couple of homestays just near the double decker root bridge. I will PM you the numbers if I find them.

Hey, I just got back, didn't check team bhp there, so just saw your response. Yup saw a few. Serene is the most popular one. But there are others too.