Quote:
Originally Posted by Captdey "No they don't harash tourists" - Nice to hear that the situation has
improved since last few months, otherwise tourist were the first
target of Harassment , whether its a wildcat 48 hours strike ,
or elderly couple dragged out from their vehicle and beaten up .
it all happened not so long ago only during last summer.
Cheers |
We never faced any harrassment of any kind. But in this regard I will say that we have driven in the past amidst turmoil.
To get an example, on the cremation day of the Late PM Rajiv Gandhi, we were on our way, father at the wheel, me legally not allowed to drive, to Nagpur in the 1100d you see in my gallery. It was a part and parcel of my fathers previous job. It was only once that the Windscreen of the Jeep we were travelling in was smashed, that too by a naughty kid playing a prank.
Even on this trip our progress was interrupted but we still made our way. None of that credit, however, goes to me!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team I think he meant they don't harass tourists over the number plate issue if they are in their own cars. That harassment is reserved only for taxis from the plains. Otherwise, the main objective of all the agitations in the hills have always been to hit the tourism trade and create panic among tourists and those involved with the tourism trade.
By the way, welcome back to Kolkata Capt Dey. |
It is like that elsewhere too. It might be that in the case of Hills of NorthBengal, which they prefer to call as Gorkhaland, they have a separate way of identifying cars from their area. But as far as Rajasthan, a vehicle from Jaipur could not be used for sightseeing in Udaipur. Same goes for Sikkim and many other states. Its like outside food not being allowed in a restaurant, but in that case the restaurant is the property of the owner. As for me, as long as I am in India, I should have the freedom to hire any vehicle from anywhere inside it and go anywhere, security considerations apart. But then, sometimes we ought to consider that Tourism is a major source of income in some parts like these, and be sensitive about not taking it frm them and giving it to smeone else.
coming back to the story
Day 5 - Wednesday 19th November
Waking up was a problem this day, although a target was set by my Father, we had no intention of keeping to it. We checked out from the Darjeeling tourist Lodge and was on our downhill run to Siliguri, we will drive eastwards from there on the NH31 to Batabari and take a left turn there and drive 3 kms to WBFDC (West Bengal Forest Development Corporation) forest rest house at Murti, beside the river Murti.
The downhill run was uneventful till Kurseong which we must have reached under an hour working through the traffic and the congestion. However this time the traffic police on guard at Kurseoung directed us to take the Pankhabari road on the leg to Siliguri stating that the hill-cart road that we took on the way up was a one way up only.
We were stuck in Kurseong for sometime as college/school students were directed to march shouting that they want Gorkhaland. A demand for a separate state may be justified but what beats me is the name "Gorkhaland", would non Gorkha's be allowed in Gorkhaland. Given the recent developments and the martyrs of our country fighting for the cause of fellow countrymen irrespective of religion, tribe or background, the name Gorkhaland does not seem politically right in our great country but thats just my opinion.
The Pankhabari road slope was like childsplay after Rock Gardens. But, we were stuck behind a convoy of spacio's. One of which indicated to me to overtake, this time I did, but then there were far too many. So started taking it easy, once on the plains the Ikon stretched its legs. We reached Siliguri in about 2 hours and took a left turn from the Tenzing Norgay statue on the NH31 towards Guwahati.
Tanked up at Bharat Petroleum right after the station road. The attendant used a wire on the petrol tank filler to keep the flap from closing. Although visually the fuel meter would have demanded around 18 litres, the attendant managed to sneak in 26 (140 kms later the gauge was still showing full!!)
The car had done around 940 kms till then from home
We had Lunch at Appolo hotel just beside the pump. Its a 3-star facility with a good restaurant, food was tasty. Although Sinclairs (just opposite and a few metres back) is said to be the recommended one.
Post lunch run from Siliguri, involved a lot of traffic. It cleared up within a few kms after which the road surface was fantabulous for lovely three digit runs. This actually gave us a rude shock at Sevok Bazar due to sudden appearance of craters everywhere. The craters continued through Sevok a few kms down.
As we crossed the Sevok bridge we found good ashphalted surface interrupted by craters. Thanks to a Army truck and an Innova, we soon touched good stretch for a few kms til Damdin.
From Damdin, the road surface was bad but not in the way we had encountered so far. It wasn't potholes, but the top-layer missing at certain places. From Chalsa it was smooth top and 3 minutes (5 kms) later we were at Batabari to take the left turn. The smooth village road lead us to the Murti forest bunglow, Banani, situated beautifully beside the Murti River.
My Green and Golden Bengal.
ishpeed
The view from Banani (taken next morning)
A few glimpses of the Banani.
The Manager, Mr Chakraborty, a friendly person was instantly friends with my father as he informed that the next morning we will not be able to enter the Gorumora National park as safari rides to that park is closed on Thursdays. He enquired around if we can see the nearby Lataguri forest. He also suggested the ways to spend the next day.
Turned out that the Lataguri forest was open. We were not comfortable taking our own car into the forest so had to look for a hired car. Moreover the accompanying forest dept guard would have no place to sit in my car. First thing Dad asked was "petrol gari chahiye". It was an unusual demand for some of the facility people, but the manager knew what was being talked about. A few phone calls "Pettol gari milega etc" an OMNI was found.
The evening was to be spent amongst the forest serenity, but unfortunately for us, these guys were camping there that evening/night.
Thus reducing any chances of elephants visiting the water during the night or morning. But given that these folks are the prime factor behind us comfortably writing/reaing this travelogue without fears of agression from our boundaries, we were not as disappointed (turned out that luck was indeed on our side the next morning).
Went to sleep amongst foresty sounds intertwined with sounds of their generator. (Yes a complete mess)