[BlackPearl]

do not have the words to describe how I feel looking at the pics.. speechless. Sikkim is one place that I would love to go again and again. Good to see that you got the permit to take your own car to Tsomgo. Hopefully I will be able to do the same someday :-)

[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by adc

May be the Leh trip around late September to mid October - just before the travel season closes.

Planning to be there around the same time. My trip starts 23rd Sept. Plan to spend min 10 days in the mountains. Hope we can coordinate dates.

[muralisk]

Man oh man. ADC - the photographs are truly out of the world and I am quite dumbstruck and speechless. I have no more or better words to describe these snaps. I wish that some of these make their way into Nat Geo or Discovery, so that people will start appreciating the North-Eastern beauty of India. This is one hell of a dare devil drive you had. Look at the terrain and the army truck and you did all this is in your 4x2 Safari. Absolutely stunning and amazing. Hats off pal and looking forward to reading more of your travelogues.

[kingshukt]

ADC,

I really liked this photo.

How did you manage to shoot this photo from the other side of the lake ?

[adc]

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Sikkim is one place that I would love to go again and again.

Originally Posted by muralisk

I wish that some of these make their way into Nat Geo or Discovery, so that people will start appreciating the North-Eastern beauty of India.

Sikkim in our "Himachal" out here - absolute fascinatingly beautiful.

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

Planning to be there around the same time. My trip starts 23rd Sept. Plan to spend min 10 days in the mountains. Hope we can coordinate dates.

Great, yes giving myself also around that time too but weather can get real bad around October - that is not the season for Ladakh but by Oct it gives me time to recuperate fundwise - coordination definitely on.

Originally Posted by kingshukt

How did you manage to shoot this photo from the other side of the lake ?

Well that 6 MP S3 IS camera has a 12x zoom, and thats at max zoom of the stationary VTT from the other side of the lake.

[adc]

Next day again the Sikkimese Police personnel sees me with an application in hand - this time the big one - of North Sikkim - Gurudongmar and Yumthang. Again I stand there steadfastly from morning 630 am, in front of the permit window among all the tour operators and taxi drivers - make quite a few friends - they listen to my stories and I ask them about the places, the weather there, where you get diesel and road conditions and likewise - absolutely nice people out there.

Well this time after some ifs and buts though definitely on the positive side and after seeing the registration papers of the car, the permit is finally written. With that in hand, go down to the hotel, dress and have breakfast superspeed and off we are to N Sikkim. What a feeling!!!

Welcome to N Sikkim Oh yesss!!


Stopped at this small food joint for tea, loved the name of this place - Tingchum!!


The day was again intermittent rainy and cloudy Waterfalls galore along the route - these are raw water cascades - not what a tourist place is made around.




We reached Lachen, the base of travel to Gurudongmar and Chopta valley. Lachen is at 9000 ft and from there one climbs up to 18,000 feet in a matter of 5-6 hrs. AMS hits each and everyone, some less - some harder. The night stay is at a budget hotel in Lachen - the hoteliers are not accustomed to see individual travellers, as all hotels are booked as a package along with the Sumo or Maxx taxi cost. Tomorrow early morning 430 am rise and have to leave by 530 am to be at Gurudongmar by 11 am. After 12 noon, high winds start and the max time that is physically possible to stay is till 2 or 3 pm. The weather looked good in the evening at Lachen and it was all excitement for the next day.

[kingshukt]

Originally Posted by adc

Well that 6 MP S3 IS camera has a 12x zoom, and thats at max zoom of the stationary VTT from the other side of the lake.

That was not my question .

I wanted to know if you parked your VTT at the other end of the lake and then went to the other side and clicked the photo - basically keeping the VTT standed on the other side with a military lorry coming down the road ?

[adc]

Originally Posted by kingshukt

That was not my question

ha ha, guessed that somewhat. Still thought may be it was a zoom question.

Yes it was ploughed into the snow away from the muddy road and is at an angle - there was just enough place for the Army truck to pass by. As said, the weather the pretty bad that day and less than average tourist taxis came up till Tsongmo Lake.

[adc]

Enroute to Gurudongmar Part 1

Leave Lachen as scheduled at 530 am for Gurudongmar. Roads were closed for as recent as 3 days before due to snow and landslides and recently only now tourists are being allowed to go. Real lucky sure we were.

First halt is at Thangu ( 32Kms from Lachen and at 13000 feet) where the permits are checked and details entered. The journey to Thangu follows the fascinating roads winding upwards cutting across the dense conifered mountains, lush green alpine meadows and vast river valleys.





At Thangu@13,000 ft



In high spirits


And the journey continues..




The upper road goes to Chopta Valley and the straight road is to Gurudongmar as I later learn - but then who to ask at that time, real dilemma - went back to Thangu again to ask about the road direction.


And the vistas start bigtime!!

[lohithrao]

Nice .... pic#1177 looks great!

[pjay_in]

Unbelievable stuff, adc. Your journey, the pics, everything. The pics are real eye candy in this summer time.

[adc]

Enroute to Gurudongmar Part 2

[maddy42]

Amazing. Really nice looking place and you should be seriously congrajulated for taking an effort to go to these places on your own

[adc]

Enroute to Gurudongmar Part 3

the journey and the climb continues..

[adc]

Enroute to Gurudongmar Part 4

the journey and the climb still continues..

One word of advise from a local driver at Lachen - when one hits the high plains there are no roads, follow the army tyre tracks and dont leave the telephone posts that go to the army post high above = not to get lost!!!