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-   -   Along the Forgotten Trail- Silk Route-East Sikkim [Pedong-Rishi-Aritar-Zuluk-Jelepla] (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/60100-along-forgotten-trail-silk-route-east-sikkim-pedong-rishi-aritar-zuluk-jelepla-4.html)

@ adc: forgot about this thread once it got discontinued, but overjoyed to see the pics continuing. The blue mountains... amazing!

awesome pictures and narration @adc. Great to see you back in tbhp.

Day 6 contd.. -> Zuluk to Gangtok via Thambi, Kupup, Tsongmo Lake

After the early morning sunrise at Thambi we continued towards Kupup


As we went forward had to take the VTT up a hillock for a magnificent sight


It was just amazing to see, a wall of clouds slowly climbing up and going to the other side of the mountains - the pictures dont convey mesmerizing process.





Again on towards Kupup


And on the way the original Baba Mandir, not the one that is most frequented that one comes across while going to Nathula - this one is actual Baba Mandir near Kupup and can be seen only while coming on this route.







Towards Kupup and Kupup Lake





The road to Jelep La, Young Husband Track, very close to Tibet Border, now closed to civilian traffic by Military.



And the world's highest Golf course at Kupup at 13+ K feet!



The road goes right along the China border, here the Chinese have the heights, whereas as a soldier mentioned we have heights in Arunachal



And the parting view of Kupup Lake, definitely fantastic it will be with ice and snow all around during the winter months


On towards now Gangtok via the known Baba Mandir and Tsongmo Lake

AWESOME. Wonder how i missed it the first time around. I have seen it from the other side only till the touristy baba mandir - this is indeed a sight to behold.

PS: Chlormint koshun - how do you manage so many leaves sarkar?

Oh those clouds over the mountains...BEEAUUTIIFULL !! adc...hats off. You are truly a gifted traveler, narrator and photographer....not to mention that beast of yours!! More please !!

Day 6 contd.. -> Zuluk to Gangtok via Thambi, Kupup, Tsongmo Lake

And soon enough the common Baba Mandir comes up just around the road to Nathula



and Cafe 13 thousand - their byline being coffee at 13,000


Around The Memorial




Border trade market near Nathula


As we progressed further we neared Tsongmo Lake, now in full summer time, not a trace of ice or snow. It looked so barren




And what it was in April this year only when we made the tour to North Sikkim. [http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...tajpur-2.html] What a difference it was - without the snow, its looked so plain and unexciting .



Roads started to be pretty rough after Nathula crossing


And the violet earthmover was still at work like in April clearing mudslides


Had a break at Tsongmo Lake for some snacks before making the turn to Gangtok


Reached Gangtok by noon, checked into the hotel. Incessant rain was there in the city that night and left Gangtok for Siliguri the early next morning to my cousin sister's house. Around late evening time started off from Siliguri for an uneventful but fast overnight journey to Calcutta.

So, all in all, a very good tour which was done without least planning, but we the route was uncommon and interesting, a journey to Gangtok not via the Nh31a highway but through the old silk route, anticlockwise, from Kalimpong side to Gangtok via Zuluk and Tsongmo Lake.

Last by not the least, Safari Dicor VTT-TMT again showed what it is made of, a fantastic machine that has once again brought us back through a desolate yet enchanting route safely without missing a beat yet again!! It has proved quite a bit in its 1.5+ years and still it has many a places to go, many a places to tread upon!

End.

No words to describe the beauty of this thread. Simply awesome thread and so you are adc! Hats off!!! clap:

Cheers,
Deepak

Great pics & write up. Cannot but savor the visual delights. Thanks mucho

Great show once again. Keep the wheels turning and inspiring lesser mortals like us. I love the zeal with which you research and try unconventional routes. Keep going.

wow, awesome sir, a perfect breathtaking picturial travelogue you shared here.Sikkim is one place to visit many a times and still looks fresh and new and worth coming again.clap:

adc!!

These pictures are spectacular man!!! Thanks for putting them up.

cya
R

Thanks a lot for those wonderful messages. Surely Sikkim is like our Himachal out here and along with Dooars, and one can visit again and again! And good to see the Canon 6 MP camera still churning out acceptable photos. This sudden trip had been very rewarding!



Sudipto-da it would be very much doable with your Esteem or any car as the road till Kupup though twisty like anything is pefectly smooth as this pure Army territory and no private or tourist vehicles are allowed. Once you have the permit, Mr Pradhan will help you, its all go and you can go to Zuluk, stay there and come back. Best time would be Nov-Dec for great weather and views and March-April for snow and flowers.


Each and every soldier was paying homage to this original one, its quite different from the "touristy" one in the way it is decorated and maintained.

As for leaves, right now have a more important need::

As of today, looking out for 2 fellow passengers to go to Leh-Ladakh-Zanskar late sept to middle october. Either from Calcutta or from Delhi

ADC,

Another charming travelogue and putting your 2.2 to what it is really meant for! Way to go, chief!

Seems like you have toned down on the photos on this one. :)

Congratulations on taking a 'path less travelled'.
The photos are awesome and compliment the travelogue very well.

Hey thanks again, and Happy Wheels with a 4wd drive VTT - nothing stopping you right now! Wonder where the sen2009 gone nowadays with his 4wd VX