North Bengal Trip : An image gallery

milindajp · 22nd June 2009, 16:06

Friends,

The images which I am going to share with you are from my 2005 Noth-Bengal trip. It's almost 4 years since I went for this particular drive, but I consider it as one of my best travel experience. Rural bengal, Himalayan foot hills always fascinate me. Hope you all will like the images.

Places visited: Kolkata - Lava - Lolaygao - Kalingpong - Gangtok - Nathula

Distance covered : 1800KM approx

Vehicle used : Maruti Omni

Surprise · 22nd June 2009, 16:09

1800 kms in OMNI

. One of my favorite car for local use. Eager to check out how comfortable you were in such a long journey.

prince_pervez · 22nd June 2009, 16:20

Hmm, eagerly waiting for the pics. Bring em on!

milindajp · 22nd June 2009, 16:33

These images are from Kolkata to Lava, Lolaygaon & Lava to Kalimpong sector.

prince_pervez · 22nd June 2009, 16:45

Wow! Nice initial lot. You have a thing for photography ? Seems so from the camel, river cloud, hill shots. Keep em coming. What camera were you using?

cuttingcrew · 22nd June 2009, 17:03

dooars and darjeeling (dist) are my all time favouraite. Also forest dept. owns some best located bungalows there. Great pics.

Where you able to drive till nathula?

milindajp · 22nd June 2009, 17:08

Some more images of Lava & Naora Valley.

All the images are taken by Nikon Coolpix 5200.

milindajp · 22nd June 2009, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise

1800 kms in OMNI

. One of my favorite car for local use. Eager to check out how comfortable you were in such a long journey.

Driving Omni in the hills was very comfortable experience. I preferred to take Omni because of space. NH34 was in very bad shape when we travelled, so Kolkata to Siliguri patch was a nightmare. But then also, I think due to it's ground clearance and maximum front visibility from the driver's seat (I don't know the exact term ..

), Omni performed well then most of the sedan.

The only problem I faced in the whole journey was a right-front wheel puncture near Bagdograh. And that's all.

Moreover, on my way back, I drove from Gantok to Kolkata - 750KM approx - nonstop (except fooding) - starting at 8:00am and reaching Kolkata at 3o'clock midnight. This was an unique experience which I will write later.

milindajp · 23rd June 2009, 10:58

This image set is from Kalimpong and on our way to Gangtok

muralisk · 23rd June 2009, 11:19

Wow! Stunning shots and you seem have a great eye. Amazing thread. Please keep the pics coming and it is a visual treat. Thanks for sharing the stuff from archives. It definitely needs to come out. Keep it going.

DriverR · 23rd June 2009, 11:43

Fantastic pictures. Brings back many memories. I've been to Darjeeling and Sikkim so many times in over 7 different vehicles including an Omni!

Your pictures have captured the aura of the hills very well.

milindajp · 23rd June 2009, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by muralisk

Wow! Stunning shots and you seem have a great eye. Amazing thread. Please keep the pics coming and it is a visual treat. Thanks for sharing the stuff from archives. It definitely needs to come out. Keep it going.

Thanks buddy....

. I will be posting more images of Gangtok & Nathula shortly.

SS-Traveller · 23rd June 2009, 12:13

Beautiful pics, Milinda. I really like the POV of some of them.

As I see from the date-print on one of yor pics, the time was end-Nov. The weather must have been very comfortable, but I'm surprised you found fog at that time of year. The Omni certainly is a great car to drive around in the hills, with its low gearing and good pulling power - though not the most stable.

milindajp · 23rd June 2009, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Beautiful pics, Milinda. I really like the POV of some of them.

As I see from the date-print on one of yor pics, the time was end-Nov. The weather must have been very comfortable, but I'm surprised you found fog at that time of year. The Omni certainly is a great car to drive around in the hills, with its low gearing and good pulling power - though not the most stable.

Thanks dada. I am really amazed by your way of judging things....

. Yes, the trip was done in the last week of Nov 2005. Fog was there, but mostly in North Bengal and during early hours.

I think dada, to some extent, stability of a vehicle depends upon the person behind the wheels. And particularly for hill driving, patience, dedication and concentration makes the ultimate difference.

milindajp · 6th July 2009, 15:13

Images from Gangtok, Nathula & Tsomgo Lake

22nd June 2009, 16:06	#1
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	North Bengal Trip : An image gallery Friends, The images which I am going to share with you are from my 2005 Noth-Bengal trip. It's almost 4 years since I went for this particular drive, but I consider it as one of my best travel experience. Rural bengal, Himalayan foot hills always fascinate me. Hope you all will like the images. Places visited: Kolkata - Lava - Lolaygao - Kalingpong - Gangtok - Nathula Distance covered : 1800KM approx Vehicle used : Maruti Omni
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 16:09	#2
Surprise Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,523 Thanked: 454 Times	1800 kms in OMNI . One of my favorite car for local use. Eager to check out how comfortable you were in such a long journey.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 16:20	#3
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Hmm, eagerly waiting for the pics. Bring em on!
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 16:33	#4
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	These images are from Kolkata to Lava, Lolaygaon & Lava to Kalimpong sector. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 16:45	#5
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Wow! Nice initial lot. You have a thing for photography ? Seems so from the camel, river cloud, hill shots. Keep em coming. What camera were you using?
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 17:03	#6
cuttingcrew BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 98 Thanked: Once	dooars and darjeeling (dist) are my all time favouraite. Also forest dept. owns some best located bungalows there. Great pics. Where you able to drive till nathula?
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 17:08	#7
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	*Some more images of Lava & Naora Valley.* All the images are taken by Nikon Coolpix 5200. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

23rd June 2009, 10:58	#9
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	This image set is from Kalimpong and on our way to Gangtok Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

23rd June 2009, 11:19	#10
muralisk BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hyderabad, Bangalore Posts: 711 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Wow! Stunning shots and you seem have a great eye. Amazing thread. Please keep the pics coming and it is a visual treat. Thanks for sharing the stuff from archives. It definitely needs to come out. Keep it going.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2009, 11:43	#11
DriverR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 414 Thanked: 526 Times	Fantastic pictures. Brings back many memories. I've been to Darjeeling and Sikkim so many times in over 7 different vehicles including an Omni! Your pictures have captured the aura of the hills very well.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2009, 12:13	#13
SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8,164 Thanked: 27,143 Times View My Garage	Beautiful pics, Milinda. I really like the POV of some of them. As I see from the date-print on one of yor pics, the time was end-Nov. The weather must have been very comfortable, but I'm surprised you found fog at that time of year. The Omni certainly is a great car to drive around in the hills, with its low gearing and good pulling power - though not the most stable. Last edited by SS-Traveller : 23rd June 2009 at 12:16.
	() Thanks

6th July 2009, 15:13	#15
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	*Images from Gangtok, Nathula & Tsomgo Lake* Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks