[Shantanu Sarkar]

Thanks MX6 and Abhi.

We had our lunch break at Hotel Golden Park (about 5 kms after crossing Maldah Town on the left side of NH34 towards Siliguri). Excellent hotel, good food, barfacility is available but not utilized by us as we remember the warning: Dont mix drinking and driving.






After lunch we ewrw cruising towards Siliguri when suddenly a white amby rushed towards us from the opposite direction, trying to overtake a truck which in turn was overtaking another, so in all three vehicles were running towards us blocking the entire road (without any divider). Suman was quick enough to stop and bring our i-10 down from the tarmac to the side. The Amby almost passed inches away from us at breakneck speed. Ohhh.....Narrowly missed.


Got a few snaps of the setting sun on the way from the moving car.





We took a break at Raiganj as we were running low on fuel. Topped up the tank, exchanged the driving seat and off again on our crusade.

After reaching Dalkhola at about 5.45 pm, we had to take a right turn and got the 4 laned NH31 (part of the GQ), the obtuse angle of the speedometer intensified further. Everything went perfectly allright until we reached a place called 'Kalagach' - meaning banana tree !! The road construction was undertaken (as part of 4 laning the NH) in full swing, and to our horror, we got stuck up in a traffic jam for nearly an hour . We were feeling lost among hundreds of monster trucks. We tried to negotiate our way to byepass the jam using anothr road that runs parallel to the NH as informed by come locals. However we were thankful to a local youth who warned us not to use that road as it becomes unsafe after dark.

I called up my freind Chandan in Siliguri to make arrangement in a decent hotel, and he quickly sprung into action. We reached Siliguri and he was there on his bike braving the biting cold near Darjeeling More to guide us to the hotel at about 9 pm. He also arranged a covered parking for our cute car so that it remains safe. He also took us to his home for a nice dinner. Rightly said, friends are there in every difficult times. The best part was that he and his wife immediately decided to join us after 2 days in Murti. Cheers Chandan!!!!!!!

[Shantanu Sarkar]

31 Jan 2010 Sunday 9.15 am

We got up a little late this morning as we were a bit tired of the long journey. However got ready and got out at about 9.15 am. On the way we stopped to get some snacks for us and snacks (battery) for Sumans camera and flashlight.

Got these snaps of Siliguri in the morning











Soon we were cruising ahead on Sevoke road, estremely well maintained road, the greenery arround was asking us to stop for a while and take the fresh air that we usually do not get back in our city. Compelled by it, we had to stop for a few more snap.








Again after a few kms, we were compelled to stop, this time by a fleet of monkeys, waiting for passing by cars to have some food. we offered them some bananas and peanuts and they were happy to give us some nice poses.

[hvkumar]

Do you have any info on how much the Golden Park Hotel in Maldah costs? I presume that the hotel is after the bypass ends - on NH34 itself, north of the town.

[gajadonga]

Starting from Kolkatta at 6am and reaching Silguri by 9pm it is ok as the roads are not that good.When I had travelled to Silguri I took the same road as you have taken I started from Kolkatta at 3am reached Silguri 6pm.The steel bridge you mentioned was unique while going from kolkatta I missed as as I was behind a lorry and followed him so went from the other road while coming back from Silguri I was driving in the night and I crossed this bridge as there was no traffic.You made me nostalgic Shantanu

[Shantanu Sarkar]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Do you have any info on how much the Golden Park Hotel in Maldah costs? I presume that the hotel is after the bypass ends - on NH34 itself, north of the town.

Yes the Hotel is on the northern end of the town, approximately 5 kms after you cross Maldah town, and on the NH34 itself, left hand side while going towards Siliguri. You can have more info of the hotel in the site www.hotelgoldenpark.com. If I'm allowed to discuss prices (I'm very new to this forum) it is 1.5k / night for double bed room, 1.2k for single bedded. It is the perhaps last decent hotel in this route before reaching Siliguri.

Thanks Gajadonga for your comments. We would have reached earlier, thanks to the traffic Jam (wasted 1 hour), took too many breaks (photo shoots), coupled with lunch break and refuelling stops. ohh yes, we started at 7 actually, 6am-7am was the temple trip at Dakshineshwar.

[motomaverick]

Great going shantanu.........those overtaking incidents are pretty common on the state highways which does not have dividers. I had one such incident with an alto fellow overtaking on curve, i should have stopped that guy and gave a lesson on why you should not overtake on blind curves

[Shantanu Sarkar]

Soon we started riding uphill.

We then stopped for offering our prayers at Sevoke Kalibari located just about 10 kms before Coronation bridge. Some pics there and some of gorgeous Teesta. Located a lots of pigeons in the temple compound.











And the Coronation Bridge (I got a better view while returning from the view point)




Soon we crossed Odla bari, Malbazar and reached Chalsa. Some pics




From Chalsa we took a right turn towards Lataguri. From this point Murti was about 7-8 kms. We saw a signboard of Gorumara Jungle Camp at about 5 kms from Chalsa. Stopped there again for some pics.







Then we drove straight ignoring the call of Gorumara Jungle Camp another about a kilometer and took a left diversion towards Murti resort (no signboards though, took the help of maps and asked a local. Have to be careful enough not to miss this else one will go straight towards Lataguri)

And then reached the destination Murti Banani at 12.35 noon, checked in to our cottage.

[Shantanu Sarkar]

Seriously Motomaverick, people should have the least driving etiquettes of carefully overtaking on an undivided Highway. Thanks for your comments.


However continuing on my part of the story...We drove to our cottage, parked there, freshened up, took a great lunch (I informed my check in time on phone after I started from Sevoke Road) which was ready for us.


After consulting with the Manager of Banani Resort Mr. Chakraborty, we decided to go to Jhalong and Bindu. Started at about 2.30 pm. We came out of the resort, turned left and crossed the Murti river bridge arrived at a four point crossing, took left, reached Khunia more, went straight towards Jhalong. Some pics of this trip.




A railway crossing on way. This is the NJP-Alipurduar-Guwahati line.





Gate of Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary on the way towards Jhalong/Bindu



Milestone showing the distance of Jaldhaka



A Bridge just about 1-2 km before entering Jhalong Bazar.



Could not go beyond Jhalong bazar as it was getting dark and we had to return back.

Waiting at the railway crossing while returning. Seriously we were in fact whishing that the gate to be closed so that we could see a train pass thru (our wish came true)



Warning signboard at the level crossing for train driver I suppose.



Got some good sunset pics

[MX6]

115.jpg is bewitching. Nice glorious view there. takes me back to my Darjeeling and Gangtok visit (crossing the teesta), in 1991. Good photo there.

[hvkumar]

Very nice roads! Looks like they have repaired all the roads from Sevoke to Chalasa too.

[Shantanu Sarkar]

Originally Posted by MX6

115.jpg is bewitching. Nice glorious view there. takes me back to my Darjeeling and Gangtok visit (crossing the teesta), in 1991. Good photo there.

Thanks for the comments

Yes the roars were good throughout excepting a few places.

[Shantanu Sarkar]

1 Feb 2010 Monday.

We had plans to visit Gorumara NP today and that exitement woke us up early in the morning. We had hired a local car (Maruti Omni) from the resort (taking cues from posts of 1100D-thanks to you, we never risked to take our i-10, to test its endurance against a mighty elephant or a bison) and checked the reverse gear (should ever we need in emergency) . We started at arround 5.45 am from our resort and collected our tickets with help of our guide Govinda. The driver of the omni Sajid was also very friendly with us.

It was a misty morning and we were having little hope of sighting anything due to the mist.







We entered the forest and immediately came across some peacocks, took some snaps but came blurred. We were taken to Jatraprasad watchtower (named after the famous elephant of forest department). and had a time of about an hour to spend there. Our guide showed many peacocks perched on top of trees (they come down after sunrays hit the ground and the mist cover lessens). Nothing could be seen from there so started clicking some pics of the area.


Sun is just rising above the horizon



Suddenly there was a murmer among the tourist, we rushed to the corner of the tower and yessssss!!! Sighted a Rhino behind a bush.


The sun started smiling slowly


The vision was clear now, we could see an elephant carrying forest personnel going for an inspection around the salt pit.


And yes this time the view the Rhino clearly


And some deers grazing



Suman noticed a little movements in the bushes just beside the watch tower and called me, I couldn't locate anything as I was more interested to see the Rhino. Suddenly our guide standing on the road in front of the watch tower called us by making hand signal. We rushed there to find a lone bison just coming out of the bush, ohh, what a beauty it was, suddenly another car that was coming to the watchtower came close to it and it jumped towards the bush and vanished within seconds. Neither me nor anyone else had a chance to take a pic, actually we were awestruck to see such a powerful animal just in few feet in front of us. The way it jumped and ran away proved its agility and power. Obviously we were cursing the oncoming car for scaring it away. Disheartened, I clicked the empty road itself.



But who knew, we had more surprises awaiting us on our way.

[NullRock]

Awesome snaps. Let the photos coming..

[Shantanu Sarkar]

Thanks Nullrock, for your comments.

Next we were on towards another watchtower inside Gorumara 'Rhino point'.


The signboard of Rhino point.


A leopard pugmark on the concrete floor (must have come to inspect it just after the construction )


A view of the salt pit from watch tower


This is the FRH where the shooting of the movie 'Mr. & Mrs Iyer' was done.


A rescued baby elephant one and half year old, now has learnt to eat hard food of rice, dal, etc packed in banana leaf. Its was kept only on milk diet of about 35 ltrs per day when it was brought at the age of 2 months to this rescue center as it was abandoned by the group. Hope it will grow up to a full grown elephant in coming years. Best wishes to this cute baby .


Suddenly saw this barking dear grazing happily, ohh what a beauty, seems fitted with springs on its feet as the way it jumped away from us.


The approach roads to this watchtower.




And now a clear shot of a peacock. Beauty of nature. Rightly called the national bird

[btirthankar]

Lovely Account, Frame by Frame.
I have Bookmarked it!