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So finally we will be visiting Sikkim. It seems in Manish’s office this is a “To Visit” place. When I started to read about Sikkim, there were many surprises in store. How less I knew about my own country? Sikkim was a separate country till 1975 and then in the 1975 referendum, 97% of the electorate voted for it to be transformed from a Protectorate to an associate state of India. Sikkim is not dogged with the social and economic problems like casteism, child labor, begging and discrimination against women. The crime rate is negligible and the state is not troubled with insurgency.

We booked our tickets well two months in advance, but we started planning and hotel booking only one two weeks before. I always swear that I will never do it like that, but then always get attracted to “The Charms of Laziness”, making trivial things like booking a hotel, an adventure, a suspense.

After surfing, reading & getting some good suggestions, we settled for West Sikkim- Pelling, Yuksom and Biksthang. Manish’s Manager advised us to not go to Gangtok at all unless there is a plan for North Sikkim. Thank God we did so! BOSS IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

From Bagdogra Airport (in W. Bengal) we hired a van for Pelling from the pre-paid counter. Our driver was Mr. Aaroop Dutt. I would have taken him as a co-passenger, a nice looking gentleman, very jovial, stylish and intelligent too.

You could feel the communist influence on him. I think this is present in most of the Bengalis whether or not they are supporters of communism. A mineral water bottle: Please don’t buy it from the petrol pump, that guy is anyway rich enough. Please buy it from a nearby shop and help them to earn a little, was his suggestion.

A few vocabularies we picked from him: “Sukh-tak” Happy days, “Dukh-tak” bad days and the real gem “Tuk-tak” for our “theek-thak”. So imagine someone asking you, how are you and you impressing him with your “Tuk-tak.”

In the start of the trip itself, there was an important instruction for us. Aaroop told us that during the journey it would not be possible for him to stop more than 3-4 times. After leaving us at Pelling he had to start immediately for Gangtok, where he can expect a passenger in the morning. And he wanted to reach Gangtok before sunset. Oh so we have to limit our photo clicking, too bad.

First came the trading town of Siliguri. And then there came the place where narrow gauge track was passing in vicinity of broad gauge track. Rachit ( he is now 5+) was observing everything keenly. Pat came his question- “What is this? The train track is so narrow!” We explained him that it is a narrow gauge train track that goes to Darjeeling on which runs a Toy Train. “A Toy Train! Why are we not going there?” As ever, he was a good boy. We explained and he tried to understand— This time Successfully.

Once we were brave enough to stand the extreme humidity in and around Siliguri, nature started to soothe us. Soon we were going along Teesta River and were going crazy. You can expect such things from Rajasthanis.

Aaroop told us that we would be driving along Rangit River in Sikkim, which is so beautiful that it ROMANCES with you. What? I thought him to be a boast-to-the-tourist kind of person. A river will be beautiful, very beautiful but he was definitely exaggerating it.

We crossed the border to enter Sikkim. Smooth good road replaced the bumpy and potholed road, air became cooler, traffic lighter and River Rangit replaced Teesta. Soon there was no traffic at all. We were the only one on the road and River Rangit was there, revealing its beauty to prove Aaroop right. Yes!!! Rangit was dancing, flirting and romancing with us. I have traveled along rivers in Uttaranchal, Himachal but nothing like this.

Kabhi ithlati, bal khati, ruk-ruk kar runjhun si chalti hui, kabhi aankhon se ojhal hokar agle hi mod par parvaton ke beech se hansti, muskurati daud kar aati, apne har roop mein snigdh chhata bikherti hui – anupam, adbhut, advitiya sundarta!

Rachit started counting bridges that we were crossing but after 20+ he stopped counting as he too became busy admiring all those streams and rivulets, rushing down to join Rangit. The rivers of Sikkim are perennial. Thousands of megawatts of electricity can be generated there, but only a part of this energy has been tapped.

No one was there to break the silence except Crickets or rather they were making this silence more profound. Occasionally there were a few men and women alongside the road. It seemed they were relaxing and I was wondering when was it last that we sat like that-not chatting, not reading, and not even thinking. Nobody was moving what to say of hurry!

Apple cheeked kids were playing football. After all, it is Bhaichung Bhutia’s land.

None of us was talking. We were so mesmerized by the beauty and sound. Aaroop started to play R.D.Burman and suddenly those melodies enhanced the pleasure of our journey. It had been 4 hrs and we have crossed Jorethang, Legship and Gezing and around 5 pm we were in Pelling.

Our destination was hotel Dubdi and Aaroop stopped to ask “Saathi hotel Dubdi kaan choo”. This was our first introduction to the sweet Nepali, the lingua franca of Sikkim. As we moved towards Dubdi in Upper Pelling ahead of Helipad, we tried to figure out on which side Kanchendzonga might be.

We checked-in the hotel, and after completing the formalities asked the land-lady from where we can view the whole range of Kanchendzonga as shown at their reception. She took us to the balcony on our floor and then to the terrace on top and informed us “They are on this side and you can view them only if you get-up at 4:45 am”. Mountains will be visible from our window as well. We wondered where exactly as there was an open expanse and no signs of mountains.

The staff was friendly. We hurriedly ordered for dinner, as Rachit has not winked his eyes since we started from Noida at 6 am and must sleep soon. It was not more than 6pm now and it was already dark. We realized the east-effect. Early to bed and early to rise was the mantra we followed during our stay in Sikkim.

Rachit was sleeping. He was tired, but very happy and there was a smile on his face. Our little angel, his enthusiasm for traveling keeps us on our toes “Literally”. Manish, as ever went down to reception desk for the “ground level” information which will help us to decide our next day’s plan. Poor soul he is restless till the time he has ensured that what will be the next day’s plan. I think it’s his “sleeping pill”. What if he will not be able to get this ground level information? Will he be able to sleep well? I am not sure that the bad dreams will not haunt him.

I went to bed dreaming of the Mountains. I have to wake-up early. I can’t take chance of missing them. Will I be able to sleep with such an excitement and the target of 4:45 etched in my mind?

To be continued …