Gangtok

Namprikdang Of Dzongu, North Sikkim

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Having grown up amongst the same type of houses and among Lepcha neighbours and friends in Kalimpong, it was indeed heartening to connect with the ancient times at Namprikdang. Of course there was the official reception of VIPs in the traditional ways, the forgettable speeches after speeches, with clear and present hints to “vote for me”.

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Contemplation and Khangchendzonga

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Khangchendzonga at 8586m is the third highest peak in the world. It is not a calm and serene mountain as it appears to be when viewed from Darjeeling or Sikkim. Both ice and rock avalanches of incredible dimensions are frequent occurences.Hurricanes of incredible force are one of the deadliest of Kanchenjunga’s weapons which plays havoc with any intruder who ventures “to walk the heights of gods.” This is an article which I wrote sometime ago but Kanchenjuga remains ageless.

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Hotel Shire in Gangtok

Hotel Shire in Gangtok

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There is a big prayer room, a kitchen garden, few ducks, parking space, tress and lots of fresh and clean air. You don’t feel like being fitted in a small hotel room, rather it gives you a feeling of a mini resort. The air is pretty casual and you can walk up to Tempa (the man who runs it) for anything and everything. Tempa’s dad and mom, both had a very illustrious career with government of Sikkim and if you are lucky then you can get to see all those old photographs and award plaques of his father.

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नाथुला पास का यात्रा वृत्तांत

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ऐसी विषम परिस्थितियों में भी सीमा के प्रहरियों को मुस्तैदी से डंटा देख उन्हें सलाम करने का मन हुआ  और हमारी खुशकिस्मती थी कि उनके प्रति आभार और सम्मान व्यक्त करने का अवसर भी मिला। हमारे जाँबाज़ सिपाही जान पे खेल के ना सिर्फ सीमा की सुरक्षा करते हैं, बल्कि हम जैसे यात्रियों की सुविधा का भी ख्याल रखते हैं।

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Enchanting Sikkim

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Sikkim is a state in East India in the Himalayan foot hills. We started our journey from Delhi, where we took Deccan Air flight to Bagdogra, which is the nearest airport to Gangtok and is around 4 hours drive. At the airport, we took a local cab service (that we had booked in advance), the driver was waiting for us at the airport and thus began our tour of the exasperating Himalayan abode.

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Enchanting Sikkim, Disappointing Darjeeling

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The next day, we visited the main market of Gangtok, M.G. Road. The market is pedestrian friendly, as no vehicles are allowed to ply on this road. Being at this place gave us a feeling of being somewhere in Singapore or Malaysia. The best of brands, right from Bata to Adidas and Lee Cooper to Louis Vitton dominated the signboards. The shops displayed not only the brands, but also the local stuff, especially, trendy woolens and shoes. The locals are well and fashionably dressed to the extent that the tourists from the metros appear to have outdated knowledge of fashion.

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Gangtok-Namchi-Pelling-Darjeeling tour- part 2

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Pelling is a small place, which offers an exceptional view of snow-covered Kanchenjunga mountain range from almost everywhere, from your hotel room to the small street you are walking on. After having breakfast, we started our journey from pelling to Darjeeling, as our night halt for that day was in Darjeeling, but we were to cover good places in between.

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Gangtok-Namchi-Pelling-Darjeeling tour- part 1

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We walked down to MG Road, and found it is such a nice open place with no-vehicle movement and lots of good eating and shopping options. Such large area for pedestrian and kids were just so happy in running here and there. We should also have something like this in Delhi NCR too; all we have here are malls or congested markets with no place to walk. I found Gangtok a very safe place for girls too.

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Ranka Monestry Gangtok

Sikkim : A mystic land

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Sikkim is a truly mystical land, a confluence of advancement and mysticism. It is India’s least populated state, hosts Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak,…

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गंगटोक सिक्किम Part-2

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रोपवे 70 /- रूपये किराया था एक बार में करीब 20 से 25 लोग इसमें सफ़र कर सकते थे। इसमें बैठने की व्यवस्था नहीं है इसमें खड़े होकर आस-पास और नीचे का व्यू देखते हैं। एक अलग ही नजारा देखने को मिल रहा था साथ ही साथ जब बस नीचे को तेजी से उतर रही होती है तब हल्का सा डर भी लगता है।

रोपवे की यात्रा के बाद सीढियों से नीचे उतरते हुए एक रेस्टोरेंट है। इस समय तक भूख जोरो की लग रही थी सभी यहाँ पर खाना खाने के लिए रुक गए। यहाँ पर हम लोगो को आधे घंटे से ज्यादा समय लग गया और अब 4 बजने वाले थे। ड्राइवर जल्दी से पास में ही Namgyal Institute of Tibetiology ले गया। जो 4 बजे बंद हो जाती है अभी हम अन्दर घुसे मुश्किल से एक मिनट ही हुआ था कि केयर टेकर ने लाइट बंद कर दी बोला टाइम ओवर।

अब तक शाम ढल चुकी थी सडको पर और मार्किट में लाइटे जगमगा रही थीं। परन्तु सारे दिन की भाग दौड़ के बाद शारीर इतना थक चूका था कि लग रहा था कि अब कुछ देर आराम किया जाय। आठ घंटे से ज्यादा समय घूमते हुए हो गया था।
एक बात और हम लोग इतने सारे व्यू पॉइंट पर गए पर कहीं भी कोई टिकेट वगैरह नहीं चार्ज किया जा रहा था। हाँ कुछ एक जगह टैक्सी स्टैंड वाले जरुर 10 /- रूपये प्रति कार चार्ज कर रहे थे।

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