Advertisement
Published: November 21st 2022
Edit Blog Post
Mt. Kanchendzongha
Mt. Kanchendzongha from Golitar Base camp “You can fall in love for a place, and when you do, you have to come again and again to that place” I keep travelling whenever I get some time out for my inner self. I believe, Life has made me an explorer by heart and this belief is getting stronger with my age. Out of countless cities, villages, mountain trails, hamlets, sea beaches, National parks & forests, deserts that I have travelled so far, few are the journeys that reflects Life. Sikkim is a small picturesque North-eastern state in India, which is one of those places, that I think I fell in love with, for its beautiful mountain peaks and trails, beautiful view of majestic Khangchendzonga, the third highest peak in the world, small mountain villages and its people, rivers, countless waterfalls, the zig-zag old silk route, its food and the Buddhist culture.
This is my 9
th visit to Sikkim and still there is so much remaining to explore and see there. Very near to the State Capital Gangtok, that is full of life and hustle and bustle, there is a very peaceful and calm day hiking trail to a place called Teenjurey. This short writeup is all
Mt. Kanchendzongha
Mt. Kanchendzongha from Teenjurey top about that for the people like me who love to explore the unexplored.
Teenjurey – The word comes from the Nepali language “Teen” means Three and “Jurey” meaning - the crest of a hill, is the highest peak in the FambongLho Wildlife Sanctuary located about 25 kms far from Gangtok at an altitude of 6990ft (2130 meters). The hike is little more than 5 kms through the FambongLho wildlife sanctuary and is a tough steep trek to the highest point.
The hike starts from Golitar Basecamp, and Sikkim Tourism Department of the Government of Sikkim has taken good interest in developing this basecamp by building beautiful cottages for stays with breathtaking view of the majestic Mt. Khanchengdzonga. There is a nice little Restaurant very picturesque with great views that serves local freshly cooked food. If you choose to hike, place your order before you start so that you can soak into the local food on your return with hungry stomach. Local people often come to this basecamp which is a piece of flat land for picnic, or camping experience and enjoy the view over the large mountain peaks and the flowing Teesta River below. Enthusiasts also carry tents
Way to Golitar Basecamp
Way to Golitar Basecamp and stay overnight stargazing and not to miss Sun’s first kiss on the gorgeous Mt Khancengdzonga peak.
The 5 kms hike starts with a welcome view of Mt. Khanchengdzonga, and the walk starts through the forest, narrow pathways mostly rocky and steep rise. During this entire hike some places are such that you will have to literally crawl through or under a large tree or climb up a recently fallen huge trunk during the monsoons. Some places in this entire trek are quite tricky and difficult as the entire route is very steep and exhausting. I am not a regular trekker neither consider myself as one of those super fit persons who can take on any adventurous hikes, or mountain climbs. But people like them have also considered this hike to be moderately tough. It is important to know that this hike is only allowed when you are in a group of more than 1 person. Solo hike is prohibited as you have to traverse through the FambongLho wildlife sanctuary.
Teenjurey has got no human settlements barring few recently built beautiful log cottages near Golitar basecamp but offers massive biodiversity comprising many plants, and endangered animals. The forest
Mt Kanchendzongha
Mt Kanchendzongha early morning
has got trees like Magnolia, Pine, Bamboo and Rhododendron and animals like barking deer, Red Panda, Himalayan brown bear, leopards etc. Though I could spot the trees and plants but animals kept a safe distance from us. Well, they say – when you are in their territory, they are always watching you. Apart from Himalayan Bear there is nothing else to worry much. Many people who have been here in the past has encountered bears and that is the only reason why solo hikers are not allowed to take this adventure hike. But I must say the forest is very dense and at places the natural sunlight doesn’t reach. Before starting the walk, my eyes fell on a wall stone notably written about something. On a closer look it says Skopa or Yeti in common terms i.e., Abominable Snowman, considered to be the manifestation of the local deity dwells in this forest. And it is believed that many have seen the footprints or felt his sheer presence through either huge footmarks or a whistling sound that can take the sweat down from your spine. Due to the folklore human settlements are not seen in this forest.
This hike needs
Enroute views during hike
Enroute views during hike to be avoided during monsoons to avoid leech bites or even snake bites. It takes around 3 hours to reach the highest point and equivalent time to come down. We took around 7 hours to complete the entire hike as we took a bit of rest at the top. Once you reach the highest point there is a watch tower that provides you a 360-degree view including that of the majestic Mt. Khanchengdzonga and the adjoining peaks if you get a clear sky. You can also spot the flowing Teesta River making her way to the bottom looks like a snake from above playing on the open field of the gorgeous mountains
Any hike like this creates a sense of achievement, accomplishment after managing and overcoming obstacles just like in one’s Life. You can only feel this after completing the hike or after achieving every important milestone in your life. At times it feels like somebody important has tasked you to climb up to the top and report the World that you see from above. When you come down tired, hungry with almost all the days’ energy exhausted and this little feeling that YOU CAN, YOU HAVE touched the
highest point keeps you keep going and explore the next unexplored or little explored point of earth. If you have got some time in your travel plan and can spare a day it is worth taking up the challenge with your own self and accomplish this little hike traversing through a dense forest with the hope of sighting or feeling the sheer presence of Skopa.
Some Important Facts: Location: 25 Kms from Gangtok, and the hike is of about 5 kms one way to the top. Some pave ways are getting constructed but mostly there are no directions and forest roads sometimes rocky and muddy.
How to Reach? Nearest City Gangtok – Capital of Sikkim
One can hire a cab from Gangtok and ask to drop and pick up after 6/7 hrs. This is going to cost around INR 1500/- small hatchback car.
If you hold the cab then the charges can go up to INR 4500 depending on the season.
How to Plan? - Plan for a Morning drop as early as you can, if you are willing to see the Sunrise one needs
to start around 4:30 am.
- Hire a local cab and agree on drop and pick up, to reduce the cost. The above cost is for that.
- If you are hiking, please carry sufficient drinking water, some food as you will not get that once you reach the top. However, when you come down there is a Restaurant to feed you.
- Do not forget to carry a hiking pole as the hike is quite steep you will need this especially while descending. If you don’t have create one cutting bamboo stem in the forest.
- Carry a Knife, torch and a lighter to generate fire in case you need.
- Use ankle saving trekking boots to avoid chance of any sprain arising out of managing tricky climbs or descends
Things to remember: Any such hikes require some pre-requisites which are basically survival tools to handle any kind of situations. Though everyone reading this mostly would be aware off, but it is good to have it on your check-list
- Torch
- Matchstick or lighter
- Emergency rope
- A simple light weight mat to spread
Log houses
Log Houses for overnight stay at Golitar basecamp and sit
- Sufficient drinking water as much as you can carry
- Some food according to your need for energy boost
- Hiking pole
- Compass
- Any pain relief spray in case of emergency
- Small emergency medical kit having band aid and stuff
Advertisement
Tot: 0.106s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 8; qc: 54; dbt: 0.0458s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Amit Roy Chowdhury
non-member comment
Teenjure Trail
Been there done that. But the way you described it's primal myth and it's trail was quite impressive. Wishing you all the best for your future travels amongst the Himalayan trails and enthrall us with lots of happiness, photographs and unique stories.