Blogs from Kangchendzonga, Sikkim, India, Asia
Sikkim - Catching a glimpse of the mighty Kanchendzonga!
Published: August 4th 2011Asia » India » Sikkim » Kangchendzonga
August 4th 2011
Planning The Trip A tradition in the family, each year we plan a trip to a new destination and all cousins from all over the globe join in. So in 2007, in the month of September we decided to head out to Sikkim and attempt to trek up to the Goecha La pass - a pass in the mountains of Sikkim. Goecha La pass is famed for rewarding trekkers with a splendid view of the southeast face of the Kanchendzong peak, the world's third highest mountain. After considerable research and survey, we identified a local team of guides who would help us in achieving our goal. ... read more
Cholamu Lake - India's Highest Lake
Published: November 18th 2010Asia » India » Sikkim » Kangchendzonga
November 18th 2010
Himalayan range is abode of many of world’s high altitude lakes, many of these high altitude glacial lakes fall in India. World’s 14th highest lake and India’s highest lake is Cholamu lake.A mighty elevation of 18000 feet from the sea level takes Cholamu lake to the top of the “highest lakes” list . While coming down the slope around 300 feet from Donkiala pass ( 18300 feet ) , one gets the first glimpses of this rather moderately sized , almost frozen lake. Donkiala pass is the north most Sikkim route which leads to Tibet border, which is just 5 kms from Donkiala pass. This special geographical location of Cholamu lake makes it special and also makes it a very sensitive army area with Chinese army always putting pressure on international borders. Cholamu lake being just ... read more
Rhododendron in Sikkim A Color Riot
Published: November 18th 2010Asia » India » Sikkim » KangchendzongaNovember 18th 2010
Sikkim boasts to have more than 40 species of Rhododendron out of 55 species found in India. Singba Rhododendron sanctuary in Sikkim is famous among Indian and foreign tourist . Yumthang river flows through this sanctuary, watching Rhododendron bloom along with flowing waters of Yumthang river is a visual treat for tourists. Singba is spread in a 43 sq. km area and Sanctuary’s elevation varies from 3048-4575 meters. Images: http://thinkingparticle.com/articles/rhododendron-sikkim-color-riot ... read more
India - Kolkata, Darjeeling, Sikkim
Published: November 15th 2009Asia » India » Sikkim » Kangchendzonga
November 15th 2009
After three months already spent here in this Incredible India we realise that 6 months is definitely not enough and that we are for sure coming back for a second round. “If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't , you're right!” First stop Kolkata, with hundredandninety percent humidity and monsoon rain. We mingled among the people, cows, chickens, goats, drinking chai on the street corner, looking at all the beautiful women in their bright coloured saris, heavy jewellery from nose to toe and henna painted hands and feet, avoiding getting runned down by racing cars, that use their horns instead of their breaks, auto rickshaws, cyklerickshaws, running rickshaws, trams, raging cows and bulls, men walking the crowded streets with 6 meter long steelbars on their heads and whatever you can ... read more
Backtracking: My tryst with the Himalayas
Published: June 23rd 2009Asia » India » Sikkim » Kangchendzonga
June 23rd 2009
November 2006, I made my first big solo trip. All my savings and years of scheming were directed at one thing; to see...no to walk in the Himalayas. I chose to do it the grand way by joining the Himalayas Institute of Mountaineering. A 28 day course with lodging, food and the best guides possible and 10 days of roughing it out in the real mountains for Rs. 5000 (500USD for foreigners) is a deal hard to find. It was this trip that set the course to where I am now. I wrote a long piece about it for friends and family shortly after completing the piece but never posted it. So here it is now. Dug up from old dusty forgotten files. Nice to look back at my rather juvenile scribbles. Dali's been giving me ... read more
June 10th 2009
Having bid a sad farewell to Jess and Bert, we caught the overnight train to Siliguri in West Bengal. This was the end of the railway line, and from then on it was to be jeeps or buses. Our next stop was to be Kalimpong, so we booked our seats beneath a sign announcing ' Buses to the Hilly Regions'. Kalimpong is a smaller, quieter version of Darjeeling on the Sikkim border. It was used as a hill station by the Raj administration when it was too hot in the plains, and we too were very thankful for the drop in temperature. It's a pleasant town, were the Tibetan, Indian and Burmese races meet and mix. Alongside this is the accompanying mixture of faiths: Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists co-habiting seemingly well. It does make you ... read more
Sikkim Village Trp with GlobalHop Travels
Published: February 6th 2009Asia » India » Sikkim » Kangchendzonga
October 4th 2008
Sikkim Village Tours With GLOBALHOP TRAVELS www.globalhoptravels.com . We raced on to West Sikkim for Runchenbong village. Entire journey was along fairyland Sikkim with ever present Mt. Kanchenjunga, Kobrus, Pandim and lesser peaks. We reached Soreng Bazzar at a height of 5576 ft. and then walked 20 minutes for the village. Sikkim State Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department have put thrust on Eco-tourism in this area. At Runchenbong Village, Dushan Rai and his wonderful family ran the home-stay. Mr. Rai explained that we could undertake many long and short treks, numerous village walks and village experience. All these were part of the trip. Charming hospitality overwhelmed us and ethnic food was sumptuous. Since we were hop skipping and jumping village to village we did not undertake treks to either Pemyangtse or Barshey but undertook a trek ... read more
