TO GANGTOK

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26.04.2017

Started for Gangtok. The vehicle provided yesterday to other group was given to us. It had a puncture yesterday so that was to be repaired today. Much time was wasted in this. Today's journey was full of hurdles. As the road work was going on, many a times we had to stop. We took so many experiences. At one point they were putting tar on road. Once road diversion was given so again a long run! We were going to Namchi on the way.

Siddhesvara Dhaam (2011) is a unique pilgrimage-tourism venture of the Sikkim Government . Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling inaugurated this. 87-ft statue of Lord Shiva and replicas of four Dhaams of the country, all at one place on the Solophok hilltop in Namchi. There are replicas of the “Dwadash Jyotirlingas” (the twelve jyothirlingas) of Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleswar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Viswanath, Triambakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageswar, Rameshwar at Rameswaram and Grishneshwar surrounding the statue of Lord Shiva and the Char Dhams. There is a grand statue of Kirateshvar Mahadev and a temple of Shirdi Sai Baba too.

We saw Baichung Stadium built by the Sikkim government in honour of its most famous citizen, footballer Baichung Bhutia who owns a number of football schools all over India.

While returning also, we were stopped to witness tree cutting. After the road was cleaned, we started our journey.On the way stopped at a tea estate cafe to have tea. Reached Gangtok late in the night.

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