Best travel itinerary to cover the most of North Sikkim | Two part series | Part 2

Tripoto
19th Jan 2018

Gurudongmar: A lake sacred to multiple faiths

Photo of Best travel itinerary to cover the most of North Sikkim | Two part series | Part 2 by Bhunesh Bhaskar
Photo of Best travel itinerary to cover the most of North Sikkim | Two part series | Part 2 1/1 by Bhunesh Bhaskar
The flow before it all froze

If you've landed directly to this page and are new to this travel series, you might want to checkout the first part of it.

Best travel itinerary to cover the most of North Sikkim | Two part series | Part1

Day 6

Been there already ? So without further a due let's start our sixth day.

Just like the water above we keep flowing in life until something incentivizes us to stay and enjoy the calm. Keeping philosophy aside, we're back to our second leg of the journey and as promised the best is yet to come in this itinerary.

Day 6

Start early in the morning from Lachen to behold the gorgeous Gurudongmar Lake while enjoying the pleasant drive as well. Located at an altitude of 17,800 ft, this lake is one of the highest lakes of India so expect very low temperatures and low oxygen as well. Gurudongmar named after Guru Padmasambhava is considered sacred by Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.

Coffee @ 15000ft. ? Why not, it's free ;)

Photo of Cafe' 15000, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Water colder than ice and cleaner than any packaged one.

Photo of Cafe' 15000, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Can't get enough of this pure view

Photo of Cafe' 15000, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Where time froze

Photo of Cafe' 15000, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

And the day ends knowing about the local life over a local specialty. The Cheng Wine made by fermenting millet and soaking them in hot water. Pro tip, it tastes best if you gulp the mug in a single go . Bottoms up !

Photo of Lachen, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Day 7

The days sightseeing itinerary includes visit to Yumthang Valley, Lachung Monastery, Hot Springs & Zero Point. This is what we missed in our trip because of the snowfall causing the roads to be excessively slippery. But if you get a chance do visit the Yumthang valley and Zero Point. Since we could not make it to these two we decided to do a small trek to an intriguing Mountain peak on the way.

Day 7

Shades apart !

Photo of Lachung, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Mind your tires !

Photo of Lachung, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

The Trekking Troop

Photo of Lachung, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

The challenge

Photo of Lachung, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Achievement !!

Photo of Yumthang, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Picturesque view from the white water waterfall in Katao which is close to the Ind0-China Border

Photo of Katao, Sikkim, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Day 8

Today is the day of dilemma where you can either go to Pelling from Gangtok or head straight to Darjeeling, we decided to go with latter. If you decide to go to Pelling instead then the days sightseeing itinerary includes Khangchendzonga Water Falls, Yuksom, Khecheopalri Lake, Rimbi Water Falls & Rock Garden, Darap Cherry Village (Lunch Break Suggested), Rabdentse Palace Ruins, Pemayangtse Monastery, Return to Hotel. Where the evenings are best spent on idyllic walks, admiring the nature and magnificent views of Mt. Kanchenjunga that appear to be a stone’s throw away.

Lachung to Darjeeling will be long journey but is completely doable, saying it from the experience. Though at the end of it you would just want bunk into your beds, so this day is all about roads and cool breeze.

The cool breeze that I just spoke about.

Day 9

Like every mountain city Darjeeling also has Mall which is quite lively and a gateway to many other attraction points worth visiting. Few of them being Tea Estates, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling Zoo (Which hosts many Himalayan fauna species). There is an entire Museum dedicated to Mt. Everest so if you are into that kind of stuff it is a place to go. You can visit the local tea shops to taste different varieties of Darjeeling Teas most of which is always imported to European countries majorly.

Take a plunge into the Victorian era architecture evidently present throughout the city. Did I mention on clear days you also get an alluring of the Kanchenjunga Peak from one side of the city. If you are lucky enough you can feast your eyes with the view, unfortunately we weren't. Anyways I had my share of it earlier in Zuluk so won't really complain. So here's how we spent our day went in Darjeeling.

Day 9

A day back in Victorian Era.

Photo of Mall Road, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Dogs of

Photo of Mall Road, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & Darjeeling Zoo West Bengal

Photo of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Jawahar Parbat, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Left to Right: Copy of the newspaper publishing the news First Everest Summit 1953, Indian National Flag hoisted at the world's top Everest in 1984, the man after which the highest peak on the planet was named as Mt. EVEREST.

Photo of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Jawahar Parbat, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Serendipitous encounter to an old friend.

Photo of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Jawahar Parbat, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India by Bhunesh Bhaskar

Day 10

Day 10

Sadly it's already time to head back to your normal life again but you still have few hours before you leave. It takes about 2:30 hours to reach Bagdogra from Darjeeling so plan and leave as per your flights timings. Make sure to pack some Darjeeling Tea and might as well have some while you sit with your buddies planning for next trip.

Hope you enjoyed reading my travelogue, be sure to like, share and comment if you have any feedback or have any queries regarding the trip. I will try to answer, help as much and as early I can.

You can head over to my Instagram (Utopian_gypsy) to know more about my travel plans/ pictures/ random stuff, while I work to share more such experiences to everyone.

Till we meet again !!

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