Trip to Sikkim : The organic state of India

To enter Sikkim major airport is at the small town of Siliguri named "Bagdogra International airport" which is a part of west bengal. Though a new airport has been established at Pakyong  town near Gangtok but very few flights are available.

We started at 7 AM with all the enthusiasm, excitement and took an Air India flight at 11 AM. Just after the take-off you got to get the feeling of mountains by astonishing view of Himalayas neck to neck from the flight itself.

At 1:30 got down at the Bagdogra airport & took a cab to Gangtok immediately as the distance was huge which is to be covered till evening.
Reached Gangtok at 8:30 PM after a rollercoaster type of a ride. Ate dinner like we had never before anything and signed off for the day.

At 8 we were ready again with a small bag packed with heavy jackets and woollen for exploring North Sikkim. As we were short of time so we have covered only "Lachung" but this part of Sikkim has many more breathtaking places to visit.

Important points should be kept in mind while traveling to North Sikkim:

1. A small permit is required for entering into a protected area, which is easily obtained by the driver of your cab as they know everything about the procedure.
They charge 500 for all the paper works required. Document needed for this is a pasport size photo and a valid I d proff that's it.

2. One more important thing "It's a plastic free zone" means branded water bottles by bisleri are not allowed and if anybody caught with the one, has to pay huge fine nearly about 5000 rs.

3. It's a no public pissing area if anybody caught that way has to pay huge fine. So keep a check on your water intake 😉.

Delhi to Gangtok

On the way to Lachung various waterfalls , valleys & views has been covered like Tashi view point, Butterfly waterfalls, Singhik waterfall, Naga waterfalls, Bhim nala waterfalls, Chumthang valley and more unnamed.

After so many beautiful landscapes and short sikkimese style lunch, reached Lachung at around 7. At 7 we were getting a feel of almost 10 because of the clock settings of hills 😂.

Lachung was freezing 🥶, we thought to take a walk to local market but couldn't even think to do that. Hotel at lachung was on the was so very convenient for the driver atleast as he was having numerous worst experiences of searching hotels in the forest areas at night time.
In that case we were luckey and so was our driver😅🤣.

After setting a strict time for next day's departure we had a quick dinner and went to the dream land 😴.

This day was dedicated to zero point via Yumthang valley. A permit is required to visit for that drivers know the procedure they will charge the cost of the same along with the documents.

Zero point is something which has zero network coverage, dangerous roads, mesmerizing view, snow covered peaks and smell of maggi, momo, black chana and popcorn everywhere.

As the oxygen levels are too low everyone should act accordingly like

1. Should take slow and deep breath.
2. Should be patient enough by not showing instant excitement, by that you'll be lossing all your energy within no time.
3. Carry some kapoor and popcorns as they slow down the degradation of oxygen inside your body.
4. Enjoy the scenery calmly by having hot maggi or sipping hot tea. Cost of these products are on a higher side.
5. Remember to click a picture of the number plate of your taxi as due to jam there are chances of getting lost at that height where your phone will not work. So this picture will help anyone to find their cab with ease.

While returning to Gangtok visit Yumthang valley. As we went in the winter season so the Rhododendron flowers were and visible.

So for a person more into flowers the season will be February to March. At this the whole valley will be covered with different colours of Rhododendron flowers according to our driver.

For snow loving people season will start from November but in this month you will not be able to sea the fresh snowfall but you'll get to see snow. This season lasts till end of February.

With all these beautiful pictures we came back to Gangtok at around 7 PM. Took our dinner and get lost in the dream world as travelling in the hills are too tiering.

We got up at 7 on our own without any alarm ⏰. Quite surprising but this is the beauty for vacation.  Morning walk is a  sole soothing part.

Got ready for today's adventure which is excursion to "Nathula" Nathu means 'listening ears' and la means 'pass'

It is located on the old silk route which connects Sikkim to China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

You require a permit to visit this place which is generally applied a day before the arrival by 'Tourism and Civil Aviation Department' for which you require a photo and valid I D proff.

on the way you got to see clear view of kunchanjunga from everywhere. Breath taking view, which can be watching for the whole day sitting Ideal.

After Nathula short break at Baba mandir and Tsongo lake. Yak photoshoot is a must at Tsongo lake. You got to see beautifully dressed yaks.

Back to Gangtok as level of oxygen takes the energy from one's body and drains to the highest level of tiredness.

As it's our last day @ Gangtok so exploring night view of  MG Road is a must. Beautiful lighting, perfectly clean roads, delicious 😋 & smoking hot moms made our evening most awesome.

Next two days were dedicated to Darjeeling which is also known as Queen of Hills.

At 10AM after delicious breakfast @ our guesthouse began our journey towards Darjeeling. The elevation of the road was breath taking.

On the way got to have a look of the places we missed at Sikkim and for which I have to make an another trip to cover the same which is The Southern part of Sikkim Namchi & Ravangala.

We reached at around 1 in the afternoon but was a bit dissatisfied with the plan of visiting this place. Why I am saying this is because the name and the popularity of place does not matches with the exact place whic is present 😟😔😕.

Though after all that disaster to our trip we decided to explore the place. We went to the famous Mall road, finding that road was a pain because traffic was bad, roads were disastrous and dirty. Somehow managed to reach that place.

Place was fine with lots of open space, hourse riding options for kids, and a Nepali market from where I got shawls for both the moms😊😊 after highest level of bargaining, which is very common for we Delhi people 😁😁.

By evening we were back to our hotel and decided to have dinner at the hotel as the weather was freezing outside. Lot more chilled then Gangtok as the Kunchanjunga was near to this place.

By yesterday's experience we decided not to explore the usual spots at this place, rather make it a kid's day. So in the morning we took a joy ride in the toy train which is the heritage site. Ticket price was way too high and the facility and the area was not maintain at all. We as adults were not satisfied but the kid with us enjoyed to highest level.

After the joy ride we went to zoo which is famous for the presence of Red panda which was the only point of attraction to the kid. She got to see many animals and the artificial ones in the museum.

Same as yesterday back to hotel by evening and had our dinner their itself as we have to pack our bags for the return flight which was the very next day.

It's the last day of vacation, we were getting some mixed feelings. But at the end you'll have wonderful memories which will lasts with you forever.

Some important things everyone should make a note while traveling in North East:

1. Pack your bags with lots of warm clothes and numerous pair of socks as you'll not get a chance to wash them, and if at all you get one the clothes will not be dried.
2. Pack your medicine specialy the mountain sickness one I prefer avomin 1/4th tablet for an adult. This makes your mountain journey vomiting free.
3. Carry fully charged power bank because your phone will be dead after numerous photos.
4. Book a taxi operator in advance as the permits required for different places will be applied by them only. You just need to give certain documents.
5. Book your hotels in advance as in the peak season you will see a shortage of nice hotels.
6. Carry a pet water bottle with you as others are not allowed in Sikkim.
7. Avoid clubbing Darjeeling with Sikkim as this will kill the whole adventure.