The state of Sikkim is a tranquil state, nesting in the Himalayas. Located in the North-eastern India, the state is a haven for tourists with friendly population and rich heritage. Sikkim is the home of Mount Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. Gangtok the capital is the main centre of trade and commerce and also the hub of transportation throughout the state.
My journey Gangtok started from Bagdogra, in West Bengal. After reaching there after a long journey from down south I was excited to reach the Himalayan kingdom. I took a cab from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok. The taxi fare was rather cheap compared to the cut throat rates in the cities. Soon we left the city limits and reached Siliguri. From there the scenery changes dramatically. The road connecting the mainland India and the entire north east is a narrow “chicken neck” called the Siliguri corridor. On the way, you see the river Teesta snaking its way to the Brahmaputra.
As the journey progressed the road increasingly became bumpy but the scenery was magnificent. The distance though was a mere 120 kms it took around 4 to 5 hours to reach Gangtok. As I reached Gangtok, I called up the hotel owner for directions to his hotel. The owner was one friendly Kesang. He was always ready to help. As I reached there after a long journey I was welcomed in the most hospitable.
The next day I hired a taxi to go to the Rumtek Monastery, which was around 25 kms from the city. When I reached Sikkim, His holiness the Dalai Lama too was visiting Sikkim and was giving sermons. This was the time whenI saw an entire new dimension of devotion. Devotees had walked for 4 to 5 days to see him and attend his sermon. The entire monastery was empty, since all the monks had gone to see Dalai Lama. Later I conversed with the ITBP soldiers, who were on guard duty in the monastery. A friendly bunch of people, one soldier directed me to other soldiers who were from down south. I had an interesting chat with them, they gave me directions as to how to travel and later one of them invited me to have tea with them. The subject invariably turned to the affairs of our native state and one soldier nostalgically spoke about the care free life which he had left behind, and the latest movies released in the south.
Bidding adieu and wishing the very best to them I returned to the hotel. Then I went to a viewing point from which I could see the Mt Kanchenjunga through a telescope. This was situated on a hill . This was a rather touristy spot and was crowded, hence didn't spend much time there. Later I went to the royal monastery which was just a walking distance from my hotel. I think there was some ceremony going on in there as I could hear the incessant sounds of the horns being played.
The hotel too had a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere, but this was disturbed by a noisy bunch of domestic tourists from the neighbouring state. The next day I went to see the Nathula Pass. I took a taxi plying to and fro for the visiting tourists. One has to apply for a pass at least 2 days prior to the visit. The driver stopped at particular spots from where we could see the Kanjenjunga and other scenic spots. As we neared the pass, the driver pointed towards a hills and said beyond those hills is Bhutan. And after some time as we reached the pass we could see the Chinese border and observation posts. It was rather a different feeling to be so close to international border sight of some skirmishes between Indian and Chinese forces.
Gangtok is a good place to be. The city is a mix of modernisation as well as the old and traditional .The MG road is a great place to shop and hangout. It has much of assortment many coffee shops. Another place to visit is the market in Gangtok. There one can find many handicrafts and hand spun clothes.