When life gives you snow, you build a snowman!

When life gives you snow, you build a snowman!

Photos are temporary and may be lost, but memories are forever. And our trip to Sikkim was one such trip where uncountable memories were created.


We were overflowing with excitement as we started our drive to Darjeeling. One can find the roads to Darjeeling spiral across the mountain that is covered in a blanket of tall and majestic coniferous trees. Darjeeling is situated at a height of about 6700 feet, and experiences snowfall once or twice a year.

Our snow-bound journey with all the mountains and the trees and the beautiful roads was an unforgettable one.



If you are traveling to Darjeeling, you might wonder what the narrow railway tracks that crisscross on the road are made for. These tracks were made by the British for the toy train, a unique tourist attraction of Darjeeling.

The toy train like a magnet attracts large numbers of tourists each year. At any point in time, the train is full as there are limited seats available. It is advisable to book your seats in advance if you don't want to miss the ride.

It was a lovely sight to see the tracks zigzag their way across the mountain. And surely, the way the toy train slithers on the road amidst the bustling and chaotic traffic is a must-see for all tourists.

The Toy Train has been accorded the UNESCO World Heritage status. Operating on narrow tracks since the 19th century and connecting various parts of Darjeeling, the toy train is surely an engineering success achieved by the British. The toy train also offers a wonderful opportunity for tourists to absorb the beauty of the Lower Himalayas as it moves slowly and magnificently across the slopes of the mountain.

Fun fact! The Toy train service was introduced by the British in India. And till this date, though it belongs to India, it is funded and maintained by the British! How cool is that?!


There are two types of toy trains – one that is hauled by a steam engine and second that is hauled by a diesel-powered engine. The cost for each train ride also varies – Rs. 1000 for the diesel-powered train and Rs. 1400 for the train pulled by the steam engine. The diesel-powered train consists of 4 to 5 coaches while the train pulled by the steam engine consists of only 2 coaches.


The one thing you will notice in Darjeeling is the enumerable shops and residential buildings that have been set up dangerously close to the railway tracks. These edifices are not only unsafe but have been constructed illegally.


After a lovely and scenic drive, we had a good sleep and woke up very early the next morning to watch the sunrise from Tiger Hill.


It was extremely cold, and on top of that it was very windy. We suggest you take all necessary precautions before you come to this viewpoint (however, you needn’t worry, because numerous shops have been set up there that sell woolen clothes to keep out the cold). Within a few minutes of our arrival, the Hill got packed with hundreds of people. And hundreds more were coming from below to witness the sunrise. And it got so crowded that we had no room to even stand. The place was packed as if it were a football stadium! So coming 2 hours before the sunrise was very helpful.


It was wonderful to witness the sun make its glorious presence out of the mountains of the Greater Himalayas. And the sight of the third highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga (it was completely covered in snow!), was undoubtedly something that cannot be missed.

The unparalleled view of the sunrise.

And it turned out that we were lucky. For the past four days, people who had come to Tiger Hill in hopes of seeing the sunrise and the Kanchenjunga returned disheartened as neither of them was visible. This was due to fog which had hindered visibility. So, in our case, we were fortunate as we got to see both.

There is always a little bit of learning about the place you visit; and we sure did learn a lot. Sikkim was initially an independent country that became a part of India only in 1975. Darjeeling was earlier a part of Sikkim which was ruled by a Raja. The Raja of Sikkim gifted Darjeeling to the British. The land gifted to the Britsh however in 1835 did not comprise the whole of the present-day Darjeeling.

Darjeeling became the summer capital of India during the days when the Raj was governed from Calcutta. Darjeeling has been titled the “Queen of Hills” and this place is bestowed with unparalleled natural beauty.

And indubitably, we did not miss the natural beauty of this place. The lush tea plantation that draped the mountains was the first place that we visited as a part of our city tour. Renting traditional clothes is something that you must-do if you visit the tea plantations of Darjeeling. We took a lot of pictures (of course in traditional clothes) and enjoyed ourselves a lot.

Standing amidst the lush lush tea plantations in the traditional attire of Darjeeling.

Tenzing Rock is definitely a ‘yes’ for all adventurous people who wish to experience the thrill of rock climbing! Climbing the rock was not as difficult as descending back to the ground from the terrific height. But it was worth it and we enjoyed it a lot! The fee was about Rs.50 per person but the experience gained was priceless.

          Rock-climbing at the Tenzing Rock in Darjeeling!

The scenic view from Darjeeling’s ropeway service is the only thing that can make the day complete. It offers a 360 degree-view of the mighty mountains draped under the blanket of the beautiful tea plantations, thousands of trees, and the entire of Darjeeling from a marvelous height. The ride is a concoction of both heavenly beauty as well as tranquility, as the only sounds that can be heard in the cable car are those of birds chirping. Its booking kiosk is located at Singamari, 3 km away from the Chowk Bazaar of Darjeeling. There is always a long queue for the ride but it is definitely worth the wait. The cable car ride is about 40 minutes long covering a distance of 5 kilometers in total – to and fro. The tickets cost us Rs.200 per person. The cable car can accommodate 5-6 people at a time. The view from the cable car is truly an unforgettable one. It felt as we were riding a cloud that floated high above the beautiful mountains covered under a blanket of tea plantations. We were also thrilled with the way each time the cable car launched or stopped, just like a rollercoaster - with a sudden jerk and with great velocity.

                                                                   Cable car ride!

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, was our next destination. On our way to Gangtok, we crossed the Batasia loop which was a spiral railway line that was created to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan railway. This also is a very popular tourist attraction in Darjeeling.

Fun fact! The people of Sikkim have a unique tradition of planting 108 white flags consisting of bamboo staffs when a family member dies. However, not all of them follow it. The majority of the population of Sikkim consists of Hindus and Buddhists. The people there are very kind, helpful and humble.

We reached Gangtok just on time to watch the sunset and enjoy the evening. Excitement had reached its maximum level that night as well as the next day, for we were about to see snow for the first time at Tsongo Lake!

The drive to the lake was indescribable! Mighty snowbound mountains, beautiful roads that spiraled across the mountain, the sweet air, the furry yaks – this list could be endless! This journey to Tsongo Lake was undoubtedly the most amazing. Huge mountains covered in snow could be seen on either side of the snow.

Beautiful roads to Tsongo Lake!

Our excitement took the better of us! As soon as we had the first glimpse of snow on the roadside, we immediately asked the driver to stop the car and rushed to take the snow in our hands for the first time! Oh, it was just heavenly to hold the snow in our hands and play in it! The feel of the snow was something that we can never forget.

                                                         Yay! The first feel of snow!

The road that led us to Tsongo Lake was lined with many small shacks that gave on rent boots and sold jackets, mufflers, gloves and many other items. Renting boots from one of these shacks proved to be helpful as it was impossible to walk in snow without them.


The entire area was a military base and therefore we had to get permits without which entry was prohibited. After a splendiferous drive, we reached a point where we used a staircase to reach the lake. It proved to be very difficult as we were at an extremely high altitude where oxygen level was low. Also, the steps had ice frozen on them which made them both slippery and dangerous.


After climbing the staircase, one can either choose to walk to the lake or ride a yak to the lake. We chose the latter. After all, we were going to ride yaks for the first time! The ride on the furry beasts was very enjoyable and surely should not be missed.

Yak ride!

The moment we reached the lake, we started running in the knee-deep snow in excitement. We had never seen this much snow ever before in our lives! It was awesome! Words are too limited to describe the feelings we shared as we played in the snow, rolled in the snow, built a snowman and whatnot! The fun we had will never be forgotten.

We had loads of fun in snow and also built a
cool snowman!

We were lucky we got to see this much snow. Usually in March, when summer starts, most of the snow at this place melts. But luck favored us and we got to see loads of snow! We also got to see a frozen lake for the first time! When my parents had come to the same spot two years ago, the same Tsongo Lake was turquoise blue. It was not frozen and the color of the water was amazing. They had come to this place during January and they had just been mesmerized with its beauty. Depending upon the month or the season you come to this place, you will either enjoy huge quantities of blissful snow or the unparalleled sight of the turquoise waters of the unfrozen lake.

When my parents had come come to Tsongo Lake 2 years ago, it was unfrozen and the color of the water was spectacular!

Frozen Tsongo Lake!
If you are going to Gangtok, then surely the MG Road cannot be missed. This road is one of the most beautiful roads in the city, one where no vehicles are allowed. 

The entire road is lined with tiny shops to huge departmental stores on either side decorated fashionably.

It looked as if we had entered a different and magnificent world. The road was packed with tourists, students, and locals who were running their businesses. At the far end of the road, a small group of persons was holding a silent protest against global warming. The road was beautifully created with fountains in the middle, and the road too was brightened cheerfully by streetlights and was paved artistically. All of this made it look as if it was a different era as if this stretch of the city was somewhere in the future. One could spend their evening shopping from the variety of shops that line the road; the road is also an ideal place for all the food-lovers. One could also sit on one of the benches and just be there forever, hypnotized by the beauty of the road.

The resplendent MG Road in Gangtok
.

Fun fact! If it is raining in Gangtok, you can always expect snowfall at higher altitudes, such as at Tsongo Lake. That is why when it rained in the evening at MG Road, we could see mountains covered in snow the next morning from our hotel!

On the final day of our trip, we stopped at a point near the Teesta River for river rafting. It was marvelous! We passed through 4-5 rapids and were thrilled when the raft rocked dangerously with the massive swells of the water. The water was very turbulent and was extremely cold.

Two instructors assisted us in the raft. Before the rafting, they had given us a bit of training. Each of us was given a paddle consisting of 3 parts – a t-handle, a mast, and a blade. The instructors taught us how to paddle and made us learn to respond to certain commands such as 'kneel' or 'come up'.

As we sat down in the raft for the first time, and as we tried to ensure that we do not get wet because the water was unbearably cold, the instructors gave us a complimentary gift by splashing water on each one of us to make sure that we got completely wet. This took us by surprise, but even then, we enjoyed it.

The cost was about Rs.4000 per raft and each raft could carry 5-6 people. The river’s water came from the Himalayan mountains and was pure and drinkable. The river offered a great panoramic view. Rafting in this river is undoubtedly a must-do and is extremely adventurous and thrilling.

After enjoying rafting in the clear but corrugated waters of the Teesta River, it was time for us to return to Bagdogra Airport, time for us to return home. Travelling teaches you a lot, and surely this journey to Gangtok has taught us many new things that can never be forgotten.