West Sikkim -Temi Tea garden, Kaluk, Kanchanjungha

08-May-2011 and 09-May-2011

We started back for Gangtok around 8.00am and with lots of stop and very bad roads (roads were considerably worse than we got it while coming due to the rains in between) along with Rahul’s driving speed and a lunch break, we were able to reach Gangtok by 4.00pm in the afternoon. Nothing much to do there as I never like the ambience of this touristy hill stations like Shimla, Manali, Nainital or Gangtok. I quickly called up Subrata Sarkar of Kaluk hotel to check the availability and found the hotel would be completely empty after a big group leaving on 9th. I made up my mind on the fly, cancelled my 9th ticket, extended my work from home for another couple of days and enquire in Pelling Taxi stand for an exclusive cab for Kaluk from Gangtok. The rate is normally 2500/- if you take Melli- Jorethang- Rishi – Kaluk route which is faster but goes through much lesser heights and the route is not a scenic one. I was aware of the roads and asked the jeep to take me through Singtham, Tarku, Temi Tea Gardens, Damthang, Rabangla, Legship, Rishi to Kaluk. He charged me Rs.1000/- extra and it completely worth it, we started journey at 7.30am and reached Kaluk around 4.30pm with many photo stops and lunch and tea breaks. The driver Ajay is an excellent person, we really had a nice time with him and the guy knows in and out of the route and stopping the car in right bend for us to get a few nice snaps.

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Temi Tea garden:

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Little Wanderer:

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Enroute Kaluk:

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10-May-2011 and 11-May-2011

The Kaluk is a place to take rest and unwind yourself. Excellent location with just 1100 people leaving between Kaluk and Rinchenpong. You can see the Gazing lights like a necklace on other part of the hill at night and most importantly mighty Kanchanjhungha range is looming all over Kaluk with Kumbhakarna, North and South Kabur, Pandim, Sinoulchu all can be seen a clear day. The location is awesome and you would surely be short of words to express. You can go for some short hikes to Rinchenpong (just 3 km) and then to Poison lake or the monastery but you can just spend couple of days staring at Himalayas sitting at your room too. My Data Card was working in CDMA instead of HSIA and I took couple of important business calls from US and did some net meeting sitting there, awesome feeling too while talking about business keeping Kanchanjungha in front of your eyes. It certainly has a calming effect. Fortunately meeting didn’t last long and I was back in my world with Kanchanjungha. 10th Evening a depression on Bangladesh made some magic and pulled clouds there and gave some breath-taking moments of sunsets on the backdrop of mighty Kanchanjungha. Next day morning again sunrise was more than my expectation set for May. Didn’t know how 2 hours passed by setting tripods, changing lenses and looking at the ranges until it vanishes in the haze around 8.00am. I came back to reality as I didn’t have any more backup tickets to cancel the return of 11th ticket too. Got a Bolero for dropping me at NJP at 2500/- (may be bargained to 2200 which I didn’t as I was too overwhelmed with my Kanchanjungha experience). The driver Suraj is an excellent driver, probably best in my whole trip, I would surely plan with him for my next trip there at the first opportunity. Started feeling the heat the moment I reached Rishi, Jorethang is awfully hot and same as Melly, fortunately when hitting Sevak, rains have come as a bliss to cool down the weather, reached NJP around 5.00 in the evening. Hada long wait for Padatik Express around 9.00pm but then you can wait for ever what Sikkim offered me in a quick one week trip, silence of Silary, Gems of Old Silk Route, Awesome Gurudongmer, Mind-blowing Rhododendrons, Soothing green of Tea Gardens, Countless Water Falls and mighty Kanchanjungha, a very few hill station can give you this much variety what a small state like Sikkim can give you.

Lights of Pelling from Kaluk:

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 First Light :

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Kanchanjungha:

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