Gangtok Trip(Sikkim): 26 Nov-30 Nov, 2010

Gangtok-Nathula (Sikkim): Trip Log

Gangtok is a bustling, friendly hill station, and the capital of the Himalayan state of Sikkim. The name Gangtok is derived from the Tibetan word for 'hillside,' and the city currently has a population of around 80,000 - a mixture of indigenous Sikkimese and people of Nepalese and Tibetan ancestry. Gangtok is clean, highly organized, beautifully maintained and locally known as the Switzerland of the east. The city sleeps by 9pm mostly, except for a few pubs which are open till 11pm.

Members: 2 (Punj & Varun)

Start time: 9:55 PM, Friday, 26^th Nov, 2010

End time: 9:00 AM, Monday, 30^th Nov, 2010

Total travel: 1150 Kms (Train, Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri & return) + 240 Kms (Jeep, New Jalpaiguri to Gangtok & Return) + 170 Kms (Jeep + Taxi, Outbound & Local sightseeing)

Total expense: Total 8000 including complete transport, food and lodging

What went great:

- Beautiful places

- China border

- Monastery visit

- Damn cheap liquor

Pain points:

- No night life: Everything closes by 8 PM

Total duration: 2 days + 1 nights

Going: Kolkata Railway station, Howrah (26^th Nov, 10:00 PM) à Jew Jalpaiguri (27^th Nov, 10:00 AM) à Gangtok by jeep (12:30 PM, Charges: 160 INR per head) à Night stay at Gangtok and confirmed for the permit for Nathula pass entry through agent

Sight-seeing: 28^th Nov, from 8 AM to 6 PM, Jeep hired for 600 INR per head: Nathula pass à Baba Mandir (New) à Baba Mandir (Old) à Hathi Lake (shape is like Elephant) à Changu lake à Back to Gangtok Hotel

Dinner and drinks at Pub 25, among only few places which remains open till 11 PM.

29^th Nov, 9 AM, Jeep hired for Rumtek Monastery, 40 INR per head, then back to Gangtok at  3:15 PM and started back from Gangtok to New Japaiguri station by Jeep (160 INR per head). Caught train for Kolkata at 9 PM

Weather Conditions: Cold, Sunny till 2-3 PM and Foggy after that

Vehicle: Train, Jeep, Car

Sunderbans Forest Backpack Trip: 13-14 Nov 2010

Sundarbans Forest: Trip Log

Sundarbans is vast tract of forest  and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the Ganges Delta. The Sundarbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges,Brahmaputra and Meghna. It is home to the largest number of wild tigers in the world and is dominated by mangrove forests. Sunderban is only accessible by waterways.

Members: 4

Start time: 8:00 AM, Saturday, 13^th Nov, 2010

End time: 8:30 PM, Sunday, 14^th Nov, 2010

Total travel: 100 Kms (Train) + 40 Kms (Auto + Rickshaw) + 50 Kms (Boat)

Total expense: 1550 INR/head

What went great:

- Real backpacking trip. Used only public transports

- Boat and rickshaw rides

- Beautiful and comfortable stay @resort

- Private Boat Bar ;)

- Great buddies

Pain points:

- Food

- Shortage of Cash at the end of trip

Total duration: 2 days + 1 nights

Going: Kolkata Railway station, Sialdah (10:30 AM) à Canning Railway station (12:00 PM) à Babu ghat by walk (12:30 PM) à River cross by public boat (3 Rs per head) (1 PM) à Sonakhali on open roof auto :-) (1:45 PM) à Motorboat travel to Pakhiralay (3:30 PM) àLunch à Gosaba on Rickshaw (5:30 PM)

Sight-seeing: Sajnekhali Camp, Sudhyanakhali camp, Dobanki camp (On private boat, 14^th Nov, start: 7 AM) drop at Pakhiralay

Coming: Pakhiralay (3:30 PM, dropped by private boat) à Sonakhalli (auto) à Babu ghat (auto) à Canning railway station by walk (6:00 PM)

Weather Conditions: Sunny

Vehicle: Train, Boats, Auto, Man-driven rickshaw

Catching the pubic boat at Babu ghat

On sale: Punj in the special auto

On Motorboat going to Gosaba

Eggs or potatoes: Eggs selling like potatoes, seen eggs first time like this

@Resort

@resort with Anupam and Teji

Resort details: Binani resort, Gosaba. We rented a 4 seater dorm at 1200 INR for overnight stay. 

The Cash Crunch: It's always good to take good amount of cash when you go for such trips. But thanks to ATM, I have just lost the habit of keeping cash. Thought of taking out cash during travel but unfortunately didn't get any working ATM. At the resort stay, we realized that the common fund we have collected cash is just too low to reach back. I was the biggest culprit as I just contributed 500 INR to the fund. :P

All of us then emptied our pocket till single paisa to add into the fund. We put resort and boat charges separate so that we don't expend them in any other luxury. Put rest of the small fund (not sufficient though to reach back) for reaching to nearest ATM, so that I could take out some cash for everyone ;)

Anupam was so scared to let the last pennies of cash go away that he had a an altercation over 10 bucks with auto driver while coming back...sorry man...all my fault!! :D

Finally reached to the only ATM of the town and got some cash for everyone's relief....All's well that ends well!!

Pic with resort owners: reason of good hospitality and comfortable stay at forest

Our boat: Private boat hired for forest camps visits

Started at around 7:30 AM from resort. Boat hired for 2500 INR including lunch on boat and for showing us the 3 different forest camp and drop us at Gosaba taxi stand at around 4 PM. 

The charges for forest entry and taking an approved guide are separate which comes close to 500 INR.

Dil Chahta Hai

Sajnekhali Camp: First Tiger reserve camp. You get permission to enter Sunderbans forest and an approved guide from here

Unreal deer ;)

A wrecked ship @Sudhyanakhali camp

Varun, Punj and Trji @ Sudhyankhali camp 

Snake sighted!!

Crocodile sighted!

Delta pic

Our boat bar :)

Hands on boating!

Dobanki camp: Last camp

Loneliness: A Boat without any fisherman

Scenery while coming back