Photo: Side view of part of the Jungfrau complex and the nearby glacier

A view of the structure at Jungfrau. Jungfrau is a mountain resort, built high in the Alps, in the midst of ice, snow and rock, and allows tourists a place to enjoy being in such an environment in relative ease (a comfortable train journey is all it takes). This is a view of a part of the building, as well as the rock, snow and glaciers in the surrounding area.

Photo: Sharp rock and snow emerging out of the greenery on the way to Jungfrau

There is a truly spectacular train journey that one gets to see when one starts on the trip from Interlaken to Jungfrau in Switzerland. The train starts from normal green covered land to a place where you get into mountains, rocky, ice and snow covered cliffs. You can see something similar in this photo of the transition, where you start to see the towering mountain tops.

Photo: Rugged rock and snow covered mountain on way to Jungfrau

A view of blue skies and the rugged snow and ice covered rocky peaks on the Alps towering to these blue skies. This is one of the great views that one gets while on the way to the mountain resort of Jungfrau in Switzerland.

Photo: Railway lines mar the view of snow capped mountains on way to Jungfrau

When you get a great view, and have a nice camera in your hands, the itch to capture it a photo is incredible. But sometimes you are faced with situations where your photo will have glitches, such as this photo where the is a whole network of electric train lines that were obscuring the view. On second thoughts, I decided that this photo would make a perfect example of the coexistence of technology and nature.

Photo: Ice and snow covered peaks at Jungfrau

A view of the rocky cliff visible from the mountain resort of Jungfrau in Switzerland, giving a glimpse of very cold weather and deep snow. However, on this same snow, we could spot people going for guided treks at intervals.

Sikkim - Land of peace and tranquility in East India

GENERAL INFORMATION :
Sikkim : 7,096 sq.kms
Latitude : 27-28* North
Longitude : 88-89* East
Altitude : 5,500 ft.
Temperature Summer: Max -21*C / Min-13* C
Winter: Max-13*C / Min-05* C
Annual rainfall : 3,894 mm
Best Seasons : Feb – May / Sep-Nov.
Capital Town : Gangtok
Other Major Towns : Rongpo, Namche, Gyezing, Jorthang, Pelling, Singtam
Clothing : Summer - light woolens / Winter – Heavy woolens

Sikkim is a land of peace and tranquility, an ideal destination for trekking and for seeking some rest from fast paced action of life. People can rejuvenate themselves by being much closer to nature, walking in green areas, among mountains and trees. The Night sky is clear with constellations being clearly visible as opposed to cities where the light hides everything. Spend some time in this cultural wonderland, get some insights into Buddhism, enjoy shopping in the local markets, and overall forget all your tensions and problems.
Small but beautiful. Sikkim is situated in the eastern Himalayas. The state is legendary for its peaceful nature and simplicity. Famous for Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, along with a view of the majestic Mount Everst. The mountain state of Sikkim offers tremendous variety of plant and wildlife besides a diverse ethnic mix of people with rich cultural tradition.
Sikkim is rich with a wide variety of flora and fauna, and can make nature watchers salivate at the prospect of finding nature's marvels so easily accessible. About 450 varieties of orchids, over 600 species of butterflies, 500 species of birds along with red pandas, snow leopards and other animals can be seen in Sikkim. The largest collection can be seen at the Kanchenjunga National Park which covers an area of 850 square kilometers. As a result ornithology tourism is also gaining in prominence in Sikkim.


TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATION:
Airlines:
Nearest airport is Bagdogra (124 kms) in North Bengal which is about 4 hours drive from Gangtok. Sikkim Tourism operates daily five-seater helicopter service between Gangtok and Bagdogra connecting all civil flights. We also arrange Helicopter service for sight-seeing.

Railways:
The two nearest railway stations are Silliguri (114 kms) and New Jalpaiguri (125 kms).

Road:
Good condition roads connect Sikkim with Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Silliguri all the way to Kolkata. The Sikkim Nationalized Transport (SNT) plies regular bus service from Gangtok to all Major cities and towns in North Bengal and within the state. Booking facilities are available at Silliguri and Gangtok. Private buses and taxis are also available in plenty connecting Gangtok, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Silliguri.



View Larger Map

Places to visit in Sikkim :

- The Ridge Park : It stretches from the Main Palace Gate to the White Hall. A long idyllic stretch lined by the beautiful cherry trees that in season burst into flower in a profusion of delicate pink blossoms, this is the perpetual haunt of the jogging enthusiasts. The flamboyant marquee or 'Hawa Ghar' with ornate design holds sway over the Park where you can laze around or watch the local children romp exuberantly. The Flower Festival which is held year round is just a short walk down.
- Saramsa : It is the home to the Ipecac Garden is another popular tourist destination that is a mere14kms away from Gangtok. Home to many rare orchids and other flora, its shady lawns often play host to picnic parties.
- The Water Garden : A little further away at 16 kms is another alternative worth exploring. Cool off in the small and sheltered swimming pool there. Or else clamber over rocks in the vicinity and dip your feet in the river.
- Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology : It was Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, the last monarch of Sikkim who realized a long cherished dream when he set up this Institute. HH The Dalai Lama laid the foundation stone of the NIT which is done in typical Tibetan architectural style in Feb 1957. The following year Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the NIT.
- Do-drul Chorten : It is one of the most important Chortens or stupas of Sikkim that is exquisite as it is sacred. It was built in 1945 by Trulshik Rimpoche, a great teacher and interpreter of Buddhism.

NORTH SIKKIM :
- Dzongu : The territory of Dzongu in North Sikkim was set up in 1975. It is a land where pristine glacial streams thread their way through thick virgin forest. Countless waterfalls cascade down the steep cliff-sides and hot-springs bubble inside the hidden caves. The area is very remote, and is surrounded by sharply tilted verdant mountains that are stacked on top of each other at a forbidden angle. The elevation ranges from 500m to 6000m, and these extremes have nurtured an amazing diversity of plants and wildlife.

EAST SIKKIM :
- Rumtek Monastery : It is now the largest Buddhist monastery in East Sikkim and is the place where the monks perform sacred rituals and practices. Many sacred objects are housed within the complex, and one of the most magnificent is the Golden Stupa, which contains the precious relics of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa.
- Pastanga : The village located in East Sikkim is very rich in culture and folklore; and is surrounded by hills covered with dense forest and cascading streams with rivulets cutting through the landscape and appealing orchids blooming on tree tops.
- Khedi - Located in East Sikkim, is renowned for its two sacred lakes, the Bhale Pokhari and the Pothi Pokhari where a festival is celebrated every year attracting hundreds of pilgrims from all over Sikkim.

WEST SIKKIM:
- Pelling : The city of Pelling located in West Sikkim is balancing on a ridge at an altitude of 2.040 m. One of Pelling's main attractions is the Pemayangste Monastery. Known as the "Perfect sublime lotus" it is one of the oldest Monasteries in Sikkim being founded in 1705. The Sagachoeling (or Sang Gnak Choling) monastery is an even older monastery, dating back to 1697, and situated on a hilltop close to Pelling. Khecheopalri Lake, which is considered to be a holy lake by both the Buddhists and the Hindus, can be easily reached from Pelling.
- Darap : The picturesque village of Darap, located 8 kilometers from Pelling is a 20 minutes drive downhill passing through cardamom groves and terraced paddy fields.
- Yuksam : Yuksam is situated in the far western corner of Sikkim and nestled at the base of high forest-covered snow-capped mountains. Yuksam literally means 'the meeting place of the three monks'.
- Uttaray : Tucked away in the lap of mother nature is the tranquil village of Uttaray, the gateway to the Singalila trek. This village provides visitors with many options to go for short hikes or longer treks in the vicinity or visit the Limboo village of Sopakha located an hour walk from Uttaray.
- Hee Bermiok : The newly developed destination of Hee Bermiok with widespread community participation is an ideal destination for visitors wanting to sample unique rural lifestyle of Sikkim. The strong Limboo culture of this area is worth appreciating.

SOUTH SIKKIM :
- Namchi : Sikkim's South District, is the second largest populated districts of Sikkim. Its headquarter is in Namchi, meaning "High sky". The area does credit to its name, nestled among the hills it gives panoramic views of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and the magic snow-capped mountains in the back.
- Kewzing : It is a typical Bhutia village in South Sikkim under the cover of the forest. At an altitude of 1200 m Kewzing provides its inhabitants with magnificent views of mountains including Mt. Kabru. Best mountain views occur from mid September to mid December. The atmosphere in the village is very serene and peaceful as the local people are very friendly and hospitable.

TREKS IN SIKKIM :
Most of the mountain areas in Sikkim have a fragile ecosystem. This demands any trekkers to obtain special permit to trek. Trekking in Sikkim is conducted in an organized manner. Individuals cannot trek on their own.
* Darjeeling to Kanchenjunga Trek
* Darjeeling and Sikkim Trekking
* Off Beaten Treks
* Singalila Ridge & Goecha La Trek
* Sikkim and Kanchenjunga Trek(20d)
* Sikkim and Kanchenjunga Trek(23d)
* Varsey Trek
* Yuksom To Dzongri & The Goecha La

RIVER RAFTING IN SIKKIM :
Rafting in Sikkim is an adrenalin pumping exercise especially in the two snow fed rivers of Teesta and Rangit. During the monsoon season hundreds of small streams can be found all over Sikkim. The two trails that are possible amongst rafters are :
* On River Teesta: Chungthang - Dikchu - Singtam - Melli
* On River Rangit: Legship - Jorethang - Melli
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Where to stay in Sikkim ?
- Heritage Hotels
* Norkhill Heritage Hotel, Paljor Stadium Road, Gangtok
* Himalayan Heights Hotel, Palzor Stadium Road, Gangtok
- Luxury Hotels
* Tibet Hotel (3 Star), Paljor Stadium Road
* Chumbi Residency, Tibet Road
* Tashi Delek Hotel (4 Star), Gangtok
* Hidden Forest Retreat, Lower Sichey Busty
- Deluxe Hotel
* Tashi Gang Resort, Yangtey near Peling, West Sikkim
* The Bliss Resort, Biksthang, Mangalbarey, West Sikkim
* Hotel Golden Pagoda, M.G.Marg
* Golden Heights, M.G.Marg
* Hotel Tashi Tagay, Tadong, Gangtok
* Hotel Bayul, M.G.Marg
* Hungry Jack, National Highway - 31 A
* Hotel Mount Simvo Tadong, Gangtok
* Middle Sichey, Gangtok
* Tashi Ghang Hotel, Yuksom

Kalimpong - Quiet and Serene Hill Station

Area : 1056 sq km
Population : 50,000 (approximately)
Altitude : 1250 m (4100 ft)
Summer : Max. 27.1°C, Min. 16°C
Winter : Max. 15°C, Min. 5°C
Annual Rainfall : 220 cm
Best Season : March to mid June & Sept. to November
Languages Spoken : Nepali, Hindi, English, Tibetan and Bengali
Clothing required : Tropical in summer and light woollens in winter.

Kalimpong bears a name of historic significance. Once the headquarters of a Bhutanese Governor, the word 'Kalim' means King's Minister and ' pong' - the stronghold hence the stronghold of the King's minister. It is also called 'kalibong' or the spur by the hill people. 'Kalimpong' in local dialect stands for 'Kaulim' which is a fibrous plant which grows in abundance in this region.
Kalimpong is a bustling and rapidly expanding, though still relatively small, bazaar (market) town set among the rolling foothills and deep valleys of the Himalayan at an altitude of 1250m. It was once part of the lands belonging to the rajas of Sikkim, until the beginning of the 18th century when it was taken from them by the Bhutanese. In the 19th century it passed into the hands of the British and thus became part of West Bengal. It became a centre for Scottish missionary activity in the late 19th century, and Dr Graham's orphanage and school is still running today.


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Kalimpong's attractions include three monasteries, a couple of solidly built churches, an excellent private library for the study of Tibetan and Himalayan language and culture, a sericulture, orchid nurseries and fine views over the surrounding countryside. Although not many travelers bother to visit Kalimpong, there's enough here to keep you occupied for a couple of days, and for the energetic there's some good trekking too, and who can resist trekking. The dense forests of golden oak trees offset by the rich undergrowth of moss and lichen provide an ideal setting for balmy walks on the thick cushions of russet-brown leaves. One comes to Kalimpong to slow down and be pampered by nature's bounties.
The vast rolling meadows covered with a riot of wild flowers, the sparkling brooks and rivulets meandering lazily by the terraced fields are a feast for one's eyes. Kalimpong is a blaze of colour throughout the year owing to the richness of its stunning flora. The orchids of this region in particular are famous for their infinite variety as well as their delicate tints.

Tourist Attractions In and Around Kalimpong :
1. Gompas
Established in 1922, the Tharpa Choling Gompa belongs to the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, founded in the Tibet in the 14th century and to which the Dalai Lama belongs. It's a 40 minute walk from town; take the path to the right off KD Pradhan Rd, just before the Milk Collection and Extension Wing Building.
Lower down the hill, the Thongsa Gompa, of Bhutanese Monastery, is the oldest monastery in the area and was founded in 1692. The present building is not so old - the original was destroyed by the Gurkhas in their rampage across Sikkim before the arrival of the British.
Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, five km south of the town centre at the end of the ridge, was built in the mid - 1970s at Durpin Dara Hill and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama. There are impressive wall paintings in the prayer room, and a rare three dimensional mandala upstairs. Mountain views are good from Durpin Dara Hill. This area is a big military camp, but you are free to walk or drive through it.

2. DR. GRAHAM’S HOME: Dr. John A. Graham, a Scottish missionary founded this Institute in 1900. This Institution built on Deolo Hill north of the main township was established as an orphanage-cum-school for destitute Anglo-Indian children. It is now a renowned regular co-educational school situated in a 500-acre campus.

3. Durpin Dara: an observatory point from where a truly spectacular view of the Himalaya can be enjoyed. This along with the panoramic view of the Teesta and Relli rivers, and the plains far below, provide visitors with a memorable sight.

4. Flower Nurseries : Kalimpong produces 80% of India's gladiolas and is an important orchid - growing area; flowers are exported from here to many cities in northern India. The Sri Ganesh Moni Pradhan Nursery and the Udai Mani Pradhan Nursery are among the most important in the area. The Standard and the Universal Nurseries also specialise in cacti. There's a flower festival in Kalimpong in October.

5. Pedong monastery : Built around 1837, is of Bhutanese origin, while a kilometer away is the historical Bhutanese fort of Damsang, an important landmark of the area before the main town of Kalimpong came into prominence.

6. Mangal Dham Mandir : Sprawling over an area of two acres and built in 1993, Mangal Dham is considered to be one of the most splendid temples in India. It is the ground floor of the Dham, where lies the "samadhi" of their revered Guruji.

7. LAVA : 34 kms away from Kalimpong, Lava at a height of 7 , 755 ft. is a small hamlet, hidden in the mist & cloud all through the year. Most of the proposed treks in & around Kalimpong start from Lava.

8. LAVA LOLAY GAON : Whole day Excursion to Lava with a visit to the Tibetan monastery at Lava and a drive to Lolaygaon, a hamlet situated at 55 kms from Kalimpong, where you can walk among the treetops on a specially built tree top pathway. Late evening drive back to Kalimpong or stay overnight at Lava Lolay Gaon.

9. RISHYAP : 10 km rough jeep drive from lava is this small Lepcha Village situated at a heigh of 8, 500 ft. Rishyap means “lofty cliff of forest of ancients trees” in Lepcha language. Snow capped mountain peaks, dense evergreen forest, terraced agricultural field are the part of Rishyap.

10. DEOLO HILL: The highest point within Kalimpong municipality area (elevation approximately 1650 mtrs) that provides a 360-degree panoramic view. A fantastic bird’s-eye-view of Kalimpong town & Durpian hill can be had from here.

11. Sericulture Research Institute : At this institute silkworms are bred and silk is produced as well as herbs and plants. Locate on the road to Darjeeling, the institute can be visited between 9.30 am and 4 PM.

12. Nature Interpretation Centre : Located on Rinkingpong Rd, this centre consists of a number of well-organized dioramas, which depict the effects of human activity on the environment. The centre is open to visitors from Friday to Wednesday from 10 am to 4 PM and admission is free.

PLACES TO STAY :
1. Samthar Farm House : A special place for those who appreciate nature Tucked away in the lap of nature in the remote mountains, 80 Kms from Kalimpong, The SAMTHAR FARM HOUSE is a unique getaway - an intimate Wilderness Eco Lodge, offering tranquility, and one of the finest views of Khangchendzonga, the third highest peak in the world. It is ideal for nature lovers, honeymooners, and those seeking unusual places. It has been created by converting an abondoned Lepcha Farmhouse into a deluxe country residence, by Retired Indian Army General "Jimmy" Singh. Its natural stone and old timber construction has been preserved. The house nestles in a clump of pines, with a terraced nature garden rising to the rocky outcrop at the top of the hill. The natural landscape has been retained. The view rivals Tiger Hill (near Darjeeling). As a bonus, the sunrise and sunset views can simply be described as breathtaking.
2. Holumba Haven - HOLUMBA facing Mount. Kanchenjunga is a 2 acres natural landscaped botanical extravangenza, water fed by a natural spring, inhabited by a flora population over 1000 species of orchids, plants & trees, and conveniently located on the main highway,a kilometre ahead of Kalimpong town having own car park & garages. (The Ven. Bikchu Sangharakshita lived in "The Hermitage" (Magnolia) and refers to it as his Garden of Eden.) HOLUMBA offers the nature loving tourists an expansive orchid nursery :-"Nurseryman's Haven", world wide exporter since 1972 - specialist in Indo- Burmese orchids & Himalayan & Exotic - bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, plants, & seeds.
3. Hotel Silver Oaks - Lounging in the landscaped gardens in a profusion of colour, one is treated to breathtaking view at the Silver Oaks, Kalimpong. The natural décor is characteristic in the imposing Kanchenjungha which can be seen on a clear day, blooming petunias and asters, the serrated violet edges of iris, iridescent butterflies flitting through colourful azaleas, drooping geraniums, proud orchids and heaven, temporarily descends on earth. Sitting in one of the quaint gazebos, the tea seems to be flavoured by the refreshing winds of the Himalayas. The Silver Oaks was built in 1930 and once belonged to the prominent architect Frederick Desraj who built the old Teesta Bridge.
4. Hotel Himalayan - In the early days of the last century the hotel was the family home of David Macdonald. After accompanying the Younghusband Mission to Lhasa in 1904 as interpreter, Macdonald was posted to Tibet as a British Trade Agent, serving in Yatung and Gyantse until his retirement in 1924. Macdonald assisted the 13th Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet in 1910, and he was later invited to Lhasa in 1921. Prior to his retirement he served briefly as Britain's Political Officer in Sikkim, in charge of Britain's relations with Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim.
5. Hotel Kalimpong Park - It is situated on a viewpoint, 1 km. uphill from the downtown area. The hotel faces north-east, and has a 270 degree panoramic view of the hills and valleys, with Kachenjunga massif standing majestically on the left. The hotel has its own cars that drive up to the front door.
6. Soods Garden retreat : 8.5 Miles is where you will find the retreat, just 800 meters before the Hustle and Bustle of the Market area, set amidst Nature with a breath taking view, on the sunniest part of the Hills. For whatever you have in mind you can't be better Located. Near to all the site seeing interests. Laze on the rolling Lawns and Gardens or just admire the Glory of the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga from the Restaurant, Balconies or Lawns.
7. Garden Reach hotel : It is a budget hotel, located at a distance of 0.5 kms from the main town. The hotel is a perfect place for the leisure as well as business traveler.
8. Gurudongma House : Gurudongma House is located 3 kms from Kalimpong town center, away from the pollution, and noise of the town, in the exclusive hilltop locality. The house commands breathtaking views of the panorama of snows, dominated by Khangchendzonga – the third highest peak in the world.
This is not a hotel but a home, providing exclusive hospitality. Paying guests are personally hosted by the General, and are cared for by trained ethnic staffs, which provide spontaneous personalized service. The house offers just four guestrooms.
9. Hotel Tres : It lies at the crossroads of elegance and comfort. The building blends old and new, aesthetically pairing a new modest structure with an old cottage. Superbly located in Kalimpong offers a portrait of the hill station few will ever forget. Kalimpong is a beautiful place blessed with flowers and a pleasant weather all year round.

Banks :
1. State Bank of India
2. Central Bank of India
3. Union Bank of India
Hospitals :
1. Kalimpong Govt. Hospital
2. Dr. Mishra's Nursing Home
3. Dr. Mullick's Nursing Home
4. Dr. Sharma'a Nursing Home

How to get there ?
- Local Transport : Ponies, Jeeps, Private taxis
- Air Connections : Nearest Airport is Bagdogra. Bookings for Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Sahara India and Damania can be made at Kalimpong.
- Rail Connections : Nearest Railway Stations is New Jalpaiguri. Bookings can be had from agencies in Kalimpong around Rishi Road.
- Road Connections : It is 51 km from Darjeeling, connected by all weather metalled road.
Kalimpong to Siliguri (2 1/2 hrs.) - 65 km
Kalimpong to Gangtok (3 1/2 hrs.) - 78 km
Kalimpong to Darjeeling (2 hrs.) - 51 km

External articles / blogs:

1. Traveller's point (link to article)

To everyone who will tell me that 14 people in a jeep is not possible, I will answer them that they have to try the road between Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the jungle XD. Nice ride and I arrived in this bazaar busy city yesterday.

2. Exotic India (link to article):

Welcome to Kalimpong! The dense forests, lone roads, distant vision of mighty Himalayas, vast valleys, green meadows, it is indeed a heaven of the eastern part of India. Not only nature but the culture and tradition of Kalimpong are also a nice thing to experience. Kalimpong in West Bengal is a major center for traditional handicrafts, thanka paintings, metal crafts, Tibetan and Leptcha jewelries, wooden mask and other indigenous products. A large number of tourist throughout the year flock to this small town for its unique beauty.

3. HolidayhomeIndia (link to article)

Kalimpong is a beautiful hill station in the Darjeeling Hills at a height of 1,250 metres (4,101 ft) situated in the Indian state of West Bengal. Kalimpong is known for its educational institutions many of which were established during the British colonial period. Kalimpong, located on a ridge overlooking River Teesta, is a tourist destination for temperate climate and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Kalimpong is famous for its horticulture of various rare species of world famous orchids. Kalimpong is a town of religious centre of Buddhism.

4. Travel and Places (link to article):

One of the first things that comes to mind when the name Kalimpong is mentioned is its vast treasure-house of flowers. Rare and beautiful varieties of flowers and orchids grow in abundance, beautifying the region and also contribute significantly to the economy of the same. Kalimpong also boasts of numerous nurseries. Kalimpong is also the habitat of wildlife species including Asiatic Black Bear, Barking Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Tahr, Pangolin, Clouded Leopard, Siberian Weasel, Red Panda, Goral, Gaur and birds like Monal Pheasant, Orioles, Maynas, Besra, Hornbills, Swallows, Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Owls, Parakeets, Woodpeckers, Sunbirds, Black Baza and the Kalij Pheasant. Wildlife enthusiasts would thoroughly enjoy themselves at Neora Valley National Park.

5. Hill Stations in India (link to article):

The name, Kalimpong, has three different origins. One, it means the place where the local tribesmen gathered to organize field sports, second, it takes it’s name from the Bhutanese king’s minister’s stronghold and thirdly, it is named after Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in abundance in this region.

6. my dharmic life (link to article):

Kalimpong, in the north-eastern part of India close to the border to Sikkim, was the home of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche after he had fled from Tibet. Here Sogyal Rinpoche received instructions by him when he was in his early twenties.

7. Santosh Yatra (link to article):

Kalimpong has a lot to offer in terms of shopping. The Main Road, the 10th Mile Market and the Raja Dorje Market are some of the good places to shop. The must-buys of Kalimpong include fresh ginger and honey, Tibetan noodles, jewelery, artefacts, seeds and flower bulbs. The Kalimpong Arts & Crafts Centre is the best place for authentic Lepcha, Bhutanese and Sikkimese embroidered work on purses and dresses.

8. Adrian Cycling around Sikkim (link to article). Some great photos also here.

I woke in the morning to even thicker clouds and set off on the next leg of my circular route back to Kalimpong. The road to Kaffir (also known as Lolygoan) turned out to be a mostly terrifying route through forests considerably more ominous and misty than the previous day's, but this time on deserted roads full of potholes and loose stones. It was all fairly nerve wracking. It was also almost all very steep downhill, so turning back would be almost impossible.

9. Of Ink, Pennings And Pittoresco's! (link to article):

Cradled in the hills of Darjeeling-India, the small town of Kalimpong is but a place overwhelmed by ardent football enthusiasts. The passion for the game runs back to decades and the zeal has been carried down through the generation. Arguably, the pinnacle of this begins early July and ends in the usually rainy evening of the Indian Independence day.

10. MyTourInfo (link to article)

Most of the drive to Kalimpong from Siliruri is along forests fringing the Teesta River. Built into a steep gorge, the road overlooks this beautiful river as it rumbles and slides through the Himalayan foothills. About halfway, the graceful Coronation Bridge leads off to the east towards the Dooars, West Bengal’s picturesque tea country. Further upstream is Kalimpong.

11. TSI Holidays (link to article):

The road is one of the most scenic routes in this part of the nation. You will get a breathtaking scenic view of the Teesta river all your way to the town. The hill station is at an altitude of 1250 mts above the sea level. From this town one can get a panoramic view of the majestic Mt Kanchenjunga and the snow clad Himalayan range. The Durpin Dara and Deoro Hill are the two most popular scenic points of Kalimpong. Kalimpong belongs to the Darjeeling district. Coming here you will find a number of monasteries. The Kali temple of Kalimpong is very famous. The Tibetan Monastery Dr Graham's home are the remarkable tourist spots.

12. Real Travel (link to article):

I spent the majority of my time (weekends excluded) in a tiny little village called No.12 Dhura (aka Barranumber), which is North-east of Kalimpong near the town of Pedong.

13. Just Another Travel Blog (link to article):

The easiest route to reach Kalimpong is to take a flight from Delhi to Bagdogra/ Siliguri (about 70kms from Kalimpong). At the airport, many taxis are accessible to Kalimpong. [Remember that when you are going to Kalimpong, it is best that you reach not later than 5pm so that there is ready commute, since the towns really stop working after 530pm.

14. Driving directions from Kolkata to Kalimpong (link to article)

Photo Galleries (external):
1. Photo Gallery at world66. com (link)
2. Kalimpong.info's public gallery (link)
3. Many photos from Anuj (link)
4. Photos of Kalimpong at Flickr (link)
5. Kalimpong Photos at trekearth (link)
6. High Street in Kalimpong, India (link)

Videos of Kalimpong on Youtube:

1. Kalimpong Videos, West Bengal, India



2. Dr GRAHAM'S HOMES KALIMPONG



3. Kalimpong to Teesta Bridge



4. kalimpong mainroad

Travel in India: Siliguri - Gateway to North East India

AREA : 6,227 sq. kms.
LATITUDE : 26° North
LONGITUDE : 88° East
ALTITUDE : 400.62 ft. Above Sea Level
Population : 258,000
STD Code : 0353
Best Tourist Season : April to Mid-June; Mid September to November
Best Mountain Views : Mid Sept. - Mid Dec.
Recommended Clothing : Light woollens and tropicals in summer (umbrellas and raincoats are useful) and heavy woollen in winter.
Language Spoken : Bengali, Hindi, Nepali and English
Weather : The weather and climate in Siliguri is fine throughout the year; temperature in summer being an average of 34.8 'C and the winter temperature being around 12.8 'C. The humidity in this region remains high throughout the year with an average of about 81 %.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit the city is throughout the year except for the monsoon season that begins in June and lasts up to the end of September.

Silguri is the main commercial city of North Bengal and its importance comes from its strategic location near international and state borders. It is located on what is called the Chicken's Neck, a small width of territory that connects the main portion of India to its North-Eastern states. Siliguri is situated on the banks of the river Mahananda. The town is located on the foothills of the eastern half of the Himalayas, and is an important transportation, trading and educational center. Siliguri is the gateways to Darjeeling, Sikkim, Nepal, Dooars, Bhutan and most of the North-East states of India.

Siliguri is the commercial capital of North Bengal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. There are a large number of tourists in Siliguri at any point of time, with over 5 lakh domestic and 15000 foreign visitors, excluding the people of Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, who visit Siliguri regularly both for business as well as for leisure.

Siliguri is the major trade centre for the North-East and eastern Nepal; cycle-rickshaws dominate the roads and there are large number of buses and jeeps plying to different tourist destinations of the region. The main national highways of this region pass through Siliguri. Bus services to all the neighboring places and states is available from Siliguri. Bus services to Bhutan are also there from Siliguri.


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Siliguri being the junction, accomodation is easily available here with price ranges from expensive to nominal. Restaurants are also available in plenty. Siliguri also gives the pleasure of marketing specially the foreign stuffs. Siliguri apart from being a junction also offers some places in its surroundings to visit and relax. You can visit the tea gardens, monastries, hills, forests and many more..... . You can also visit the different beautiful picnic spots around Siliguri.

How to get there ?
By Road : Siliguri is the main city in the plains by the Tenzing Norgay Road (formerly Hill Cart Road).
By Bus: Bus services between Siliguri and Calcutta are frequent.
By Rail: New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri Junction stations at the base of the Darjeeling Hill areas have direct railway connections with Calcutta, Mumbai, Guwahati, Madras, Lucknow, and Delhi.
By Air: By air to Bagdogra (Siliguri), from where you need to go by road to Siliguri. Indian Airlines as well as private airlines operate on this route.

Places to Visit In and Around Siliguri
1. Nature Interpretation Centre : Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary Nature is presented as an exhibition. Entry permit for Mahananda weir, Sukna are issued.
2. Mahananda Weir wild life Sanctuary, Sukna : 18 km from Siliguri, a place, deep inside forest & nature a good picnic spot.
3. Madhuban Park : A park, developed by Indian Army, is an excellent picnic spot.
4. Umrao Singh Boat Club, Sukna : Umrao Singh Boat Club, Sukna, a Boat Club, developed by Indian Army. Different size & shapes of boats are available for tourists.
5. Passing through Tea Gardens : The trip passing through tea gardens provides an excellent view which everybody can cherish for a long time to come. One can see tea processing also by making prior arrangements.
6. Salugara Monastery : His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche constructed a one hundred foot stupa, which contains five types of relics and is an object of veneration which will bring liberation to any one who sees it.
7. Kalchakra Monastery : Kalchakra was 1st time organized in Salugara in December '96and is one of the most religious nerve centre of Budhdhist religion.
8. Teesta view Point at Sevoke : The Teesta river is the life line of the Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalayas. One can get a good amount of bird watching at this place.
9. Kali Mandir : Kali Mandir, a Hindu Temple near Sevoke, an abode of the living goddess Kali. The famous Kali Mandir is visited by many newly wedded couples seeking the blessing of the Goddess Kali for a happy married life.
10. Monkey Point : Before reaching Coronation Bridge, you will run into groups of friendly monkeys. These monkeys can be hand-fed items such as bread, bananas etc.
11. Coronation Bridge : Between Salugara & Kalijhora is the Sevoke Bridge, built in 1930, a relic of British Excellence in design & architecture. This is about 23 km from the city on way to Gangtok/Kalimpong and Dooars on the National Highway 31.
12. Consumer Goods Market : Seth Srilal Market and Hill Cart Road have some big consumer goods shops, which stock large varieties of mercantile. The people of North Bengal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh regularly visit Siliguri for Purchasing. Prices are competitive and bargaining is negligible.
13. Railway Exhibition : For seeing Steam Engines of narrow gauge , a relic of British Raj, one can visit Siliguri Junction.
14. Art Gallery : Regular art exhibitions are being held in Siliguri. The most important and regular site of Art Exhibition is Dina Bandhu Manch.
15. ISKCON Hare Krishna Mandir : A temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The ISKCON CENTRE in Siliguri is being labelled as the biggest Krishna Centre in the whole of the North East. Lord Krishna had gone into hiding in the jungles of Baikunthapur with Rukmini at one time so Siliguri was the first choice of Iskcon for making this biggest Krishna Centre in the North East.
16. Fulbari barrage: Typically a barrage means that a water body is formed, and the sam is the case over here. Located about 15 km from Siliguri on the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri national highway is a small but beautiful artificial water body - Fulbari. The main attraction here is that, Mahananda, the most important river of Siliguri forms a huge marshy land which provides ideal nestling place for migratory water fouls like Rudy shell, Mallard, open bull stork and much more.

Where to stay in Siliguri ?
You can take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in Siliguri besides star categorized accommodation. The various hotel packages offer the best of facilities. The well-furnished rooms place most of the comforts at your feet.

Hotel Sinclairs, P.O. Pradhan Nagar (link)
Hotel Heritage, Hill Cart Road, Pradhan Nagar
Hotel Gateway, Sevoke Road
Hotel Cindrella, Sevoke Road, 3rd Mile, Box No. 88
Viramma Resorts & Hotels, Hill Cart Road
Hotel Vinayak, Opposite Tourist Office
Hotel Apollo, NH 31, Mallaguri, PO Pradhannagar, Siliguri, India
Hotel Tourist Inn, Opp. P.C. Mittal Bus Terminus, Siliguri 734001, India
Hotel Conclave
Hotel Dolly Inn

Photo Links / Galleries:

1. Djingen Photography: Kolkata to Siliguri by train (link)
2. Siliguri Jn. Railway station (link)
3. Photos of Sikkim and Siliguri (link)
4. sunset on mahananda bridge siliguri (link)
5. Siliguri Photos at trekearth.com (link)
6. Photos of Siliguri at Flickr.com (link)

Videos of Siliguri from Youtube.com:

MAHANANDA BRIDGE, Siliguri



Siliguri City Ride



River-Teesta on way Siliguri to Gangtok



In Siliguri, Life has Symmetry



Siliguri Children's Park: Bringing Out the Child in You



Siliguri Crafts Beauty

Travel: Lonavala - Hills of Sahyadris in India

Lonavala is a beautiful and charming Hill Station at a height of 625 Meters above sealevel. It is without any doubt blessed by nature's beauty. The hill Station is only 128 Kms from Mumbai and around 70 kms from Pune, and is one of the favored hill stations and weekend getaways for people from Mumbai.

The best Season to visit Lonavala is throughout the year, except perhaps May when it can get warmer.
* October to March is ideal for sight seeing, with the best weather.
* April is bit warm, but suitable for outings, but as you get to May, it gets hotter.
* June to September offers some great views of natural beauty of Lonavala in the rainy season with rainfall all around, and can be a good time to visit if you like to look at natural settings when water is pouring all around, and the overall feel is soft and romantic.

Population : 50,000
Languages : Marathi, Hindi and English


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Set in the lush green hills of the Sahyadris, Lonavala is the most popular weekend destination from Mumbai and Pune. For a lot of people, it is a regular outing from the busy life in hectic cities, and there are no problems in going to the same place again and again. Lonavala is known as the Jewel of the Sahyadri; if you look at what all it offers, the praise seems justified - it offers the tourist pristine woods and valleys, gurgling and gushing waterfalls, historic caves, and many scenic vistas.
Historically, Lonavala has been there for many centuries, with the surroundings hills being the stronghold of the Maratha rulers, in their fights against the Moghuls and later the British. The Maratha warriors practised guerrilla warfare from here in their battles against these sets of enemies. However, now Lonavala is the epitome of peace and tranquility, with a lot of rich and famous people having setup holiday homes here for their use as a rest away from the city.
Lonavala also provides thrills of adventure sports in terms of rock climbing, including rock climbing at Duke's Nose.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS :
- Karla & Bhaja Caves: These rock-cut cave temples date back to the 2nd century BC and are amongst the oldest and finest examples of Buddhist rock cut temple art in India; they belong to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
- Rajmachi Point: Located about 6.5 km from Lonavla. Why is it famous ? It is famous for the view; this point commands a magnificent view of Shivaji's famous fort, Rajmachi (Royal terrace) and the surrounding valley.
- Ryewood Park and Shivaji Udyan: The stunning gardens are amongst the favorite picnic spots of the children, owing to the soaring trees and spacious open spaces provided by them.
- Valvan Dam : Located about 2 km from Lonavla. Located at the foot of the dam is a blooming garden, adorned with a wide variety of colorful flowers and other plants, which attracts a number of tourists.
- Tungarli Lake : The lovely Tungarli Lake supplies water to Lonavla town. There are no buses to the site, but taxis and autorickshaws are available from Lonavla Station (3 km).
- Lonavala Lake : The tranquil surroundings and serene atmosphere offered by the Lonavla Lake are enough to lure tourists here. The lake is also visited by a number of birds, making it a bird watcher’s delight.
- Duke's Nose : It stands 12 km from Lonavla, it is the finest landmark in Khandala and is popular with hikers. The cliff owes its name to the Duke of Wellington, whose famous and ample nose it resembles.
- Tiger's Leap : It is a cliff-top with a sheer drop of over 650 m. The magnificent view from Tiger's Leap is enthralling.
- Christian Cemetery : It is worth a visit for the century old tombstones with work on them. However, as happens in a number of such places, vandals have been at them, with most of them having been desecrated and their precious engravings stolen.
- Bushi Dam : During the monsoons, the dam fills with water and the water overflows on the 'steps'. People can sit on these steps and get wet. There are also a few waterfalls around.
- Lohagad Fort : Lohagad (literally 'Iron fort' in Marathi) is one of the many hill forts of Chatrapati Shivaji. It is situated 52 km from Pune in western India. Lohagad is at an elevation of 3,450 feet. A robust climb of about 11.2 km from Malavali Railway Station takes you to the 'Iron Fort', once a formidable battle-station of Shivaji. The fort commands a view of the surrounding hills and hamlets.
- Yoga Center: Lonavala has a Yoga center that provides

How to get there ?
Air: The nearest airport from Lonalvala is Pune, which is 64 km from Lonavala.
Train: Lonavala is on the main railway line between Mumbai and Pune, all express trains plying between the two cities stop here.
Road:The bus service between Lonavala and Pune is good (2 hours). However, the ride is rough and it takes 4 hours to reach Lonavala from Mumbai. Buses shuttle between Lonavala and Khandala (5 km from Lonavala; 15 minutes trip).

PLACES TO STAY
- Fariyas Holiday Resort
- Treasure Island Resorts
- Velvett Country
- Dukes Retreat
- Kumar Resort
- Swiss Resorts
- Sahil Sarovar Protico
- The Upper Deck Resort
- Hotel Whispering Brook
- Basilica Holiday Home
- La Exotica Resort
- Biji's Hill Retreat
- The Lagoona Resort
- Orchard Resort
- Country side Inn

External articles / blogs:

1. Ayushveda.com (link)

Tourists to West India often make it a point to include Lonavala referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains’, in their itinerary. Trekkers, campers, hikers throng the hill station while leisure travelers account for the majority of the footfall. It is also fast emerging as a preferred choice of honeymooners. Most part of the year is good to visit Lonavala as it sports pleasant climate.

2. Placesnearpune.com (link). Some great photos of scenery, greenery and waterfalls.

Lions view point was easily the best part of my lonavala trip. The moment you reach the edge of the cliff after walking across the road, you just cannot avoid saying “wow!”. The view is majestic and panoramic. You would see dozens of small waterfalls all over the place with one waterfall pretty prominent in the view.

3. Monsoon trek (link)

On the two hour train journey, we passed Lonavala and Khandala and almost as many waterfalls as the tunnels we went through.

4. Tale India (link)

Lonavala is not only about the picturesque sights and salubrious climate but it is also home to some of the finest places of tourist interest. The most outstanding among the tourist attractions in Lonavala are the Buddhist rock cut caves of Bhaja and Karla located in close vicinity of this hill station. On your trip to Lonavala, you must not miss out on these caves since they offer interesting insight into the development of Buddhism in the region.

5. Trek to Twin forts of Lohagad-Visapur & Bhajje caves near Lonavala (link)

Lohagad: This is one of the most interesting forts to visit as it still has its fortification and doorways in pristine condition. The fort dates back to the Satvahan Era and was mainly used to keep a watch on the trade route passing through the Sahyadris.

6. Lonavala's secret destinations (link)

Yet, the hidden beauty of the city can be revealed only after a chat with localites. One such place is the Karala caves, which are approximately eight kilometers from Lonavala. The cheapest mode of transport to reach this fabulous place is bus service, which will drop you in 10 minutes to the site. Or else you can also take an auto rickshaw, easily available in the city.

7. Discover India (link)

The must visiting sites in Lonavala during your trip are as follows -
First, there is the Rye Wood Park near the rail way station which is famous for its dense forest of many big and beautiful trees. During the season it attracts tourists with variety of flowers.

8. Lonavala Excursions: A Visit at the 5 Historic Caves (link)

Bhaja Caves are located at the center of Lohagad Fort and Visapur Fort. These caves are mush smaller with a Chaitya style. Tourists should take a 250 feet climb to get into the caves. There are 18 rock cut caves as old as since the 2nd century. The first cave is the place of the master architect and ten were reserved for the viharas for priests. The other seven caves have an inscription concerning its donors. A beautiful waterfall is seen at the end.

9. Wonderful Attractions In Lonavala (link)

The Gambhirnath Caves is the most exciting natural attraction. The adventure lovers will enjoy it here This area lies between Thakarwadi and Monkey Hill while departing towards Mumbai. Everyone may reach this location after experiencing some sorts of annoyance. Tourists will get the chance to climb atop the hill. The path will be narrow but is still worth trying for experience.

10. Enjoy the cool and lush greenery of Lonavala (link)

Start your day with a visit to the Karla Caves where you can look at some ancient ruins and Buddhist carvings. Not a very crowded place, it will give you ample time to explore it in a better way. The Chaitya caves are also a must-see. You can also go trekking to the Bhaja caves, which is situated next to Karla caves. The rocks date back to 2nd century BC and make up many temples.

11. A whole new life (link)

For people who are looking for a good place to stay try MTDC resorts Karla - The cottages are good much better than highly priced hotel rooms , the only drawback is the distance from the main city - but its a good place to just relax & enjoy the rains...

12. Maverick - The thought begins (link)

The scenic beauty was amazing, all the mountains were lush green, and covered by clouds and it was raining consistently to add on to the beauty of the weather. As we were heading towards the Tiger Waterfall, the fogs became more dense

13. Pen Shots (link)

Ryewood Park is a picturesque hang out in the hill station Lonavala and is located very close to Lonavala market. This Park has plenty of grounds with greenish lawns and playing grounds for children. The Park is blessed with many varieties of trees which are decades old. It was a botanical garden and later converted to a Park.

14. Visit to Karla Caves, Lonavala (link)

Admired the symmetrical architecture of the place which was built in 2nd or 3rd Century. The stupa inside the cave is a very common feature in the Buddhist rock cut caves in India

15. Journeys explored (link)

Further reached Lonavala almost at noon. Grabbed up almost anything be with melons, chikkis etc..to suffice our hungry, thirsty souls.

16. Pune to Loanavala (link)

after some thoughts we went for Lonavala and thankfully it turned out to be a worthwhile decision. A wonderful ride for someone in Pune looking out for a decent biking experience. Mind you it is a bit risky, we were lucky not to get into any accident but next time if I am gonna go that route it would be in day time and with some more preparation.

17. Trek, Trips and Adventures (link)

Korigad predates 1500 A.D. and Shivaji Maharaj included this fort in Swarajya along with Lohgad, Visapur, Tung and Tikona in 1657 and in 1818 Marathas lost it to the British. There is Ganesh Darwaaja half way to the top with idol of Lord Ganesh in small rock cave and big cave near it.

18. My Trip To Lonavla (link)

While going through the old highway there were three things which stuck me most. First being the countryside around me it was beautiful. I have almost visited all the hill stations in northern India so small cliffs now dont entice me so much but i was awestuck by the sights i saw in a cloudy evening.

Photos:

1. Photos of a trip to Lonavala (link)
2. Photos of Lonavala on Flickr (link)
3. The Lion Valley, Lonavala (link)
4. Loanavala Photo Gallery on world66.com (link)
5. Photos at sulekha.com (link)
6. Photo of Karla caves near Lonavala (link)
7. Lonavala in monsoons (link)
8. Photos of famous tourist spots (link)
9. Lonavala: Korigad and Kune falls: Amby Valley: Entrance (link)

Some videos shared by people about Lonavala on Youtube:

1. Lonavala Trip



2. Another Lonavala Trip



3. Lonavala- one of the best trip



4. Lonavala trip waterfall (at Tiger Falls)



5. Team picnic at Lonavala



6. Lagoona Resort Lonavala (link)



7. Ola Lonavala! 26 types of National Chikki (link)



8. The Machan - A Tree House, Lonavala

9. Amby Valley - Sahara City Lonavala

India Travel: Gangtok - "the lofty hill" in Sikkim in North-East India

General Information :
- Altitude: 1600 meters.
- Language: Nepali, Sikkimese, Bhutia, Lepcha, Hindi, English.
- Best time to visit: Gangtok enjoys a gentle, moderate climate all year through. Mercury levels range from an average maximum of 22°C in summer (March to June) to an average minimum of 4°C in winter during December to February. Best time to visit is September to March.

All good things in life come in small packets and Gangtok is a good illustration. Be it the rich flora, the beautiful people, or the serene Buddhist monasteries, this small town, occupies an important position in the itinerary of tourists in search of tranquility from the humdrum of modern life. The eastern state of Sikkim lies couched between the borders of Nepal and Bhutan. Gangtok became the capital of the state in the 19th century and lies to the south of the district of East Sikkim. It is a hilly town and spreads down the western side of a long ridge flanking the Ranipul River.

Location of Gangtok on Google Maps:


View Larger Map

Tourist Maps of Gangtok and Sikkim (link,
Gangtok In and Around Map (link)

An air of enchantment hangs over the city, indeed the whole valley; the mysticism, the stupas, the monasteries reach out as soon as one has crossed the border. While across the hills and valleys comes the sounding of the long trumpets by robed lamas.

Places to Visit :
1. Do Drul Chorten : It is regarded as the most important ’stupa’ of Sikkim. This stupa also has sacred gold-topped shikhara with 108 prayer wheels.
2. ENCHEY MONASTERY : The Enchey monastery literally means the solitary temple. This place especially attracts attention during the religious dances or ’Chaam’ performed in January.
3. Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology : The institute promotes research on Mahayana Buddhism.
4. Pemayangtse Monastery : This Monastery is located at the hill top and gives a wonderful view of the Himalayan ranges and the surrounding hills of the region.
5. Government Institute Of Cottage Industries : t was established with the purpose of promoting the manufacture and sale of local handicrafts. Thankas (also spelt as Thangkas), hand carved wooden tables - known as Choksees and exquisitely woven woolen carpets.
6. Lachung : This is the area inhabited by the Lachungpas, a hardy mountain people who consider themselves quite different from the Bhutias and the Tibetans. The lush green, terraced hillsides, even in winter, were a testimony to the grit and determination of these people.
7. Phurchachu Reshi Hot Springs : These springs are considered holy as one of the four holy caves is located here. This holy cave is called the "Kadosangphu" or 'Cave of the occult fairies' and lies on the south of the four cardinal points.
8. Orchid Sanctuary : The sanctuary is famous for its rare and extensive collection of orchids.
9. Namgyal Institute : Namgyal Institute was built in the year 1958 to promote research in Mahayan Buddhism and Tibetan language and traditions.
10. Tsuk La Khang : A depository of a large collection of scriptures, this is the principal place of worship and assembly for the local Buddhists. The Tsuk la Khang is also characterised by the beautiful and impressive building with mural covered interior, lavishly decorated altars or images of Buddha, bodhisattvas and Tantric deities and the many fine works of woodcarving.

Excursions from Gangtok :
1. Kabi Longstok : 25-km from Gangtok, here is a spot amidst tall trees, where the treaty of brotherhood between, the Lepcha Chieftan - Tetong Tek and the Tibetan chief Khye Bhumsa was signed.
2. Changu Lake : 35-km from Gangtok.
3. Chungthang : 95-km from Gangtok.
4. Ganesh Tok : 7-km from Gangtok.
5. Hanuman Tok : 11-km from Gangtok.
6. Menmecho Lake : 20-km from Gangtok.
7. Phoodong Monastery : 40-km from Gangtok.
8. Tashi View Point : 8-km from Gangtok.
9. The Ipecac Garden : 14-km from Gangtok,
10.Yumthang : 149-km from Gangtok.
11.Yumthang Hot Springs : 135-km from Gangtok.
12.Nathula : It is a mountain pass situated about 56 km from Gangtok at an altitude of about 14,200 ft and is covered with rich varieties of alpine flora and fauna.

Places To Stay In Gangtok
1. Heritage Hotels
* Norkhill Heritage Hotel, Paljor Stadium Road
* Himalayan Heights Hotel, Palzor Stadium Road
2. Luxury Hotels
* Royal Plaza Hotel
* Hotel Tashi Delek (4 Star), Mahatma Gandhi Marg
* Nor-Khill Hotel (4 Star), Paljor Stadium Road
* Hotel Dew Pond (3 Star), P.S. Road
* Hotel Central (3 Star), 31A, National Highway
* The Oriental (3 Star), Mahatma Gandhi Marg
3. Deluxe Hotels
* Hotel Rigwa, M.G. Marg
* Orange Village
* Sidlon Residency
* Hotel Sonam Palgey
* Shambhala Mountain Resort
* New Castle
* Chumbi Residency
* Hotel Rendezvous

How to reach there ?
- Nearest Airport Bagdogra Airport (16km)
- Nearest Train Stations New Jalpaiguri (124 km)
- Main Road Highways NH 31A




External articles:

1. Long journey - section of Gangtok (link): Bike journey with photos of difficulties
2. Sikkim’s Gangtok: The Place where great journeys begin (link)

Sikkim is bounded by Bhutan to its east, Nepal to its West and China to its north. The southern boundary is shared with the state of West Bengal. The topography of Sikkim is such that the entire state is covered with beautiful hills and mountains. Not just a tourism destination, it is also a paradise for naturalist and environmentalists owing to its wealth of flora and fauna. There have been many expeditions related to zoological and botanical research leading to the discovery of a number of plants and animals. It is also the spiritual center for Buddhists all over the world and has around 250 monasteries, each having its own peculiar history and traditions.

3. Hotels in Darjeeling and Gangtok (link)
4. Forum post on trip to Darjeeling (link1, link2, link3)
5. Gaga about Gangtok (link)

Our first stop was at the Rumtek Monastery. The Monastery consists of the main shrine-temple, a retreat centre, a monastic college (Shedra), a nuns’ hostel, some stupas, a protector’s shrine, and some other establishments for the community. I was awed by the vibrant basic colors of the walls, festoons, and chandeliers in the monastery.

6. adventures of mak & mainu (link): Many photos of Gangtok as well

So there we were finally, the long awaited Gangtok. Saw the sikkimese people with their chic clothes and finest shoes, supposed to be brought in from china. We checked-in to Sonam Palgey hotel, touted to be one of the best in the area, located right under the Gangtok ropeway. After a warm shower and some rest we went out to explore the area. Started with the Rumptek Monastery, seeing the monks in their maroon robes reminded me of those Dalai Lama movies, the peaceful serenity of the monastery was capturing.

7. Gangtok Hill Station (link)

Gangtok in Sikkim is well connected by roads, rail and air transport. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra in West Bengal. There are helicopter services from Bagdogra to Sikkim. The nearest railhead is at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, which is connected by regular trains from different cities in India. One can easily reach Gangtok by road from the airport and the railway station. The city is connected with West Bengal by all weather roads which connect Siliguri and Kalimpong in West Bengal with Sikkim.

8. Love to travel (link)

The nearest train station to Gangtok is New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri which has direct connections to New Delhi, Kolkata, and other major cities in India. It is a 10-12 hour journey from Kolkata. From New Jalpaiguri, you can either hire a taxi from the station itself or take an auto-rickshaw to the Siliguri bus stand. From there, you have the option of traveling to Gangtok by state bus, roughly a 5-6 hour journey.

9. Alistair D'Souza (link)

Gangtok is 140 km from Bagdogra Airport. You can take a vehicle from the airport to gangtok. No need of booking anything in advance.

10. Travelling India (link)
11. One step closer to Freedom (link)

The road to Gangtok was really breathtaking. Its surely a must try. But today, it had a lot of traffic snarls with the mud and rocks still being cleared with bulldozers. In one place, we were held up for almost an hour. Maybe there was a landslide here last night, I wondered. But the delay there, gave me a unique oppurtunity to take photos of the Kanchenjunga peak which was slowly coming out of the clouds. Let me tell you one thing. The first time you see a mountain peak for real is very special. I have seen many photos of this peak before. But only when you stand here, you get to see the relative size of the peak with everything else around you. That, my friend, you can't get in a photo. For people like me from the plains, its truly a breathtaking experience to see a mountain peak.

12. Travel & Work, Work & Travel (link). Some great photos of Gangtok.

To my amazement, and utter joy, she stayed for a bit. And then she also rubbed up against the fence and I got a chance to touch the soft, soft fur. That touch seemed to have lasted, because for the next minute or so she pushed into the fence, and I dug my fingers further into her fur. Behind her ear, on her shoulder blades, neck, even (and I admit my foolishness in going this far) but was able to pet her underbelly a bit.

13. Destination Gangtok (link)

The tourist attractions in Gangtok include museums, monasteries and quaint surroundings. The Deer Park is a must-see tourist spot commanding a breathtaking view of the valleys neighboring the city of Gangtok against the backdrop of the elegant Mt. Kanchenjunga. The park is home the rare red panda and the Himalayan Bear. Dul Dul Chortena also features among the popular tourist attractions in Gangtok that was built under the direction of the late most respected Rimpoche and is a place of worship for the Tibetan Buddhists.

14. Discover India (link)

The inhabitants of Gangtok are chiefly dependent on tourism, which is the most important occupation for the residents. A number of superior international standard hotels have turn up in the recent years to cater the escalating demand of tourists. All these hotels are extravagantly built and decorated and offer service which is a combination of conventional hospitality along with modern professionalism.

15. Guide to Gangtok (link)

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 Lepcha,Bhutia Nepalese and Tibetan ancestry along with people from across India settled and engaged in trade and business activities.

16. Adrian Cycling across Sikkim (link)

I'm now in Gangtok, which seems a very pleasant place so far. It's got a wide pedestrianised main street with no litter. This is a first for me in India (outside of shopping malls) and it's very nice. I'm not sure how they enforce it – I suspect large fines and men with sticks. Sikkim is noticeably quite wealthy, which I believe is partly because the Indian government put lots of money into their economy to lure them away from any loyalty to China.

Photos of Gangtok:

1. Gangtok city view on rope way (link)
2. Gangtok picture gallery at India Travelinfo (link)
3. Photos of Gangtok on Slideroll (link)
4. Many photos of Gangtok at SikkimInfo (link)
5. Photos of Gangtok at oktatabyebye.com (link)
6. Gangtok Photo Collection (link)
7. Photos of Gangtok on Flickr (link)

Videos detailing different experiences in Gangtok:

Surviving in Gangtok in Rs 3,000



Gangtok town



How to Get Lost Two backpackers: part 2 of 7: India (Sikkim, Gangtok, Kolkata)



Gangtok - Sikkim - India



Gangtok: A Beautiful Memory



Gangtok calling: This video was taken en route to gangtok when i was about to reach Teesta.



Gangtok: The land of Mystic Splendor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf9lYFp1r6A

Beautiful Snow Fall in Gangtok (26.05.2009)



Gangtok (Sikkim) Road Trip



Gangtok Videos, Sikkim, India



Helicopter ride from Bagdogra to Gangtok: Beautiful experience flying over the Himalayas

Beautiful scenery with hills turning from green to snow capped

A beautiful photo of a journey to Jungfrau, the journey was so beautiful with some incredible sceneries. In the same photo, you can see the ice line, where the greenery ends on the hills, and moves to the ice line higher up on the mountain. Such a photo was very captivating.

Tourist places: Darjeeling - Land of Thunderbolts in East India

Darjeeling conjures visions of serenity, of vibrant green hills steeped in splendour, a land of breathtaking beauty crowned by the majestic Himalayas.
Darjeeling is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world. This heavenly retreat is bathed in hues of every shade. The flaming red rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the miles of undulating hillsides covered with emerald green tea bushes, the exotic forests of silver fir - all under the blanket of a brilliant azure sky dappled with specks of clouds, compellingly confounds Darjeeling as the QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS.

General Information :
- Area 11.44 sq.kms
- Altitude 2134 m
- Best Season March to mid June & September to mid December
- Clothing Summer - Light woollens, Winter - Heavy woollens
- Languages Spoken English, Nepali, Bengali, Hindi, Tibetian

Location of Darjeeling on maps.google.com:


View Larger Map

Map of Darjeeling at astrainfotech.com (link)
Another map at Darjeelingnews.net (link)

How to Reach there ?
- By Air : The nearest airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra about 94-96 kms away from Darjeeling. Tourists heading for Darjeeling can get direct taxis/cabs to Darjeeling from Bagdogra or one can head towards Siliguri first and get a transport there. There are a number of transport facilities available from Siliguri.
- By Train : The closest Railway Station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) about 88 kms away from Darjeeling. Once in NJP one can avail of taxis directly to Darjeeling or take an auto-rickshaw or rickshaw upto Siliguri and thus proceed to Darjeeling by getting a taxi.
- By Road : Darjeeling is connected to Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and all of its surrounding hills. The major access to Darjeeling is via Siliguri which is connected to all the major cities.

Darjeeling - the name is derived from the Tibetian word 'Dorje' which means the precious stone or ecclesiastical sceptre, which is emblematic of the thunderbolt of Indra, and 'ling' - a place, hence the land of the thunderbolt. Darjeeling tea, which is one of the most exported items from the city, occupies a place of pride in the entire world for its fresh aroma and taste . The city is a paradise for trekkers and is one of the most sought after cities for adventure lovers.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :
1. Ghoom : The renowned Yiga Choeling Monastery dominates the hillock. While visiting the monastery you must check out the images of Maitreya Buddha. Then there are the ancient palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Tibetan script too, of much interest to the historians.
2. Museum of Natural History : The museum boasts of a fine collection of Himalayan animals, reptiles, birds and insects.
3. Tiger Hill: It is situated at an altitude of about 2590 m and gives a magnificent view of the sunrise over the Kanchanjunga hills.
4. Kalimpong: This city is located near Darjeeling at an altitude of about 1250 m and has many places of tourist attractions like Kalibari, Kalimpong market, Gouripur House, Golf Course, Pedong Monastery, and Rishyap.
5. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: he institute was established in 1954 by the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in the wake of the conquest of Everest.
6. Mirik : he hill station of Mirik is a marvelous retreat for the sun-scorched souls of the plains. In Mirik you have to see and experience the magnificence of the mighty Himalayas in the Sumendu Lake. The tea gardens and the orange orchards are the other places of interest in Mirik.
7. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park : It is the only center in India for the breeding of the rare snow leopard.
8. Darjeeling-Rangit Valley Passenger Cable Car: Popularly known as the ropeway, it is situated at North Point. It is the oldest passenger ropeway and connects Darjeeling with Singla Bazaar at the bottom of the valley.
9. Kurseong: This city near Darjeeling is located at an altitude of about 1458 m and is famous for its scenic beauty with peace and tranquility all around.
10. The Mall: The Mall, like many other hill stations, is Darjeeling’s popular commercial street, full of tourists and people selling stuff to these tourists. It has shops with Tibetans selling hand-knitted sweaters and souvenir shops chock-full of Himalayan artifacts and both real and imitation antiques. Photo shops carry turn-of-the-century photos as well as specialising in hand-painted black and white prints with glowing oil colours.

Darjeeling - Adventure Sports
he breathtaking panoramic views of Everest and Kanchenjunga have been alluring thousands of nature lovers from different parts of the world since then. Treks in this region are organized through both high and low altitude areas.

Toy Train ride to Darjeeling
This joy ride begins at New Jalpaiguri.
Leaving New Jalpaiguri station, the train passes through the outskirts of Siliguri town and reaches Siliguri station.
After a short halt the train leaves Siliguri station and crosses the Mahanadi bridge over the Mahanadi river which flows from the Himalayan foothills.
After six miles train reaches Sukna station from where the real ascent begins.
The train now passes through Rangtang station (1404 ft/430 m) and a little further away the train may stop for water again.
It then passes Chunbhati.
Then the train passes the Tindharia Railway workshop to reach Tindharia station (2,822 feet/860m).
Leaving Tindharia one can see the jagged rock-faced mountains up ahead called Giddapahar (Eagle's Craig) which the train later has to pass through.
After this station the train stops for water near Pagla Jhora.
Shortly after this the train reaches Mahanadi Bazar station (4,000 ft/1,225m). Leaving Mahanadi the train travels west through Gidhapahar (Eagle's Craig) with an excellent view of the valley, the hills and tea gardens and reaches Kurseong station.
Now the train reaches Tung (5656 ft/1725m) which gives us an excellent view of the Kurseong ridge.
The journey new leads through Sonada.
The train now passes through a small town called Jorebunglow.
The train now reaches Ghoom (7407 ft/2260 m) the highest point of the journey. Leaving Ghoom the train descends towards Darjeeling.
On the way the train passes through Batasia Loop with its memorial to the Gorkha soldiers.

Places To Stay In Darjeeling :
Heritage Hotels
- New Elgin.
- Hotel Windamere.
- Fortune Resort Central (Heritage Hotel).
Premium Hotels
- May Fair Hill Resort.
- Cedar Inn.
- Himalayan resort.
- Gymkhana resort.
- Hotel Sinclairs.
Budget Hotels
- Alice Villa.
- Dekeling Resort.
- Shangrila Regency.
- Hotel Ivanhoe.
Tea Estates
- Glenburn Tea Estate.
- Makaibari Tea Estate.

External articles / blogs:

1. Darjeeling sight-seeing tour (link)

Every year from the month of April to June and September to December tourists flock in this beautiful hill station to enjoy holidays in splendor. With sprawling tea gardens, fruits orchards, cardamom plantation, exotic natural beauty, undulating slopes, exotic flora and fauna and Breathtaking scenery, Darjeeling never fails to lure visitors. Visit once and it is sure you will fall in love with its breathtaking scenery and the lovely weather condition of this beautiful hill station of India, Darjeeling.

2. Few photos of Darjeeling (link)

In India Darjeeling is a very beautiful place you cannot compare it to any other place. Darjeeling is famous for Buddhist temples and botanical gardens. There are many sightseeing places here. Large number of people attracted by the Kanchenjunga- snow-capped mountains. Tiger Hill which is at 8500ft. height is located 11 kms from Darjeeling. The sunrise over the Tiger Hill is a mesmerizing sight.

3. Kolkata-Sikkim-Darjeeling trip (link)

Our hotel was in the busy market place near the Mall road and we saw so many people here (mostly tourists) crowding the tiny shops with bags full of purchases! Not bad, huh? Shopping here was FUN!! So many things to buy and so less time! However we managed to buy some semi-precious stone jewellery and loads of woolen stuff!! Shawls were getting sold like hot cakes in almost all shops- trust me they were so good and affordable that it tempted me to buy 4!!

4. Explore tourism India with Darjeeling (link)

For centuries Darjeeling has been showing new dimensions to tourism India with its splendid landscapes, fresh mountains, eye catching sceneries and courteous people all around. Darjeeling is known as one of the most startling and magnificent hill resort with global fame. This exotic place is famous for its spectacular sunrise and sunset and glorious and sky-kissing mountains of Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu.

5. Darjeeling, city in West Bengal (link)

Darjeeling is the holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists of the city. Tiger hill, a hill with a height of 2,600 meters, is the tallest hill in Darjeeling. It is visited by most visitors because it offers a perfect view of Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world. Kanchenjunga is a beautiful hill station surrounded by many mountains and hills with chilled atmosphere due to which it is considered as summer capital.

6. Photos and information (link)

Ghoom is one of the major landmarks in Darjeeling. The renowned Yiga Choeling Monastery dominates the hillock. While visiting the monastery you must check out the images of Maitreya Buddha. Then there are the ancient palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Tibetan script too, of much interest to the historians. The Museum of Natural History is another tourist attraction in Darjeeling India. The museum boasts of a fine collection of Himalayan animals, reptiles, birds and insects.
For the botanist, an animal and nature lover Darjeeling offers several Tourist places of interest. At the Lloyd Botanical garden all tourists may enjoy the captivating collection of alpine flora and orchids. Darjeeling also has the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. The zoo happens to be the only center in India for the breeding of the rare snow leopard. The Ussurian tigers and the Himalayan black bear are also among its attractions.

7. ravings, cravings, etc (link)

Darjeeling is first and foremost a place for tourists. The tea industry comes next in terms of importance. But I seem to be guilty of the very thing that I am bemoaning. So I will correct myself: Darjeeling is first and foremost about its people and its vibrant admixture of cultures. This is the second reason for its once bustling tourism. The first reason is because of its climate.

8. indiamarks (link)

However a Taxi from Siliguri will not take you out for sight seeing once on the hills/or in the Darjeeling town ship. It is advisable to take a one way taxi from Siliguri into Darjeeling, and book a Taxi within Darjeeling for sight seeing and your journey back to Siliguri. Taxi-fares are standard, and are generally affixed on the rear wind shield of the vehicle. Share jeeps depart regularly, from several locations around town. They leave when full, and are a cheap, fast and reasonably comfortable way to get to Darjeeling.

9. inTechgrity.com (link)

Darjeeling is best seen by walk (ahem ahem). There is a market place with all the usual shops for woollen wear and stuff, not to mention an awesome looking INOX theater complex. And we watched Casino Royale there!! Seems like the single most important highlight of our trip to Darjeeling . If you ever want woolen clothes, best to buy it from here. Dirt cheap, bargains galore and the quality is not that bad either. Three places that were good and worth the while – the Peace Pagoda near the Japanese Temple, The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) and the Zoo! The pagoda was a treat to the eyes with the huge golden statues of Buddha at various milestones of his life.

10. More details of Darjeeling (link)

The history of Darjeeling is intertwined with that of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Bengal. Until the early 19th century, the area around Darjeeling was ruled intermittently by the kingdoms of Nepal and Sikkim with settlement consisting of a few villages of Lepcha woods people. In 1828, a delegation of British East India Company officials on their way to Sikkim stayed in Darjeeling and decided that the region was a suitable site for a sanatorium for British soldiers. The Company negotiated a lease of the area from the Chogyal of Sikkim in 1835.Arthur Campbell, a surgeon with the Company and Lieutenant Napier (later Lord Napier of Magdala) were given the responsibility to establish a hill station there.

11. Go 2 Holiday in Darjeeling (link)

The Darjeeling Toy Train is a heritage railway line, which carries visitors on holiday up to Darjeeling. The train passes hill slopes covered with tea estates up to Ghoom, at 7407 feet, which is the highest stop on the railway line and then comes down to the hill resort of Darjeeling. On the way you can see Mt Kanchenjunga in the distance. The toy train was built by Franklin Prestage in 1888 and the tiny engine and coaches travel on a scenic route. The train moves at a slow pace so visitors can even hop off the train, admire the view, and catch up with the train again.

12. Gurkhafc.com (link)

The name Darjeeling comes from the word Dorje-ling,in which Dorje means “thunder” and Ling means “place” ,ie. “the place of thunderbolt”. It is also said that the word Darjeeling comes from “Dorjé-rinzing”, it is a name of a lama who founded the monastery which once stood on Observatory Hill.

13. matadorcommunity.com (link)

I finally arrived at my hotel and checked in and had a bite and chilled in my room for a bit. I was so happy to finally be here. I took a walk around the area for a bit and saw so many different faces. Asian, Bhutanese, Nepalese, Indian...they were all here. And the great thing is this is a place where alot of westerners come so I saw more white people in one hour than I have in the past 2 months. No one stared at me and I just reveled in the joy of being completely ignored! Was so awesome!

14. Another blog on Darjeeling (link)

This beautiful hill town is endowed with rolling hills, picturesque vistas, scenic natural beauty, sprawling tea gardens, lovely waterfalls and myriad places of tourist interest. It is the ideal destination for honeymooners, nature lovers, vacationers and adventure enthusiast. Every year quite in a good number tourists from all over the globe visit Darjeeling to grab its charming and splendid natural beauty. Come to this picture perfect town and it sure you will get lured with its magnetizing natural beauty.

15. Darjeeling sight-seeing tour (link)

Every year from the month of April to June and September to December tourists flock in this beautiful hill station to enjoy holidays in splendor. With sprawling tea gardens, fruits orchards, cardamom plantation, exotic natural beauty, undulating slopes, exotic flora and fauna and Breathtaking scenery, Darjeeling never fails to lure visitors. Visit once and it is sure you will fall in love with its breathtaking scenery and the lovely weather condition of this beautiful hill station of India, Darjeeling.

Photos of Darjeeling:
1. Darjeeling snapshots (link)
2. Various photos of Darjeeling (link)
3. Darjeeling and Sikkim (link)
4. travelsphoto.com (link)
5. Darjeeling Photo Gallery (link)
6. Photo Gallery of Darjeeling (link)
7. Darjeeling images / photos (link)

Video of Darjeeling toy train on Youtube:



Video of The Glory of Sunrise from Tiger Hill in Darjeeling:



Video of views of Darjeeling the Queen of the hills:



Video of downtown Darjeeling on Youtube:



Video of Darjeeling Tea Garden from a passing vehicle: