Ganges to Glaciers- An Excursion to Sikkim

“Every mountain top is within reach if you keep climbing.”
– Barry Finlay

The Bhawanipur Education Society College organised an excursion to numerous locations in Sikkim from 23rd of April to the 30th of April 2023 with 60 students overseen by four faculties: Mr Aditya Raj, Mr Harshit Chokhani, Ms Uzma Khan, and Ms Sakshi Shaw. Everyone who was a part of the trip boarded the train from Sealdah station at 11:20 P.M. in the night and reached the New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station around 9:30 A.M. The train journey was full of fun and excitement, and a group picture at the station was captured to mark the beginning of the immemorial journey, which celebrated the spirit of Umang’s success. The tour was a seven-day journey where 7 days and 6 nights were spent in different parts of Sikkim such as Pelling, Gangtok, Lachung and Reshikhola. Sikkim, also known as Indrakila, or the garden of the god Indra, is a picturesque land nestled in the heart of the Eastern Himalayas were Buddhism and Tibetology blend. Its avant-garde surroundings and breathtaking view of Mt. Kanchenjunga and the Shangri-La make it a wonderland for mountain lovers.

DAY 01 (24/04/2024): NEW JALPAIGURI JUNCTION RAILWAY STATION TO PELLING

A four to five-hour journey via roadways was covered from New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station with a one-hour halt taken for lunch, the tourers reached Pelling around 4 P.M. on the 24th of April 2023. A hotel was taken for the students to stay in, and respective rooms were allotted to everyone for freshening up. In the evening, everyone was allowed to roam around the helipad and local area to explore and visit the nearby restaurants where they enjoyed the famous cuisines of the place as supper. A lavish dinner awaited everyone who returned to the hotel by 8:30 P.M. After that, all the people gathered on the rooftop to groove to the thrilling music and sang their hearts out to the melodious tunes of the guitar.

DAY 02 (25/04/2024): PELLING SIGHT-SEEING AND DROP AT GANGTOK

On the second day after breakfast, all the excursionists visited the Chenrezig statue and skywalk, a tourist attraction in the West Sikkim district of Pelling. Here they encountered the mind-boggling sights of one of the world’s tallest statues, the Bodhisattva Chenrezig, being 137 feet (42 metres) tall and India’s first-ever glass-bottomed skywalk situated at a level of 2,195 metres (7,200 feet) above sea level. Then, everyone was taken to the Namchi town of Sikkim to get a glimpse of the divine holy shrine of Shri Char Dham Temple, also known as Siddheshwar Dham which is built at the summit of Solophok Hill and is a replica of the twelve Jyotirlingas and Char Dhams of India. It was a bewildering experience to catch sight of Lord Shiva’s massive statue that stands 108 feet tall along with the girdle of twelve Jyotirlingas namely Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Viswanath, Vaidyanath, Nageswar, Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar, and Rameshwar in a single temple. From here, the next sight to see was the Temi Tea Estate. The aromatic fragrance of tea buds and the panoramic view of Mt. Kanchenjungha made this destination an ideal place for naturalist photography. An evening meal of freshly brewed tea while sitting amidst the tea garden and sloping hills was rejoiced by the sightseers of the tour. After a long day, the excursionists stayed in Gangtok at the Hotel Zemu and Hotel Blissful.

DAY 03 (26/04/2024): GANGTOK TO LACHUNG

After an early breakfast in Gangtok, the fellow travellers departed from Gangtok and travelled through Tung Road to reach Lachung before night. On the way to Lachung, the tourers visited Tashi View Point and Seven Sisters Fall. The bewitching Tashi Viewpoint is the perfect location to get lost in the breathtaking surroundings, which include Gangtok town, the valleys, and the Himalayas. The greatest views of the sunrise and sunset can be found at this well-known tourist destination, which lies 8 km from the town. The Seven Sisters Waterfalls is situated approximately 32 miles from Gangtok on the Gangtok-Lachung Highway. Seven Sister is a well-known waterfall, as the name implies, when viewed from a distance, the seven individual waterfalls are harmoniously positioned laterally on a broad, craggy cliff that appears to be separate. Once it rains, it becomes an absolute must-see location in Gangtok, as the falls spring to life offering an exhilarating spectacular view. The students and the teachers enjoyed an overnight stay in Lachung and had dinner in the freezing and chilly weather of Lachung.

DAY 04 (27/04/2024): LACHUNG TO GANGTOK

On the fourth day, after breakfast, the students along with the teachers left Lachung and went to explore the natural beauty of Yumthang Valley, which is situated in the North Sikkim region of Sikkim state in India, Yumthang Valley, also known as the Sikkim Valley of Flowers sanctuary. The excursionists were mesmerised to see a natural sanctuary like this which was filled with a river, several hot springs, yaks, and grazing pastures on undulating meadows surrounded by the Himalayan mountain. It is located 150 kilometres (93 miles) away from Gangtok, the state capital and it rises to a height of 3,564 metres (11,693 feet) above sea level. The next destination was Yumesamdong Zero Point. Tourers have long found Yumesamdong’s snow to be very captivating. Yumesamdong, sometimes referred to as Zero Point, is situated quite close to the Chinese border, at an elevation of about 15,300 feet. About 26 kilometres separate it from Yumthang Valley, another well-known location in North Sikkim. Zero Point is around an hour’s journey from Yumthang Valley and this trip along the winding mountainous roads amidst North Sikkim’s rugged landscape is just as stirring as the location. When one visits Yumesamdong Zero Point, one feels as though one is in a place all by oneself, surrounded by snow and majestic mountains. Yume Samdong in Sikkim remains snow-laden throughout the year. At night, everyone returned to Gangtok and had their night’s meal.

DAY 05 (28/04/2024): TSOMGO LAKE, NEW BABA MANDIR AND NATHULA PASS

On the fifth day, after breakfast, the students were taken to Nathu-La which is a mountain pass in the Himalayas that links the Tibet Autonomous region of China with the Indian state of Sikkim. The Pass is located at a height of 4310 metres above sea level and experiences extremely cold weather conditions. All the students with valid permits explored the region and got an opportunity to see the magnificent and pulchritudinous view of the snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, and sparkling lakes. It is also a place of great significance, as it was once a part of the Old Silk Route, a trade route that linked Asia, Europe and Africa. Nathula Pass is not only a border post, but also a pilgrimage site and a tourist attraction, attracting thousands of visitors every year. Then we proceeded towards the Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple which is devoted to the memory of Baba Harbhajan Singh, a soldier who fell in 1968 close to Nathula Pass and is said to guard the region from danger. Indian and Chinese soldiers pray and present gifts to Baba Harbhajan Singh at this hallowed shrine. His possessions and pictures are preserved in the temple’s museum and it is believed that his soul is still residing in the place. There were a few diaries kept inside the temple where the students wrote down their wishes in the hope that they would be fulfilled. Near the temple, there was a cafeteria where the students savoured the taste of freshly cooked hot maggi and tea. After having a relishing lunch, everyone moved to the last destination of the day, Tsomgo Lake, which is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the state capital Gangtok. Tsomgo Lake, sometimes called Tsomgo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake located near Changu, in the Gangtok district of the state of Sikkim. Situated at 3,753 metres (12,313 feet) above sea level, the lake is frozen in the winter and the native Sikkimese people adore the lake, whose surface changes colour with the seasons. It is believed that Buddhist monks used the lake’s shifting hues to predict the future. All the students along with the teachers returned to their specific hotels at night and free time was given to students to wander around and shop in the M. G. Market in Gangtok before having dinner at the hotel.

DAY 06 (29/04/2024): GANGTOK TO RESHIKHOLA (RIVERSIDE)

On the sixth day of the trip, after breakfast, all the students along with the teachers checked out from Gangtok towards Reshikhola for sightseeing. Everyone stayed at Reshi River Resort where a cool and rejuvenating bath was taken in the shivering water of the cold stream or pond present inside the premises of the resort. In the evening, a campfire was organised where hot and delicious barbeque was served. The melody of singing voices mingled with the gusting sound of the blowing winds creating an atmosphere of mellifluous symphony. Everyone danced to the crazy beats of the latest songs played by the DJ. At night, scrumptious food was served at dinner which acted as an appetiser for everyone after the hours of dancing.

DAY 07 (30/04/2024): DROP AT NEW JALPAIGURI JUNCTION STATION TO SEALDAH RAILWAY STATION

On the last day of the trip, after having breakfast the students were taken to Melli for river rafting in the white water of the Teesta River. The students had a lot of fun as they took a dip into the icy-cold water and played in the water by splashing water at each other. Live photography was experienced at this site where the pleasurable moments were captured through the camera’s lens. After the river rafting was over, everyone had lunch at a local restaurant near the river rafting site. After the exciting river rafting, the students along with the faculties returned to Siliguri. Before boarding the train at night, students were free to go shopping in the Hong Kong Market, which is known to offer a vast collection of clothes, shoes, and other commodities at a cheaper and affordable price. The train was boarded from New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station around 9:30 P.M. in the night and the next day everyone reached Sealdah station around 9:15 P.M.

Overall it was a rollercoaster journey filled with immense joy and indelible memories. Every student deserves a college trip like this at least once in a lifetime. The trip taught us invaluable lessons in team building, adjustment, taking initiative, ignoring small things and above all leadership. Luckily, the day coincided with the scorching heatwave in Kolkata, ah what a respite!

Reporter – Kasis Shaw
Photographer- Nishay Alokit Lakra