It was the first ever journey of
me and my father without my mom exploring the North-East India. Journey began
with our flight from Ahmedabad to Bagdogra (100 km from Darjeeling) via Kolkata.
Our flight was at 08:30 and it took off on exact time. Two of my friends came
to drop me at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport and then it was
flying time for me after long period of more than 10 years. It was a different
experience for me as no food was included in services. For water too, we need
to ask them to provide us. However, the timing of takeoff and landing were very
accurate. The views from flight were amazing as usual. We were heading with
speed of approx 950 km/hr at 41,000 ft high. We reached at Bagdogra at 12:25
and took a taxi towards Siliguri where we had decided to have a night stay so
that we could go in world famous Toy Train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways
(DHR). But we were informed by the taxi driver that due to land sliding, the
Toy Train was now starting from a town named Kurseong 40 kms from Siliguri. We
went to Kurseong in a shared taxi. The view in drive to Kurseong was amazingly
pleasant to watch as Kurseong is on a hilly area at half distance from
Darjeeling. Full path consisted of Tea gardens everywhere in all directions
which was amazing to watch.
On reaching Kurseong, we stayed
in Hotel Batloi for one day. After refreshment and some rest, we then went to a
famous sunset point of Kurseong. The atmosphere was chilly around 8-10˚C there
and we waited for sunset till 17:15. The sunrise and sunset is early in the
eastern India around 5:30 am and 5:30 pm approximately. The sunset point was at
a very high place and the scenic beauty from there was amazing such that we once
thought of staying there for many days. After sunset while returning to hotel,
I saw Ram Krishna Ashram and clicked few photos for memory. The environment of
Ashram was very silent. We were praying there and then had some conversation
with Swamiji. Swamiji asked us to wait as it was the time for Aarti. We sang
Aarti song and later returned to the hotel.
Next day morning @ 06:00, we
went for our tickets of 7 am Toy Train to Darjeeling. The experience of Toy
Train was totally unique as the path of train was along the streets of all the
towns that came in between. The highway road and railway track was common and
people were standing in their shops and homes watching the train passing very
near from them. It took 4-5 hrs to reach Darjeeling at a speed of 30 kmph. A
station named Ghum came before Darjeeling. We came to know that majority part
of shooting of the movie “Barfi” was done here. After reaching Darjeeling, we
stayed in a hotel opposite to railway station. The rent of normal room was
Rs.660 as it was off-season. We inquired about the seasonal rates and the guy
informed that it ranges from Rs.1500 to 2000.
We then went local tour
conducting office nearby and book for a car. Local tour cost was Rs.1500 which
included Tiger Hill visit and 7 point tour which includes almost all the famous
places of Darjeeling. After lunch, we visited a place “Dhir-dham” temple (one
of the visiting places) which was at a walking distance from our Hotel. The
temple was closed when we went there so we went on the back side of the temple
and enjoyed the chilled atmosphere and scenic beauty of nature. We then went to
search for Ram Krishna Mission. We inquired a lot to many local people but no
one knew where it was. We then went back to Dhir dham and asked Pujari about
the same. He answered the way to Mission which was situated about a km from
Dhir dham and the path was starting from a gate at the right side of Dhir-dham.
After walking a lot in hilly streets, we reached there, prayed and meditated. While
returning, we saw the steam operated railway engine used in Toy Train when it
was first started by Britishers. We then returned to Hotel. While enjoying the
India Vs Australia test match in Hotel room we also watched the sunset from the
room which was a very pleasant view.
Next morning @ 03:45, the taxi
driver was waiting for us in a Wagon R to start our tour. Our first destination
was Tiger Hill which is a famous sunrise point from where one can see Mt.
Kanchenjunga. We started our 10 km tour towards Tiger Hill. The path after 6
kms was totally hilly and with very scenic Pine trees all around but it was not
visible due to dark atmosphere. There was lot of traffic in the way as it is a
must visit destination. The driver was very young (16 years old), but his
driving was good and was informative which was best for us. Then came the Tiger
Hill ticket counter and after visiting Tiger Hill, we realized that buying the
costly tickets of Rs.40 was useless. The ticket was of a building from where
one can view sunrise from height but when we reached there, we saw that there
was no room even for having a look. We instead went to the railing which was
outside the ground floor of building. That was the best place to enjoy the
sunrise. After eagerly waiting for a long time, suddenly the crowd made noise
related to the view of first sun rays on the Mt. Kanchenjunga. It was the most
pleasant view and we felt like the view of heaven from earth. After 10 mins, at
05:25, the people again made noise and looked in other direction. It was first
view of the rising Sun. The atmosphere was too chilly, so we had some hot tea.
Finally, we returned to Hotel for our breakfast time covering 2 points namely
Batasia Loop and Buddhist Monastery of Ghum. There was a War memorial at
Batasia Loop of Gorkha soldier who lost their lives during Independence in 1947
and there is a beautiful garden. The Toy train passes from this place. Next
place was Buddhist Monastery of Ghum. There was nice silence in the monastery
and a sacred bell before entering the inner portion of the Monastery. Inside,
there was a huge 15 feet Buddha statue in a silent environment. While returning
to Hotel, driver showed us the residence of Actor Govinda. He also shown us the
Nepali Ten Rupees note which was nice.
After breakfast, we went to next
destination, The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) which was inside the
premises of Zoological Park. Entering the zoo, we saw different species of
attractive flowers. Then different Himalayan animals like Sheep, Deer, etc. in
which we were not so interested. On a long walk after crossing the zoo, we
reached HMI and saw a nice statue of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, who was first
person to climb Mt. Everest on 29th May, 1953. Sir Edmund Hillary
was his companion. Then we entered a very brilliantly managed historical Museum
of the teams who visited Mt. Everest and other lower peaks along with all the
utensils and instruments used by them. There was a model showing entire
Himalayan Range which was very nice to watch and understand. We then saw the
St. Joseph’s school which is maintained under the British Government situated
at heavenly location. But entering inside the school premises was prohibited.
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| Tea Estate Valley |
The next place was Happy Valley
Tea estate, 2nd best place of the local tour after Tiger Hill. In
the way, there was the residence of Sister Nivedita. We waited there to have a
click for our memory and then headed towards Happy Valley. Reaching there, it
was a very enchanting experience of the tea estate and surrounding scenic
environment. We spend 30 mins sitting there and listening to our favorite songs
while watching the widely spread tea plantations. We enjoyed a cup of
Darjeeling in the nearby shops after returning from Valley to Parking place. We
had an informative talk with a shop keeper regarding the making and drying
process of tea leaves and also regarding their local routine.
It was time to go to the next
place which was Tenzing rock climbing. I had a rock climbing experience first
time just for Rs.50. It was very easy while climbing, but was tough while
returning. A person was selling dried Litchis near the Tenzing rock. He
informed us that dried Litchis are very good for Blood Pressure and Diabetic
patients. So we bought it for my mom.
After this, we moved further
towards next destination, the Japanese Temple. On the way, our driver pointed
to a tree with red colored flowers named “Guraas” in their local language. He
informed us that the flower had a very nice medical value is used for treatment
of Piles, Fissure, etc. as it is cool by its property. We then reached Japanese
Temple after a long drive. Inside, there was a huge structure named Peace
Pagoda, 94 ft tall and 75 ft in diameter, in which there were 4 different
avatars of Lord Buddha. There was temple in the premises from where we heard
very pleasant sound of Drum. The sound itself created a feeling of peace in our
mind. While entering inside temple, we saw a portrait of Mahatma Gandhiji and
it was stated that Gandhiji had visited this Temple. They chanted the words,
“Na-Mu-Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo” which in India language is “Nama Saddharam Pundarik
Sutraya”. In simple terms it means that “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” as per Gandhiji.
Inside the prayer room, there was a big drum prayer in beats by the present
Japanese Guruji and small drum pads with which we have to follow beats and
chant the Japanese words. In the temple premise was on tree of “Guraas”
flowers. We took a fallen flower and tasted it. We then realized that it was
nothing but what we called Gulmohar.
Then, after visiting next place,
the Magistrate’s bungalow, we returned to our hotel. It was 5 pm in the evening
so we again enjoyed the sunset from our room and later went out to taste
different flavors of tea in Tea Bar. We tasted Green tea and one another flavor
suggested by the Bartender out of a 20 items listed in the menu. We also
learned the method to make tea from him. After having tea, while we were
returning, a huge rally with fire passed from the bar. The rally was regarding
the demand for making the Darjeeling and other areas as a separate state named
Gorkhaland.
Finally, in the next morning we returned to our hotel after dinner
and went for our next tour further towards Meghalaya, the details of which are
in my next blog.
