A Little Piece of Paradise- Harsh’s Sikkim Trip with Thrillophilia
“There is a house built out of stone
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place where I feel at home…”
A stone-walled house stood right in front of her as she took her earphones off. Harsh’s partner had gone for a solo walk around the neighbourhood of their homestay in Lachung. The house resembled the one that she pictured while listening to the song.
Curious, she went around it and found a well-stocked wood shelter, huge logs of wood that were an essential commodity during the winters.
They had also come here during the winter. The biting cold in the air surely uplifted the ambience for Harsh and his wife, but it had also brought out the best of the destination- Sikkim.
The village, Lachung, was beautiful. The pine trees turned white early in the morning due to frost, and the backyards got covered with dew by the time they went down to bask in the sun and have breakfast. Although they did not spend much time in the village, they surely fell in love with it.
Anybody would have, especially after touring the Yumthang Valley. Such a beauty!
When Harsh and his partner went to this place, they felt overwhelmed with joy…such was the sight of the valley, with the river flowing across it. Harsh was brave enough to go down the banks and touch the water, and…
As per him, “Ice cold water would be an understatement, it was burning cold!”
The shocks, the swoons…
It is quite difficult to travel to the remote mountains, where villages have limited resources and scarce amenities. The maximum level of luxury that one can expect is there was a geyser installed in the bathrooms of the homestays. The farther you go, the more limited it gets.
But, the cultural experiences get enhanced.
You see the authentic cutlery, the traditional kitchens, stoves, the local way of life, more serene, more compassionate. You meet people, talk to them, get to know them, for the communities are close there. Each and every one of them would make the best effort to give you the best of their services, with all that they have available.
Harsh and his partner realised this when they actually went farther from Gangtok to Lachung, and then to Lachen. As the conveniences reduced, their experience became better.
They also noticed the difference in the taste of momos, thukpas, and maggie as they toured. Each region had different spices and varied methods of preparing their local dishes, for example, some villages added chickpeas, and some didn't, some used raw chillies and some used pastes.
There was one thing that shocked the couple to the core, and it came as a surprise to them. The sheer beauty of the place.
The morning they went for the Gurudongmar excursion, they were not prepared to watch that kind of a spectacle. Grasslands stretched out into the infinity as the car sped through the black butter-smooth road ahead, and then came a sudden turn the end of which revealed a snow-capped peak bathed in hues of the rising sun.
And to top it off, their experience of tea-estate hopping had been another one-of-a-kind experience, collecting the best tea samples from the very best places. This was in Darjeeling, one of the most famous and oldest hill stations of India, hosting the highest railway station in the country.
Yes, Harsh and his partner did not know about it until they reached the Ghoom Station and saw the memorabilia. They thought it a must-have experience to enjoy the joy ride of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, a colonial product of heritage.
The Taste of Delight
It would be a sin not to mention the savoury treats they enjoyed throughout the trip, especially in Glenary's in Darjeeling. Although a significant understatement to explain the experience would be “far beyond their expectations”, a rather more appropriate term would be ‘heavenly”.
Yes, they found the taste of Darjeeling and Sikkim to be worth remembering. That is why perhaps they had their first dinner at a Tibetan restaurant the night they reached home from the trip. We would have believed that it was a completely isolated incident, if not they had specifically mentioned this event.
But the taste of delight was not just in the food, it was also in the extended friendship and hospitality of the driver Thrillophilia had assigned for them. From touring the off-beat and lesser-known attractions to waiting for them to complete their lunch no matter how long it took, they grew a bond that mesmerised the travellers.
Coming back to their Gangtok tour, their Baba Mandir excursion was again something that threw them off-guard. The stinging cold wind numbed their ears and the sight of the surrounding blanketed in snow was nothing less than heavenly for them.
The couple explored the old as well as the new Baba Mandir and paid their respects, and by the time they were returning to Gangtok, the sun was already setting. The Kanchenjunga was visible in the distance, crowning the horizon with her curves.
A similar feeling of love and compassion downed upon them when they saw the famous Tiger Hill sunrise. It was one of the most astounding ones they had ever seen, kudos to their luck or destiny whichever they believe in.
Their homecoming was one of silence filled with nostalgia. These 8 days have been a brilliant experience for them. From majestic mountains to magnificent scenery, Sikkim and Darjeeling have proven to be one of the best places to visit in India.
In Harsh’s words, “‘Thanks, Thrillophilia for being a part of our vacation! Special thanks to the co-ordinator Mr Himanshu Kelwani for managing everything properly.”
He also added a little something along with a chuckle before ending the call,
“You guys should keep more people like the driver, he was awesome!”
We were glad he said that the driver would be happy to know that he got a positive review from a customer!
Read More: Thrillophilia Sikkim Reviews