Getting Back on Track after the Tata Sumo Skidded about Half a Meter: Yumthang Valley, North Sikkim The picture above was the most popular picture with the folks I met on the Yumthang Valley trip in North Sikkim. We were returning from Zero Point to the Yumthang Valley. Pankaj, our driver for this trip told…
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F1 Driving on the Indian Hills
Tata Sumo at Zero Point, Near Yumthang Valley, North Sikkim Himalayas draw both of us like a magnet. It is the roads leading to the Himalayas that are a different story. The serpentine roads induce motion sickness in us and Avomine is a must. However, we are pretty used to the medicine by now. But…
Spurious Avomine?
Sesha and I just love traveling to the hills in India. But the thing is both of us have motion sickness and rely heavily on Avomine (anti-nausea medicine) to have a smooth road journey. In December 2006 I went to Khurpatal, near Nanital in Uttranchal. So, I bought a strip of Avomine in Gurgaon and…
It Rains Almost Everyday in Gangtok, Sikkim
MG Road, Gangtok, after a Shower: It Rains Almost Every Day I was quite apprehensive about going to Sikkim in December because I do not enjoy cold weather. Well, the lower regions like Gangtok and Pelling were not that cold for me after I wrapped myself up in a thick jacket. However, in Gangtok, almost…
Nathu-La, India-China Border, Sikkim
Nathu-La, India-China Border, Sikkim: Also Known as the Old Silk Route Nathu-La the India-China Border, also known as the old silk route, was on my agenda when I went to Sikkim in the last week of December. The place and my trip is still itched in my memory and I have so many photographs from…
A Walk to Sangacholing Monastery, Pelling, Sikkim
Sangacholing Monastery Premises, Pelling, Sikkim There are two monasteries (also known as Gompas) in Pelling, Sangacholing and Pemayangtse. As of now to reach Sangacholing, one has to walk. As Sesha and I love to walk, it was the first place we visited in Pelling. While we were going up, two couples were coming down. At…
Border Roads Organization (BRO): I am a Fan
Border Roads Organization (BRO) Signboard: Yumthang Valley, Sikkim I am a big fan Border Roads Organization (BRO). What do they do? As the name suggests, they maintain the roads that are on the border that India has with other countries. And that means tough job. With a humble beginning, with just two Projects – Project…
India’s Highest ATM at Thegu (Sikkim, India)?
Just a little before Nathu-La (India-China border in Sikkim), at a small place called Thegu, I saw a sign saying “High Altitude ATM.” It belongs to UTI Bank(Unit Trust of India) and my hunch is that the people from the Indian army are its only users. The sign gave the height of the spot as…
Shops in Pelling (West Sikkim)
A Small Shop Selling Tea and Eatables at Night Shops in Pelling are small and colorful. They mostly sell local goods, I saw no branded outlets there (but there are a few in Gangtok). The highest numbers of shops are obviously travel related. Next comes the corner liquor shops of Pelling. The corner liquor shops…
Sikkim Redefines Green for Me
Khang-Chen-Dzon Ga (Kanchanjunga) A few months back I was inviting suggestions and when a colleague talked about a visit to Sikkim in December, I was intrigued but apprehensive at the same time. He assured me it would not be very cold. But cold can mean different things to different people. When folks have yet to…