6th dec 0430 hrs Pulled myself out of bed n quietly got ready for a trip to sandakfu. It has been a few months since I have been on the road, need some extra will power to get cracking, 0540 headed to station wondering if i had cut my trip to the station too tight, but was only 0600 n I boarded the train,
A newly married couple was my co passengers, the trip started peacefully, I nodded off and hey it was 1040 hrs. We were in Howrah, one of the rare instances that the train was almost on time, maybe 10min late at Howrah station, boarding a metro train I reached salt lake in 30 minutes (Earlier this trip took me 1 hr. by taxi and 30 minutes to get a cab at the station.) My sister is visiting from USA, Meeting her after few months we had loads to share but then the tummy growled, hunger calling, we skipped to pepper town restaurant for lunch. Baked chicken n momo sure was a treat (located in salt lake sector one, serves great Chinese and continental food). Come time to pay the ph.-pay/ Gpay wasn’t working, oh oh, but then am still old fashioned n believe in carrying cash, so no we did not have to wash dishes but was smooth sailing to our next destination. We had an early dinner n ready for Darjeeling mail, which was to depart at 2215 hrs. 2030 hrs. We headed to the nearest local railway station since we had plenty of time and a train would get us to Sealdah station in 10- 15 minutes, but it took us an good 30 min to get a local train n the local train took 60 min to reach sealdah station, with 15 min to spare we made our way to the train settled in n soon we were off to New jalpaiguri, we hoped the train would be on time we would be reaching at 0750 hrs.
yes the train bathrooms were quiet good and clean ,
07th DEC: The train was ultimately late by an hour, we reached by 0900 hrs. and we were off running Run run to meet Vicky our driver to Manabhanjan. We have to reach Manebhanjan and enter the Singalila national park before 1400 hrs.
We rushed towards Manebhanjan starting by 0930 was there by 1215, enroute we had breakfast of roti n egg fry. N picked up some oranges.
Change of cars happened as only 4 X 4 equipped vehicles are allowed in Sandakfu. The forest department charges Rs 20 per person n pwd Rs 10 per car n we were on our way to Tumbling, and singalila national park.
Jonny was our new driver for the next 3 days, The drive was lovely though the road is very steep and one would need a 4 x 4 vehicle to make it up to tumbling. As we drove we picked up 3 hitchhikers (locals) The drive was enjoyable as we neared tumbling we were welcomed by a huge bank of fog. Along the way we stopped at Meghma to click few images
We reached Tumbling by 1430 and our homestay had not been informed we were expecting lunch.
As we waited for our food we had a few cups of hot tea
Some confusion later and they had us wait for 30 min before they served us rice, dal, egg curry.
We sure were hungry having had a small breakfast, as we were worried about winding roads n had had a light Breakfast before we reached tumbling. The staff at hotel was quiet friendly & after a full meal we went to our rooms and relaxed. The fog was already dense yet we went for a walk by 1545 hrs. To take a look at Mtn Kanchenjunga the mountain.
We were here to get some images of Mtn. Kanchenjunga, as the weather is typically clear in Oct. Nov n Dec.
The weather sure changes here fast and in no time it tends to get all foggy in almost a blink of a eye
Evening time We had a campfire indoor rather a fire at the fireplace where we sat n had many a cup of tea along with another visiting couple from Asansol. Listening to there experience at Sandakfu (as they were on there way back from sandakfu) The evening ended with dinner by 2000 hrs. and we planned to retired for the night. The MOON loomed down on us and we grabbed put cameras and made a few images.
So we retired early n soon we experienced temp of approx. One degree centegrate, it was cold inside the room too in spite of 2 blankets.
8th morning
We were up n trekked up to have a brief glimpse of Mtn Kanchenjunga before the fog once again engulfed the sun, The Mtn top had a chunk of cloud hiding the top, did not get as clean a view as one had hoped for though it was a colorful affair with the Mtn top n body getting yellow as morning started n then it was over too soon, as the sun got enveloped with fog,
Quick breakfast followed comprising of Eggs, Poori Sabji and Tibetian Bread , we started up for sandakfu by 1000 hrs. It took nearly 1230 hrs. Before we reached our hotel at sandakfu. Htl Sunrise is best situated for viewing sunrise on Mtn. Kanchenjunga
To Sandakfu follows ,,,
today distance covered : 120 km, from NJP station to Tumbling
elevation gained 9744 feet
Cost cab : 3500+ 3500
hotel 2000/head per 24 hrs
To Sandakfu follows ,,,
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