The Height of Cool

Cafe Beat
Travelogue

The Height of Cool
It’s third highest, so it tries harder. The icy peaks of Kanchenjunga are only one of Sikkim’s many charms. The other major plus: no pesky tourists for miles around. Except you.



When it gets right down to it, who are we? And why are we here? And where would we rather be? The last one’s easy and it might help answer the other two: we’d rather be warming our toes by a dying fire, picking at the crispiest bits of a barbeque dinner and looking out at sleepy mountaintops thinking, tomorrow let’s … zzz. Sikkim is great either way. It’s perfect if the plan is lazy and hazy, and it’s just right if you’ve got adventure and tales-for-the-grandchildren plans for your vacation. The landscape is so gorgeous you could easily get your fill just looking out the hotel window. But there are plenty of options if you want to take active part in the scenery.

Planning Sikkim
You will need at least one week to soak up the fun and explore a little. Gangtok should be your landing pad. Once there, get in touch with the Adventure division of Sikkim Tourism or take your pick from the many local travel agents swarming about town. They will take care of itinerary, transport and other little details, which is good… but they may hustle and over-charge if you aren’t diligent. Doyour homework and get smart about the details.

Backpacking
A visit to Sikkim won’t clean out your savings. If you decide to go with friends, you can bargain for discounts on your hotel stay too. The food is cheap and pretty good. Many of the settlers living in Sikkim are Nepalese so prepare for some lip-smacking delicacies. The hills are criss-crossed with green-flanked trails that lead you through the many monasteries that dot Sikkim. Serene at a glance, these trails still offer enough hardship to please a monk. A good place to practice your Kung Fu moves.

What, Where, How
Kanchenjunga is, of course, the ultimate challenge. From here you can hike all the way up to the Chinese border. It is always snowing here and temperatures can dip to minus 10 degrees. A must-visit on your way to Gangtok is Changu Lake. It is frozen for most part of the year and a major crowd-puller thanks to the amazing scenery that surrounds it. You should also try to spend one day exploring the Kanchendzonga National Park. Here’s one place you won’t mind getting lost in.

Suggested Trek Itinerary
No hotels. No five-stars. No warm beds. Lots of fun. Loads of memories. Villagers in this state are accustomed to trekkers knocking on the door and asking to be put up for the night. They’ll feed you and make sure you’re refreshed for the next leg of the trek. A typical trek could be from Gangtok to Pemayangtse to Khechopalri, onwards to Yuksum, Tsokha, Dzongri, Thangshing, Zemathang, Chaurigang, Tashiding, Varsey, Yangang, Rabongla, Sang and Sikip.

Getting to Gangtok
By Air: The closest Indian Airport is 124 kms from Gangtok, Bagdogra in Siliguri which is in West Bengal. Flights operate from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati and connect onwards. Travel time from the airport to Gangtok is 4 hours.
By Rail: The closest railway station is New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal about 148 km away, and Siliguri.
By Road: Gangtok is connected by road to Siliguri, and takes about 114 kms. Other routes are Darjeeling (4 Hrs), Kalimpong and with Bhutan, Phuntsholing (6 Hrs).