Sikkim Trip - The Day 1

 Bags Packed 

Winter trip of the year to Sikkim. The last 3 months were very hectic work wise for both of us. This trip was most needed to refresh and get back to the flow. We are not taking Amudhan with us for this trip due to climatic conditions and the hectic travel involved.


Day 1:

 We started around 3AM from home to chennai airport in Ola Cab. We had checked in the previous day and it was a comfortable flight from Chennai to Kolkata. The direct flight to sikkim that we booked was cancelled and we had to shift the booking to Chennai-Kolkata-Bagdogra in flight, Bagdogra-Gangtok in Cab.

We had a 5 hour layover in Kolkata and we decided to explore a bit of 'The City of Joy'. 

We walked out of the airport with our trolleys.

We stopped a cab wala and enquired the rates and time to reach Park Street - the famous lanes of Kolkata.

From the streets of Kolkata

We reached Marques street - what we saw is food , kashmiri shawls , aloo cleaning , chicken cleaning , palak cleaning , shop opening , rural touch in the streets.

We chose Ichamotee Restaurant - Chicken Gravy , Egg Gravy , poori , latcha paratha.

The Morning's plate 

Hot chai served in mud pots to boost up the morning.

We then walked to the Park Street , a hifi wala lane, more of stationary and books, eateries , yellow taxis , park Street to howrah buses , heritage buildings running from one end of the lane to another. Seems like night walks would be the best here.

Gazing at the Park Street

My husband wanted to travel in the classic Ambassador - The Yellow taxi.

Yellow taxi to airport - via Market Street - featuring veggies, fruits , fish , chicken - narrow street with old buildings , Fashion Street and through the smallest road possible, the taxi gave us a rugged city tour experience.

Airport Ride back with this yellow guy 

Got out flight to Bagdhodara from Kolkata airport.  For this Sikkim trip, we had gone through several vlogs and itenaries and spoke with multiple travel partners and chose 'Wongyal Travels' as our travel partner. 

Travel Agency : 

Wongyal tours and travel

Mahatma Gandhi Marg, near Reliance Trendz, Vishal Gaon, Gangtok, Sikkim 737101

And the itenary is : 

Day 1: Transfer from Bagdogra Airport to Gangtok. 

Day 2: Changu/Tsongmo Lake and New Baba Mandir, Nathula Pass

Day 3: Morning Drive from Gangtok to Lachen, Enroute sightseeing of villages and waterfalls.

Day 4: Visit Kalapathar and GuruDongmar Lake Transfer to Lachung. Overnight at Lachung.

Day 4: Visit Zero Point, Hot Springs, Yumthung Valley and transfer to Gangtok.

Day 5: Gangtok City Ride

Day 6: Bagdogra to Chennai

Will share detailed itenary in each day blog.

We got into the cab from Bagdogra airport and started our travel to Gangtok.  Our driver was very friendly and with our broken Hindi we tried to understand few things about the tourism in the state and much more. He suggested a place for food - JoJo Restaurant. Usually me and my husband give a lot of importance to food, do a lot of research on what special foods are available in the tourist destination and we try to taste most of them.

This day we were not in a mood to choose from the menu due to the travel tiredness but the host of the restaurant was a very hospitable guy , he suggested chicken momos and coffee..

My God , it was one of the best Momos and the best coffee I have ever tasted till date. We ordered one more plate of momos and happily filled our tummies. When we conveyed about the good food and good care that he showed, he was overwhelmed and told that 'You guys seemed so confused, so I wanted to help you out better with my food'. It sounded so soothing and welcoming.

We reached Le Vintuna - Club Mahindra , our stayplace for the first two days at Gangtok. It is a modern infrastructure with a cool balcony view which covers the running fresh waters down the stream, the stunning mountains and the lush green trees. The gushing sound of the river was the most pleasing thing to hear after a long travel.

The refreshing hot herbal drink
 before the check in

After quick refreshings, we sat on the balcony to just relax into the nature's sounds. We ordered a traditional Thaali for dinner, the resorts usually have the best chefs who cooks wonderful cuisines according to the state and culture.

Before we start any trip, we carefully go through all the different food that is available in the trip zone and make sure we taste every bit of it. After all its 'Food' and Travel.


'Love Today' movie on repeat mode for the Dine Night, today was a perfect start for the wonderful trip.



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