Continued from The Gangtok Trip - Part 2
The Siddheswara Dham comprises of replicas of the four Dhams of the Hindus namely Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameswaram. Surrounding the statue of Lord Shiva and the Char Dhams are the replicas of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas of Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleswar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Viswanath, Triambakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageswar, Rameshwar and Grishneshwar. Following that we went to Sai Mandir which was the last attraction in our tour. Our driver advised us that the restaurants at Siddheswara Dham were too much expensive and hence he told us to have the lunch at the restaurants opposite to the Sai Mandir. So we had lunch at a restaurant near Sai Mandir. Then we headed back to Gangtok. It was about 7 pm when we reached Gangtok. We had dinner and climbed into our bed to have a deep sleep.
The day after, we had no plans in our mind. From the internet we heard of a viewpoint named Hurhuray Dara which is located near the Assembly House in Gangtok. So our target was to find that place out. At 11 am we stepped out of our hotel and walked across MG Marg towards the Assembly House. Near the Assembly House we saw the ropeway. We ventured a little forward when we found that a narrow path deviated from the main road. The narrow path went along the edge of the hill. On asking a local person, he told that there was a view point ahead of that path. So we walked for a minute on that path and reached the view point. The breathtaking view of the Bhaluk-Chu river and its valley was awesome.
We took some pics and spent some time at the viewpoint which was undoubtedly Hurhuray Dara as described on the internet. On the way back to our hotel we had a look at the Lal Market but didn't find anything interesting. It was mainly meant for the local people of Gangtok. The following evening was our last evening in Gangtok. Obviously we were sad since the next day we had to leave this beautiful and clean hill station. We had not been able to visit Yumthang Valley which we had vowed to see this time.
The next day we hired a taxi and reached Deorali Taxi Stand. From there we booked seats in New Jalpaiguri bound car and headed towards the plain lands. When we were almost near the plains, our car got stuck in a traffic jam due to a closed railway crossing. A train passed by and entered a long bridge over the Teesta river. The scene of the the train travelling through the bridge over Teesta river was beautiful. We finally reached Siliguri and from there took an auto to get to New Jalpaiguri. That night we lodged at Hotel Miami. The next day we boarded Kanchenjunga Express from New Jalpaiguri station at 08:15 am and reached Sealdah at 09:00 pm. The train was obviously late.
How to Reach :
12363 Kolkata-Haldibari Express departs Kolkata station at 09:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 18:55 hrs. 12343 Darjeeling Mail leaves Sealdah station at 22:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 08:00 hrs. 12377 Padatik Express leaves Sealdah at 22:55 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 09:05 hrs. Hired cars (Tata Sumo, Mahindra MAXX and Bolero) are available from New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Buses are running from S.N.T. Bus Terminus in Siliguri to Gangtok.
Nearest Airport - Bagdogra Airport
Where to Stay :
New Jalpaiguri
Hotel Miami. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 800. Tel: 9332232897.
Hotel Holydon. Tel: (0353) 2691162.
Gangtok
Greendale Residence. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 4500-4900. Tel: (03592) 201400.
Hotel Babumashai. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 204030.
Hotel Himalaya's. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 202842.
Hotel Woodland. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1400. Tel: (03592) 203414.
Hotel Paradise. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1000. Tel: 9832036610.
Places of Interest :
The prime attractions of Gangtok are Banjhakri Falls, Rumtek Monastery, Tashi View Point, Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Bakthang Waterfalls, Himalayan Zoological Park and Research Institute of Tibetology. Other attractions include Lhasa Falls, Do Drul Chorten Stupa, Enchey Monastery and Ganjong Monastery. There are three excursions from Gangtok - Nathula Pass, Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake) and Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir which can be covered in a one day tour from Gangtok. Another conducted tour is the Yumthang Valley Package. It is a 1 Night 2 days tour consisting of Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You can also go for the Gurudongmar Lake package which is 2 Nights 3 Days. The tour consists of Lachen, Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You will be required to produce xerox copy of Voter ID Card and two passport photos of each member of your family to the travel agency for permit. One can also hire a local taxi and go for Namchi sightseeing and return to Gangtok on the same day.
For more information, please contact :
Sikkim Tourist Information Centre
M.G. Marg, Gangtok,
East Sikkim
Tel: (03592) 221634
The Siddheswara Dham comprises of replicas of the four Dhams of the Hindus namely Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameswaram. Surrounding the statue of Lord Shiva and the Char Dhams are the replicas of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas of Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleswar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Viswanath, Triambakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageswar, Rameshwar and Grishneshwar. Following that we went to Sai Mandir which was the last attraction in our tour. Our driver advised us that the restaurants at Siddheswara Dham were too much expensive and hence he told us to have the lunch at the restaurants opposite to the Sai Mandir. So we had lunch at a restaurant near Sai Mandir. Then we headed back to Gangtok. It was about 7 pm when we reached Gangtok. We had dinner and climbed into our bed to have a deep sleep.
Siddheswara Dham |
Sai Mandir |
Hurhuray Dara |
Train crossing the Teesta River |
The End
How to Reach :
12363 Kolkata-Haldibari Express departs Kolkata station at 09:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 18:55 hrs. 12343 Darjeeling Mail leaves Sealdah station at 22:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 08:00 hrs. 12377 Padatik Express leaves Sealdah at 22:55 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 09:05 hrs. Hired cars (Tata Sumo, Mahindra MAXX and Bolero) are available from New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Buses are running from S.N.T. Bus Terminus in Siliguri to Gangtok.
Nearest Airport - Bagdogra Airport
Where to Stay :
New Jalpaiguri
Hotel Miami. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 800. Tel: 9332232897.
Hotel Holydon. Tel: (0353) 2691162.
Gangtok
Greendale Residence. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 4500-4900. Tel: (03592) 201400.
Hotel Babumashai. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 204030.
Hotel Himalaya's. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 202842.
Hotel Woodland. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1400. Tel: (03592) 203414.
Hotel Paradise. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1000. Tel: 9832036610.
Places of Interest :
The prime attractions of Gangtok are Banjhakri Falls, Rumtek Monastery, Tashi View Point, Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Bakthang Waterfalls, Himalayan Zoological Park and Research Institute of Tibetology. Other attractions include Lhasa Falls, Do Drul Chorten Stupa, Enchey Monastery and Ganjong Monastery. There are three excursions from Gangtok - Nathula Pass, Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake) and Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir which can be covered in a one day tour from Gangtok. Another conducted tour is the Yumthang Valley Package. It is a 1 Night 2 days tour consisting of Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You can also go for the Gurudongmar Lake package which is 2 Nights 3 Days. The tour consists of Lachen, Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You will be required to produce xerox copy of Voter ID Card and two passport photos of each member of your family to the travel agency for permit. One can also hire a local taxi and go for Namchi sightseeing and return to Gangtok on the same day.
For more information, please contact :
Sikkim Tourist Information Centre
M.G. Marg, Gangtok,
East Sikkim
Tel: (03592) 221634