I was bitten by the 'Travelling' bug for quite some time now. After visiting some awesome places across the world, I was craving to go to Darjeeling. The actual story was,I had gone to Manali after my 10th standard exams and my parents and my kid brother went to Darjeeling and Nepal. I was jealous basically.
So we finally planned it. :) We booked the flight tickets and the hotels.Our travel itinerary was ready. I was really excited. I was finally getting a break from my routine. I was waiting for the day.
We had a flight till Bagdogra and had booked a taxi for the next journey. We started our journey in the booked cab. The roads were dangerous indeed. The journey in the hilly region is one of scariest I ever had. We reached Gangtok somewhere around 8 in the night. The roads in the tiny city were too steep and the countryside was immensely beautiful. The native people were very lovely and warm. We immediately went to sleep after the long, tiring journey.
Next day, we were supposed to visit Changu lake and Nathula pass, a place very close to China border. But we were informed by our hotel manager that due to bad weather conditions, we won't be able to go till Nathula Pass. We were still excited.
Changu lake is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from Gangtok at altitude of 3,780 m (12,400 ft). We started our journey in a Jeep with another family. I was sitting on the back seat and was enjoying the picturesque view through the window. But I never knew that this would indeed be the scariest journey of my life. I had visited Badrinath three years back. I thought it was the toughest journey but then it was not.
I was literally counting seconds during that journey from our hotel to Changu lake. I hate to admit this, but these are the only few hours in my life where I felt the fear for my life every second.Our vehicle driver was luckily a very skilled driver. The road was not a tar road. The visibility was almost zero because of the dense fog. And it started raining.
There was a time when we had to take a reverse for making way for a bus.The rear wheels of our jeep were on the edge of the valley.You need stability of the mind to go through such situations. On our right side was the valley, rather we can call it 'death valley' . It was damn scary. And the worst part was that I was sitting on the right side. Hats off to the Jeep driver and I sincerely thank him for driving so carefully and skillfully to save our souls.
And then after this roller coaster journey, we finally reached the place. We had to rent jackets,boots, gloves and caps to protect ourselves from the chilly wind and cold. We were all decked up and ready for the next journey. We were either needed to rent a Yak or walk through the snow. The oxygen level was low.But we decided that we will walk.
It was one of the best experiences of my life time. After such a scary journey, it was indeed the best feeling in the world. It is a very divine and beautiful place. A lake surrounded with snow capped mountains was a unique sight. The lake is frozen in winter season. We started walking through the snow and soon tiny,fluffy white snow flakes started falling on us. It was the first snow fall I had experienced. The tiny white flakes were entangled in my hair, spread all over my face and I could feel the soft snow melting slowly. I don't have words to describe the feeling. All I can say that it is worth experiencing at least once in your life.
It teaches you to appreciate small beautiful things in this world.
So we finally planned it. :) We booked the flight tickets and the hotels.Our travel itinerary was ready. I was really excited. I was finally getting a break from my routine. I was waiting for the day.
We had a flight till Bagdogra and had booked a taxi for the next journey. We started our journey in the booked cab. The roads were dangerous indeed. The journey in the hilly region is one of scariest I ever had. We reached Gangtok somewhere around 8 in the night. The roads in the tiny city were too steep and the countryside was immensely beautiful. The native people were very lovely and warm. We immediately went to sleep after the long, tiring journey.
Next day, we were supposed to visit Changu lake and Nathula pass, a place very close to China border. But we were informed by our hotel manager that due to bad weather conditions, we won't be able to go till Nathula Pass. We were still excited.
Changu lake is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from Gangtok at altitude of 3,780 m (12,400 ft). We started our journey in a Jeep with another family. I was sitting on the back seat and was enjoying the picturesque view through the window. But I never knew that this would indeed be the scariest journey of my life. I had visited Badrinath three years back. I thought it was the toughest journey but then it was not.
I was literally counting seconds during that journey from our hotel to Changu lake. I hate to admit this, but these are the only few hours in my life where I felt the fear for my life every second.Our vehicle driver was luckily a very skilled driver. The road was not a tar road. The visibility was almost zero because of the dense fog. And it started raining.
There was a time when we had to take a reverse for making way for a bus.The rear wheels of our jeep were on the edge of the valley.You need stability of the mind to go through such situations. On our right side was the valley, rather we can call it 'death valley' . It was damn scary. And the worst part was that I was sitting on the right side. Hats off to the Jeep driver and I sincerely thank him for driving so carefully and skillfully to save our souls.
And then after this roller coaster journey, we finally reached the place. We had to rent jackets,boots, gloves and caps to protect ourselves from the chilly wind and cold. We were all decked up and ready for the next journey. We were either needed to rent a Yak or walk through the snow. The oxygen level was low.But we decided that we will walk.
It was one of the best experiences of my life time. After such a scary journey, it was indeed the best feeling in the world. It is a very divine and beautiful place. A lake surrounded with snow capped mountains was a unique sight. The lake is frozen in winter season. We started walking through the snow and soon tiny,fluffy white snow flakes started falling on us. It was the first snow fall I had experienced. The tiny white flakes were entangled in my hair, spread all over my face and I could feel the soft snow melting slowly. I don't have words to describe the feeling. All I can say that it is worth experiencing at least once in your life.
It teaches you to appreciate small beautiful things in this world.
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