5Th. December :

After lots of speculations about our first ever trek of life we THREE boarded the NJP bound Kamrup Express from Howrah Station. As usual the train was late to reach its destination and it was around 7.30 in the morning as we reached the near by taxi stand at Pani Tanki More at Siliguri. A share jeep took us to Ghoom from where another share jeep dropped us at Sukhiapokhri. Finally we booked one maruti van for our last 20 minutes journey and reached Manebhanjang around 1 PM. We took shelter at Hotel Exotica and had our Lunch.
During afternoon we met our guide and completed some basic formalities of registering our names at the police check post followed by some marketing of required dry foods.  

Team Members       

ME ( Saikat)

Arijit

Anindya

                                                           

It was all set to start. We managed the final packing and it was simply our ignorance that we took so many things to make our back pack really heavy. Good Night.

6th December, Day 1 

ManeBhanjang to Tumling

As always I was late to wake up just to find my friends becoming ready with their individual items. I soon ran to the owner of the lodge to manage a bucket of hot water. I became ready within 15 minutes. Our guide came in time and we took final advice from the owner and went out to have the breakfast. It followed by the check post formalities taken care of by Arijit and we were al set to start. My watch was reading 9.30. Just after 15 minutes of trek we started to loose our breathing. We knew that the first 2.5 Km up to Chitrey was going to be steep and it was indeed. We stopped several times & started cursing for carrying so many things…….inexperience of first timers……and finally reached Chitrey around 11.00 Am.

Bifercation of Trek Trail & Jeep Road

After a hot Tea break the trek started for a place called Lahmedura. On our way we took the trek trail bypassing the car road and as we proceeded the weather turned around. The fog came thick & fast to engulf the views around and we halted at lahmedura for another round of tea. Our next desired stop was at Meghma, another Nepaly village.

 

The dense fog reduced the visibility only upto a few feet and severe wind made us really cold. After another round of tea we began for the last stretch. From Meghma we had the option to travel through two different routes. One went straight up to Tonglu and the comparatively easier one headed towards Tumling. We took the second options. Though it was steep but the gradient was easier than the other one. Again we have heard that Tumling had better staying options rather than only one GMVN trekkers hut at Tonglu.

Dense Fog all Around

Finally we ended our first day trek at Tumling. Being extremely tired we made our mistake to lie down at our beds without even having any food. That eventually made us trembling in severe cold of early December. The lady at the lodge finally arranged some fire for us which gave us new life. We took a delicious dinner and two our great surprise we discovered a new world. As we were returning to our room from the fire place we witnessed an amazing sky. It was so full of stars as if somebody painted some black spots on a white sky. The Milky way galaxy was clearly visible. The temperature read 2 degree of Celsius and we soon took ourselves under the warm blanket inside the warmer room.

7 th. December ( Day 2 )

Tumling to Kalipokhri

It was a bright early morning as we woke up around 5 AM. We took warm clothing and with camera rushed to a hill top to catch the sunrise. As we are fixing our tripod the surroundings started to get brighter. And after some time the first ray of Sun hit the tip of Mount Kanchenjunga. The next one hour was just magical. Clear blue sky, continuous change of colour of the whole kanchenjunga range and the blooming sun through the clouds was just indescribable. After the sunrise phenomenon we got back to our lodge, had our breakfast and started proceeding towards our next destination. To day I have to walk something around 14 Km to reach kalipokhri.

Kanchenjunga during Sunrise at Tumling

Sunrise at Tumling

The trail for initial 7 to 8 kms was gradual descend till Garybus. Enroute  

We took a little coffee break in a small Neapaly village. Joubari. The trail was long and tiring and after Kayakata it became a bit steep. We negotiated the hardship to reach Kalapokhri around 3 PM and took our shelter at Pandim Lodge. As usual we enjoyed the fireplace at the kitchen till we had our dinner. We knew the next day was going to be the toughest of all as we had to climb around 3000 ft within 8-9 kms. So we took our bed early.

Kalipokhri Lake

8^th. December (Day 3)

Kalipokhri to Sandakphu

It was a bright morning and we soon took our breakfast. After a mental preparation of hard toil for the day we started marching towards Sandakphu. The first three kilometers was more or less flat and within One hour or so we reached Bikhebhanjang. Bikhebhanjang means the valley of poison. As we were taking a glass of tea our guide pointed out the steep trail in front of us. We all got bemused and started pondering how to negotiate the trail with 40kg weight on our back….the thinking of first time trekkers made our guide to smile and he asked us to walk as slow as we can. We started to keep ourselves focused and the journey began again.

The trail became gradually tougher as we went ahead.Huffing & puffing we progressed extremely slow and after a U-turn suddenly a new world appeared in front of us. The whole Kanchenjunga range was glowing in massive blue sky. The weather was perfect.

First View Of Kanchenjunga after Bikheybhanjang

Kanchenjunga during Sunset

Finally we reached Sandakphu around 12 noon and went straight into the trekkers hut to change our clothings. We had our lunch and went out to enjoy the sun. A small hilltop was there to view the sunset and the beautiful after noon provided us the most amazing day of my several visits to himalaya. The always changing colour of the mountain range along with the ocean of clouds was just indescribable. 

The wind & cold were forcing us to enter inside the hut. We enjoyed fire till we had our dinner. Finally we felt asleep discussing the unprecedented experience we had that day.

9^th. December ( Day 4 )
Sandakphu to Phalut

A cold but bright morning woke us and soon we rushed to the spot to view the sunrise. The almighty offered us another spectacular natural phenomenon which can only be visualized but I do not have the word to describe. The Kanchenjunga family, The Everest family, and the other peaks where bathing in sunrise with the sun slowly emerging from the ocean of clouds just behind us. The wind was cold but the heavenly surroundings was forcing us to stay there....perhaps to stay forever......which was not to be. So, the poor sole had to get down to the Trekkers Hut to complete the natural & biological formalities.  After breakfast we started our trek again around 9.30 AM. Our today’s destination is Phalut, which is 22km long journey from Sandakphu. 

Sun Set

Sun Rise at Sandakphu

We proceeded through a vast green medow with scattered rhododendron bush though December was not the time of flower. On that day we were the only group heading towards Phalut, so it was a kind of feeling that we three are the only teeny human soles over the huge lap of mighty Himalaya. 

Way To Phalut

We took rest according to our wish and was late to reach Sabargram. It was already 2.30PM and we had another 8 kms to cover out of which the last 2 Kms was again steep. Our body was not willing to go any further but we collected our mind together and took the decision to proceed. Finally being extremely tired we drew our exhausted body at Phalut around 5.30PM. It was almost dark outside. The cold was too much to withstand and wind was so powerful that we needed the support to even stand outside. I soon realized why Phalut is called “The Land of Wind”. 

We Three

We did not have any energy left. Somehow we had our dinner and this was the fist time through out the whole day we had something solid food to satisfy our hunger. As we took our sleeping bag out the wind peaked up. It was creating a horrifying sound and we three had some uncanny feelings as we were the only sole inside that 28 members trekkers hut. Our tired body concurred our feelings and eventually I felt asleep without even asking the conditions of my friends.

10^th. December ( Day 5)
Phalut to Gorkhey 

My alarm clock woke me up around 4.30 in the morning and I just called my guide to hike towards the phalut top. As I went outside, my friend followed me. It was 1 km hike from the trekkers hut. The journey again paid the price as we witnessed another glorious sunrise. 

Sunrise at Phalut

Colorful Sky at Phalut

My fingers was completely frozen as I was clicking my camera bare handed. We finally went down. Prepared we stared our descend towards Gorkhey, another nepally village 14 kms from Phalut.

Sunrise from Phalut

The trail was through the dense forest of singalila national park and we enjoyed the different natural landscape as we reached Gorkhey by 1 PM. It was really a picture post card with Gorkhey khola  flowing beside. The near by hills of sikim was also visible from there. We booked the Eden lodge and relaxed for the day.

Gorkhey Village

11^th. December (Day 6 )
Gorkhey to Srikhola

We started early today. Our destination is Sreekhola a 15km journey from Gorkhey. The trail was very much similar like the previous day. We took our lunch at Rammam and prceeded further to reach Goaparma Hotel at Sreekhola. It happened to be another nice spot on the bank of sreekhola river. Our planning was to trek further 1 km to reach Seppy next day from where NJP bound Jeep are available. The plan however was jeopardized as Strike was called and we had some more tricks to be applied.

All are well that ends well……..the trek was like some dreams comes true. It actually revealed how the nature is going to offer her enormous beauty towards the civilization…..the only thing which we can is to love the nature….enjoy her at her very best…..and I still remember one sign board en-route to Sandakphu , saying “ Leave nothing except your footprints behind “………………………

……………….Saikat

 

View my Trek Album at :- Sandakphu - Phalut Trek

Disclaimer :-

This trek was made successful through the guidance & information, I receive from my friends at Indiamike. Our Guide Monoj Tamang played a vital role to keep our moral up during our first ever trek

MY Home Page.