Chomling in the land of Chamling-2

May 2nd:
The train was marginally late at 7.15 AM when we lighted at NJP. It had rained and we were eagerly looking to head off into the hills. A Tavera was waiting outside NJP and we were off towards Gangtok!

Passed through the still sleeping siliguri town, through the army cantonment of Sevoke and we were passing through teak forests with the hills in the foreground. The road to Gangtok lies along the banks of the Teesta, which we crossed on the 'Coronation bridge', which the maps said was just 4 km from Kalimpong. Passed Melli Bazaar on the WB side and finally entered Sikkim through Rangpo.

Breakfast halt was at a charming village at a moderately clean and functional roadside restaurant. We were in Gangtok by 10.45 and went straight to our Hotel: the Superview Himalchuli. And this is hwere we had our first uncomfortable experience of the trip. The hotel, though exotic and at a very nice location , was very badly maintained and quite dirty. Not recommended at all. And within an hour of arrival, we ensured that Yak n Yeti put us up in another hotel. Feeling quite miffed, we left with our luggage, with some shopping at the govt handicraft store, and lunch at hotel ashirwaad on the beautiful MG Marg (more about which later).

Went to the replacement hotel: Leo International to dump the luggage before proceeding to Rumtek. The Leo was a vast improvement on the Superview, and while basic, was very clean, with 24 hour hot water (which we realised was quite something). The food at Leo was was also noteworthy.

The Rumtek Monastry is the seat (in absentia) of the karmapa Lama, the no 3 in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy. In the 1990's there was an issue of 2 conflicting lamas, one nominated by the chinese and the second by some bhutanese monastries. In the event, The chinese nominated lama 'escaped' to India, and is currently at Dharamshala. The Govt of India , trying to keep controversy at bay, has not yet allowed him into rumtek (amidst rumours also that he could be a Chinese 'implant' ). And so the serenely beautiful monastery is chock full of ITBP security men.

had wonderful time there, and then returned to spend the evening at MG marg, where we had to have amma's PP foto clicked for the permits to North Sikkim and Tsomgo lake.

The MG marg is Gangtok's high street, and has been recently remodeled. Traffic is forbidden , and thus it is a wide flower laden avenue where tourists and locals enjoy the pleasant evenings. Photos done and submitted to Y &Y, we headed back to the Leo international for some well deserved sleep.