High Ascents

I had been thinking that my blog would be rather incomplete if it doesn't happen to portray my experiences on the Sandakphu trek. This was my very first trek, back in December 2014, which I undertook with a good friend. The Sandakphu-Phalut trail is an example of a classic trek. It is also perceived to be one of the most underrated ones (sadly), because of its rather modest difficulty level. Sandakphu, at an altitude of 11,929 feet is the highest point of the Singalila ridge which runs from Northwestern West Bengal to Sikkim, with some sections of the trail also going through Nepal. This ridge also separates the mountain ranges of West Bengal from the Himalayan ranges to the West and the North. A backpacker having decent fitness levels can make the trek to Sandakphu in three days and return in another couple of days. The tiny hamlet of Maneybhanjan (7054 feet) serves as the base camp for the journey. The route upto Chitrey passes through pine, fir and birch forests The...

If a remote little village, surrounded by some magnificent mountains, picturesque teahouses and a quaint market is your idea of a perfect holiday, then make sure to head to Yuksom in West Sikkim. Yuksom was the first capital of Sikkim, established in 1642 AD and has a rich history. The village is situated at an altitude of 5700 feet. Being the gateway to the Khangchendzonga National Park and a base for trekking to the Goecha La pass and the Rathong Glacier, this sleepy hamlet has a large influx of mountaineers and trekkers from all parts of the world. Kabru North (7338 mtrs) as seen from Yuksom However, Yuksom can be a suitable destination for non-trekkers too. The road to Yuksom from Silliguri is beautifully forested with the Teesta and the Rangit rivers running alongside. The best part about Yuksom is the huge expanse of unperturbed greenery, the chilly winds that will catch you by surprise every once in a while, the delicious steaming hot momos at the Gupta ...