When leisure shakes us we always love to spend a quality time with our family. So during ‘Diwali’ we planned to visit the place of placidity (Lava) and the queen of hills (Darjeeling).
Lava– Lava is situated at an altitude of 7200 feet which is greater than the altitude of Darjeeling (6700 feet). It is a small, placid village in Kalimpong district of the West Bengal.
*Routes to reach Lava :
1. By train reach NJP station and from there you can book car to go to lava. It would take about 3 hours to reach there.
2. By air you can reach the Bagdogra airport and from there it would take about 3.5 hours to reach Lava.
On 26th October (2019) we started our journey at 6.20 PM and reached Howrah station at 8.02 PM. It was 9.25 PM when the Paharia Express arrived at platform no. 9 and departed from Howrah at 10 O’clock.
The night passed with a witty mood and when we woke up we were near to our destination. However the train made a delay at the Siliguri Town station (time then was – 9.20 AM). Finally we reached NJP station at 10.50 AM on 27.10.19.
Then we left for Lava by car.
After an hour (12.02 PM) we were in the Teesta barrage where we had our breakfast (Bread toast and Maggi).
This river forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal. Gajoldoba Teesta Barrage is famous for its surrounding nature. It is also a famous birding center.
Tea gardens were attracting our eyes even in the planes of Siliguri. The hills were becoming more joyous amidst the green.
Leaving Gorubathan we reached the Chel river– (at 1.52 PM ):
A big rock with a temple in its apex is situated near the bridge with beautiful landscape. Getting down through the slope beside the rock we came across the unparalleled Chel river which was burbling touching the stones.
Then we came to WBFDC’s resort (Dukpa ) at around 3.45 PM.
(One can book the resort through online application. This resort provides you cozy beauty of forest and nonpareil view of Kangchenjunga. )
The ambiance was pleasant and foggy and we also felt a little cold there.
However after a while we took a 20 minute walk to reach the Lava monastery (5.02 PM) which is truly a peaceful place to calm our mind.
After visiting the monastery we ate momo in a nearby restaurant. Then in the resort we chattered for a while; the evening was brewing with the fuming essence coming from our cups of coffee made by ‘dada’. We would always recall the whimper of Bihu (mamai) to get a wrist watch anyhow. Japes with ‘mamai’ and ‘pukkuri’ was part of the day indeed. We took our dinner from the canteen of the resort. The night ended with our deep sleep.
28.10.19
The new morning in Lava (WBFDC’s resort) unveiled vehemently amazing scenic view. However we had to leave lava and move towards Darjeeling. It was our plan to visit the Changey falls and Deolo park on the way to Darjeeling. We sallied out from WBFDC at around 8 AM and reached Changey Falls at 8.35 AM. It took about 15-20 minutes to walk down from the place where the car had stopped. There we met a sweet Nepali boy named ‘Basant’ who shared the story of his tough life in the hills and also helped us to reach near the falls. I was also helped by an uncle to get down through a steep region there. Firstly I thought my Dad and Mom would not be able to reach there but my thinking turned out to be wrong and they also enjoyed the magnificent view of the falls. Croon of creatures blended with the burble of the waterfalls made the place amiable.
Deolo park (12.45 PM- 1.42 PM) – This park is well adorned with flowering plants and bushes and provides beautiful view of Kangchenjunga. The clouds cuddle the park conferring you a very pleasant sight.
Our driver drove us to Kalimpong instead of Darjeeling as we were late to discern the whole park. From Kalimpong Gagan da accompanied us. On the way to Darjeeling we hoarded the striking elegance of the ‘Sleeping Buddha’ from Rishi road(4.25PM). Vehemently the bliss of nature scattered its majestic charm! We were lucky enough to confront the dignified paradigm of the peaks vividly. It took 2.5 hours to reach Darjeeling (5.05PM).
We freshened up and went to mall for quelling mamai’s whimper.
29.10.19
The keen sleepy eyes woke up at 3 AM only to add another glint in our sack of thirst. Mission Tiger Hills started at 3.45 AM😊. Gagan da took the tokens for us the day before. So we could reach (4.30 AM) there without any trouble. The sun was yet to rise and the sky was dark with twinkling stars. We bought 2 cups of coffee from a Nepali girl to warm ourselves. Then gazed at the changing hues of the sky. Yellow, orange and sky drew the canvas of love. From the meeting place of colors the sun would rise like an aflame candle and would spread its rays to the apex of Kangchenjunga leaving the endless, royal and flamboyant beauty. That moment came with the rapt sounds of people. What we achieved was the golden moment which could be cherished perennially.
After that we enjoyed the white and demure beauty of the Peace Pagoda and Japaneese temple (7.33 AM).
Then we came back to our hotel to get ready for the next schedule but the rest of the places of 7 points were closed due to ‘Bhaitikka’. So we had to return from the mid way. It was like a Hobson’s choice for us to walk through the mall. However, when we walked headlong from the Mahakal road we explored tremendous tranquility blended with the shining peaks. The greens exulted to reckon the beauty. Around 2.30PM we had our lunch at hotel ‘Chanakya’ which provided us good bengali food.
30.10.19 This day luckily provided us the scope to visit the rest of the places. We started at 9.25 AM.
We first visited the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park & Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (9.48 AM) where we could see different animals (Sambar deer, barking deer, wolf, royal Bengal tiger, snow leopard etc.) including the red panda at the top of a tree winking at us. There was also a museum and a wall climbing center where we enjoyed the wall climbing by expending 30 rupees only. We could not imagine how one and a half hour passed so quickly.
Tea garden -The tea saplings in the layers of the hilly slope looked like the ambit of happiness. From the tea garden the landscape of floating clouds kissing the peaks of mountains was bland and humble.
We then visited the Tenzing rock.
Our next destination was the Batasia loop (1.49PM).
The combination of sky and green provided us to explore phraseology of beauty. We hired the Nepali attires (at an expense of only 50 rupees) which made us look completely different and. The red bridge at the entry side and the toy train passing through was eye-catching indeed.
We had our lunch at hotel blessed home. One can enjoy very good quality of food here. The scenic view seen through the window pane was so nice as the floating clouds were playing the shining glad game.
Then we arrived at another monastery (at 3.20 PM).
After 30 minutes we were near the Mahakal temple. From where the car could not go up we started walking from there. The chirping of birds vouchsafed to confer utterances to the silence of the prevailing forest beside the hilly slope. When we reached the temple we could feel the peace that reconsecrated our hearts. It is a place where both Buddhism and Hinduism are entwined.
For the rest of the time we spent in the mall which was attracting us to buy things. However one can not but be glad to watch the glint and glamour of the mall. I can’t forget the wide screen situated at the junction of two markets showing clippings of the beautiful places of interests. Street foods and many restaurants are open for the foodies. Momos are so soft and pocket friendly also.
31.10.19 (The time to bid Darjeeling good bye~) In order to abide by the vogues of convention we had to leave the queen of hills with a heavy but affectionate heart. Our plan was to reach NJP after watching the Pashupati market and mirik lake.
The road journey was amazing. The clouds were playing with delight. They formed the draperies touching the pines. The hills were no more visible and only the clouds wrapped them with enormous bower of pleasure. Perhaps the land of green fairy has been endorsed here to unleash the heavenly beauty of the playing clouds. They (clouds) even touched our car; we could see it.
We stopped near simana view point from where Nepal can be seen.
Pashupati market: It is in Nepal and identity proof is a strict necessity as police checks it. As no Indian driver has the permit to cross the border we either had to walk or hire a taxi to reach the market. We took e taxi and visited the market.
Mirik Lake: We had bengali foods as lunch there in a small restaurant. Then entered the lake.
It is a huge lake and the bridge over the lake is symbolic. Colours of different flowers and the singing of birds enhance the beauty of the lake. It was a great walk through the path where the bridge ends. The pleasant reflection of the area in lake of the water was unambiguous. We spent almost 2 hours here and enjoyed the enchanting view of the place.
Then we finally reached NJP station and caught Kanchan Konya express with a tinge of sweet memories.
Prevailing folds to unfold......... 