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Gurudongmar Lake Sikkim - Natural Paradise at 18000 feet

7/30/2015

After being captivated by the picturesque beauty of the Yumthang valley covered with around 25 species of flowers, we moved on towards our next destination which was the Gurudongmar Lake. It wasn’t very far away from our last destination and so we didn’t have to travel much.

It is also located in North Sikkim which is loaded with a number of sightseeing spots. On our way to the lake, we were a bit sad that our trip was coming to an end. On the other hand, we were happy that we would be returning to our respective homes with some glorious pictures and memories.

While covering the distance to reach the Gurudongmar Lake, we were extremely pleased with the waterfalls and the lush green fields in the surrounding areas. The Lake has an altitude of 17000 feet above the sea level and will surely leave you mesmerized thanks to the presence of snow clad mountains and peaks on all sides. It falls in the list of the highest lakes across the globe and holds the second rank in terms of lakes in India.

Gurudongmar Lake Sikkim

Gurudongmar Lake Sikkim | Image Resource : pushpakbanerjee.wordpress.com

One would simply be dumb struck on getting the scenic and panoramic view of the place. We came to know that the lake is associated with some religion and has been named in memory of Guru Dongmar.

We could also spot the Kanchenjunga and the Mount Siniolchu from the lake and it was breathtaking. The lake is extremely clear and considered to be a sacred one. One legend says that Guru Dongmar, also called as Guru Padmasambhava touched and made the lake completely pure and holy. It is due to this reason that despite the chilly winters, the water of the lake doesn’t freeze at all.

It is also believed that the lake acts as a source of water for River Teesta. We could see some tourists collecting the water in bottles believing that it has curative properties. We could also spot a place known as Sarva Dharma Sthal near the lake which means that it can be used for worshipping every religion. We had to leave the lake a bit quickly as it was already getting dark and we had to catch the return train the following day.

Yumthang Valley Sikkim - Mesmerizing Valley of Unique Flowers

7/24/2015

After exploring the Zemu Glacier, we were on our way to the most beautiful valley in this part of world, namely Yumthang Valley. Before entering the valley, we came across numerous Dhabas where we decided to try out some local cuisines. We were simply left dumb struck by the scenery on entering the valley. After watching the captivating view of the lush green valley, we had to climb over the slopes for reaching the flowers.

Being girls, we were extremely excited to experience the sight off a beautiful land covered with a wide range of colourful flowers. It is abound with a number of beautiful flowers which are found in the Himalayas. Also known as the Valley of Flowers, it is certainly one of the most picturesque locations in the world. The green and steep slopes covered with trees combined with a river running through the heart of the valley make it a dreamland. The beauty of the valley can’t be expressed through words. One should definitely visit this place while travelling to Sikkim. We were so impressed with its beauty that we couldn’t forget the exact picture of the valley for weeks.

Yumthang Valley Sikkim

Yumthang Valley Sikkim | Image Resource : en.wikipedia.org

Its location is considered to be a natural blessing as it lies above an altitude which is named as tree line and represents a height above which trees cannot grow. Despite this fact, the Yumthang Valley is abound with a number of Rhododendrons and trees. We came to know from one of the locals that the presence of a wide range of Rhododendrons is responsible for painting the entire valley red during the months of spring. They also showed us some old pictures of the Valley which looked like a picturesque collage comprising of forests of various colours.

Since we had visited the valley in June, we couldn’t spot any Rhododendron. However, we weren’t disappointed as we got the sight of some exquisite Himalayan flowers such as Louseworts, Cobra lilies, Cinquefoils, Primroses, etc. The Yellow Poppy is one of the rare flowers that we could spot in this valley. We didn’t have much time left for the day and so we left early as we needed to cover one more destination.

Flowers in Yumthang Valley Sikkim

Flowers in Yumthang Valley Sikkim | Image Resource : indianetzone.com

Photo Of The Week : Samdruptse Sikkim

7/22/2015

Samdruptse Sikkim

Samdruptse Sikkim | Image Resource : zloris.blogspot.com

Samdruptse Sikkim : The 138 feet statue of Guru padmasambhava is the main attraction here. A lot of pilgrims come and visit this peaceful location all year around. This statue can be seen until the indo Nepal boarder and holds great importance in this region. The history is rich and this location is surely worth a visit!

Zemu Glacier Sikkim Is Prone To Threats and Needs Attention

7/20/2015

The next destination in our list was what is believed to be Eastern Himalaya’s biggest glacier, namely Zemu Glacier. After travelling for some time, we had to climb up the mountain in order to reach the glacier. The journey to the Zemu Glacier after trekking over some rugged terrains and in the middle of dense forests was really awesome.

It is situated in the lap of Mount Kanchenjunga and said to have a length of 16 miles. Many people believe that this glacier acts as a source of River Teesta. It lies on the eastern portion of the Kanchenjunga and feeds water to a number of rivers as it melts. We had heard about the Teesta River because it was in the news as a result of the proposal of construction of a 3,500 MW hydroelectric power plant across the river. The locals informed us that the plans regarding the power plant is currently in ruins as the zone is extremely prone to earthquakes.

Zemu Glacier Sikkim

Zemu Glacier Sikkim | Image Resource : trekearth.com

We knew that there haven’t been any major reports and studies regarding the monitoring of the glacier. But we were really fascinated by the view of the glacier and didn’t forget to capture the breathtaking scenes with our cameras. One of my friends told me that scientists have concluded that the glacier has been decreasing constantly in size thanks to the presence of some digital photographs.

It has a number of lateral moraine type ridges on both sides which have a height off around 150 feet. Some people say that the ridges are a result of the Little Ice Age period. Scientists have also reported that many tributaries arising from the glacier have vanished in the past few years. One of the locals informed us that the melting takes place at a rapid pace in the lower portion of the glacier which is actually an ablation section.

According to the local residents, the Zemu Glacier has been facing the problem of slow but sure thinning every year. Some of the images captured constantly over the years show that the position of some selected spots have changed continuously thereby indicating that the Glacier has been retreating.

Photo Of The Week : Norbugang Chorten Sikkim

7/15/2015

Norbugang Chorten Sikkim

Norbugang Chorten Sikkim | Image Resource : commons.wikimedia.org

Norbugang Chorten Sikkim : This is a coronation throne which is situated in Geyzing. Watching the serene and beautiful Kuthok Lake from here is a feast to eyes. With time capsule being buried here, the place is known to be historically important. The mesmerizing structure of the Norbugang Chorten still remains a mark in the history.

Legends Make The Khecheopalri Lake Pelling Sikkim More Interesting

7/13/2015

We decided to start our second day with a visit to one of the most refreshing sites in the world where the Khecheopalri Lake was located. It was actually known by the name of Kha Chot Palri which stands for heaven of Padmasambhava. Both the Hindus and Buddhists treat it as a sacred one while many believe that the lake fulfils all types of wishes.

It is located in the Khecheopalri village which is close to Gangtok and Pelling. In the beginning, we had some confusion in reaching the lake because most of them couldn’t tell us the direction to the Khecheopalri Lake. But finally, we came across a person who told us that they locally call it as Sho Dzo Sho which literally stands for Oh Lady, Sit Here.

The lake is located in the Demazong Valley which is considered to be one of the most revered valleys in the country. Many people believe that the valley along with the lake has been blessed by Guru Padmasambhava which makes it a storehouse of hidden treasures.

Khecheopalri Lake Pelling Sikkim

Khecheopalri Lake Pelling Sikkim | Image Resource : bronzebeard.wordpress.com

We came to know that the Khecheopalri Lake is famous as a Buddhist pilgrimage site which also involves the Dubdi Monastery located in YUksom, the Rabdentse ruins, Tashiding Monastery, Pemayangtese Monastery and Sanga Choeling Monastery. We could see that the birds made sure that not a single leaf floats on the lake. They would industriously pick up all the leaves the moment they fall on the surface of the lake.

One of the locals informed me that there is a folklore legend associated with the topography of Sikkim. According to the legend, the Khecheopalri Lake represents a plexus present in the human body i.e. the thorax. It also says that the other three plexes include the Yuksom which represents the third eye, the Tashding which represents the head and the Pemayangtse which represents the heart.

Another legend says that Guru Padmasambhava used to preach 64 yoginis on the bank of the lake. Some others believe that Goddess Tara Jetsun Dolma used to reside in this area with the lake being a footprint. We also came to know about many new legends from the plaques erected at the entrance of the lake.

Welcomheritage Denzong Regency Gangtok - The Ideal Hotel in Gangtok for Travelers

7/10/2015

We were simply fascinated by the breathtaking views that the small state of Sikkim had on offer during the trip from New Jalpaiguri station to the hotel booked via hotel mobile app. We had to travel for some time because the hotel was at a distance of more than 100 km from the station. We were greeted warmly in traditional Sikkim style and we went directly to our rooms since we were quite tired after being in the train for 3 long days.

Welcomheritage Denzong Regency Gangtok

Welcomheritage Denzong Regency Gangtok | Image Resource : denzongregency.com

Reception of Welcomheritage Denzong Regency Gangtok

Reception of Welcomheritage Denzong Regency Gangtok | Image Resource : denzongregency.com

Lobby in Welcomheritage Denzong Regency Gangtok

Lobby in Welcomheritage Denzong Regency Gangtok | Image Resource : denzongregency.com

We had booked two Deluxe Rooms for the four of us. After sleeping throughout the morning, we freshened up and had lunch at one of the restaurants inside the hotel. It was then that we could realise that we were sitting in one of the most picturesque locations of the world. The ambience was extremely comfortable and warm and the hotel represented the ideal mixture of contemporary and ethnic decor.

Thanks to the hotel mobile app that we knew that WelcomHeritage Denzong Regency Gangtok is the solo luxury boutique hotel in Gangtok. The best part about the hotel is that it offers absolutely quiet and peaceful ambience despite being location at a distance of 1km from the centre of the city. It has been in existence for a long period of time and spread over an area of 10 acres. Seriously, it was the best hotel for enjoying the best views in the city, the valleys, myriad streams and unmatchable beauty of the undulating mountains.

But what made the scene breathtaking is the presence of the massive Mount Kanchenjunga in the backdrop. The WelcomHeritage Denzong Regency Gangtok was located near Raj Bhawan of Gangtok on the Cherry Banks. It was one of the ideal locations for travellers as it is close to most of the sightseeing spots in Gangtok. We also explored the facilities and the architecture of the hotel and were extremely impressed by both of them. There was a banquet hall which can be used for organizing parties, events and ceremonies. The hotel also offered unlimited internet access which will be mainly useful for those visiting Gangtok for business.

Photo Of The Week : Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

7/8/2015

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology | Image Resource : bharatdiscovery.org

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology : Getting to learn about Tibetology is an interesting experience. Namgyal Institute Of Tibetology, is an amazing warehouse of knowledge and depository of priceless relics and elements associated to Tibetan Culture and Buddhism. Knowing the teachings of various scholars gave me a better perspective on life.

Phodong Monastery Sikkim - Peaceful and Divine

7/6/2015

From the Indo China border we moved on towards our next destination which was the Phodong Monastery. There are a number of monasteries in this region on the North Sikkim Highway, namely Labrang, Phensang and Phodong Monasteries, located at a distance of 38km away from Gangtok.

The locals informed us that the monastery was established by Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal in the 18th century and is owned by the Kargyupa sect. He is believed to be the ninth Karmapa and was asked by Sikkim’s King to construct the three monasteries.

Phodong Monastery Sikkim

Phodong Monastery Sikkim | Image Resource : en.wikipedia.org

We knew that the monastery has been rebuilt at different points of time and now stands tall as a part of the numerous magnificent monasteries in this small state. The reconstruction was done by Sidkeong Tulku Namgyal who is considered to have done the reincarnation of his uncle and the monastery’s abbot Sidkeong Namgyal. But the best part of the monastery is that the old frescoes and mural paintings have been preserved and left untouched.

On entering the monastery, we could see that there were around 300 monks living there. The monks were extremely friendly and helpful and enabled us to have some noodles and momos from their personal kitchen. All four of us were really pleased at having the opportunity to interact with such peaceful people. We were really happy at the fact that such smiling and loving people still exist in the world.

Noodles and Momos

Noodles and Momos | Image Resource : nevertrustascrawnyfoodie.blogspot.in

The monks told us that just like other monasteries, it acts as a host to the annual Puja which is held in the last portion of the Tibetan Calendar’s tenth month. They also informed us that different types of religious dance performances are being done on that occasion. The festival is known as chaam and is celebrated on the 29th and 28th days of the concerned month.

After getting out of the Phodong Monastery Sikkim, we could see that it was already dark and decided to stop our journey for the day. We returned to the hotel, had for a bath and then tasted some exquisite Sikkim dishes before going to bed. We were very tired but felt very happy that we still had many more places to explore.

Photo Of The Week : Hanuman Tok Sikkim

7/2/2015

Hanuman Tok Sikkim

Hanuman Tok Sikkim | Image Resource : places-to-visit-in-sikkim.blogspot.com

Hanuman Tok Sikkim : This is a temple which is located on a hilltop. I had to climb several steps to get to the top. The view along the way was beautiful and many different life forms you could see. As I got to the top I was mesmerized by the beauty of the place. I would say Sikkim is one of the most sought after destinations amongst students like me, who would prefer a low budget.

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About Author.

Hello, I am Ayushi Manroa. I love travelling and have also dabbled in photography. Being a student, I mostly end up back-packing! I started this blog to record my travelogues about the amazing places that I have been to. Be it frolicking in Goa, taking a dip in the Ganges, trekking in Coorg or hitching a ride up the Western Ghats, it is all listed here along with some of my best shots. Hope you like it. Happy reading!

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