Yumthang Valley- The land of Paradise

5 years ago
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Growing up in the foothill of The Queen Of Hills – Darjeeling, Rajasri Mukherjee learned the ways to communicate with nature. A travel enthusiast tries to reach down to the core of nature and brings the best out of it. Though MBA pass-out, having a corporate background yet is a professional photographer working in the industry for the last 6 years for a purpose.

She finds peace in sharing her vision and how she interprets nature and life as a whole. Canon being the personal preference and a monochrome heart is travelling through all the local routes, listening to local stories, sharing the lifestyle close to nature and clicking independent.

This is a documentation of the Yumthang Valley (North Sikkim). Travelling in the mid of November’18, documented at an altitude of 11800ft. just before the offset of the winters when the valley completely freezes. Its a valley amidst the no man’s land where you are allowed to stay till 2 pm as the place experiences massive temperature drop post that. A heavenly stretch of the valley full of exotic flora, fauna, natural wonders, picturesque beauty and wild yak turns the place into a complete PARADISE. 24 different species of Rhododendrons along-with a natural hot-spring where one can take a dip into is the ultimate craving one can ever imagine of at that altitude. I experienced a temperature drop of -13°C as it is a valley surrounded by the snow-capped mountain ranges. What inspired me is the climatic conditions and the species living there on a daily basis.

The breathtaking view of Mount Kanchendzonga, the fragrance of variety of flowers, the quietness of sparkling lakes and the gurgling of rivers like Teesta make North Sikkim a destination that no nature lover should miss.

Lachung- Quiet, serene, beautiful. Lachung literally means ‘Small Pass’, which it indeed is as it is situated in the close proximity to Tibet border. The Lachung Gompa is the major attraction of the town, whereas, a short distance from here is Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary that is also a must see.

Yumthang Valley- The valley is the home to 24 species of Rhododendrons, thus it rightly earns its name as ‘Valley of Flowers’. The vasts meadows and the passing of River Teesta through it makes Yumthang Valley a nature lovers’ paradise. Seven Sisters Waterfalls- Situated about 32kms from Gangtok on the way to Mangan, Seven Sisters is a beautiful waterfall. The water is seen cascading down in distinct three steps. A small footbridge is constructed above the waterfall so that the visitors get the best view. If one is willing to trek a bit more than he can be rewarded with the view of the fourth drop of the fall. An incredible place for some adventure, visitors will love Seven Sisters Waterfall.

Zero Point- My journey to the Zero Point started when I got into a taxi early morning at Gangtok. It is the place where three rivers meet with snow-clad mountains in the vicinity offering some thrilling views. There is hardly any vegetation in Zero Point as it remains snow covered for the most of the year but still, you can see yaks grazing in the snow in search of vegetation. Due to the high altitude of Zero Point, oxygen in the air is low and there can be breathing problems for few.

The charming little hamlet in Lachung with its scenic wealth of stunning fruit orchards, sparkling streams and gushing blue rivers flowing against the mesmerizing backdrop of snow-crowned Himalayas loomed over by azure blue skies, has aptly been named amongst the most picturesque villages of North East India, attracting thousands of holiday seekers and nature aficionados from far and wide. The town is no less than a paradise for soul seekers too who are looking for a destination where they can breathe in the fresh air and take in the solitude of mountains, away from honking noises of city roads. Lachung where I stayed back where the temp was -13°.

Note: – A photocopy of any photo identity card and two photos will be required in order to obtain the permit. There are a number of trains from cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, Chennai, Kochi, and Bengaluru. On reaching New Jalpaiguri station, the best way to reach Gangtok is to take a shared taxi that you will get just outside the station and charges will be around INR 200-250.

Total expense from Njp to Njp- 4000.(travel,food,lodge,permit,jeep)

The month I travelled- November.

A great Salute to the Indian Army for their endurance and the protection they provide at such extreme conditions. Heart-melting hospitality of the localities and the landscape makes it a Valley that you should at least visit once in your life.