Birding trip to Thin jhura,Part 2

In the morning i was surpise to see the view of morning sunrise because i haven't heard about it .It was really "wow",first sky changes into orange colour and then sun come out.After breakfast we went for birding to nearby place and we saw many birds including yellow billed blue megpie which is very common in that place.list of bird that we saw there is given at the end.
At nine we started to trek and on the way we saw many birds and even heard the sound of many wildlife.Trekking route was virgin but you woun't get lost ,mark has been given there to show the way.After walking for almost 2 hours not so uphill,its totallyt uphill walk and sometime you have to crawl .I must appreciated Amor from kolkatta friend of karma Tempo for his gut.At around 12:15 we reached the top finally.There is three storeyed tower and walking up stair in that tower make you feel like as if you are going to heaven.We were so excited to reached that hill which took 3 hours walk from Goalitar and the starting place can be seen from that tower.Mt.kanchendzonga was so huge from there and Gangtok town is more beautiful .Well trekking down one of our friend(sameer)got injured in his ankle but he made it.when we reached log house some friend from lal market group whoi choose not to trek offered us tea.

checklist:
Olive backed pipit...........many time
Rofouse breasted accenture..............many time
White throated laughing thrush.......many time
 Chestnut crowned laughing thrush...many time
Scaly breasted wren babler........once
Rofous sibia....many time
Sparrow hawk....one time
Serpent Eagle....one time
Yellow billed blue megpie...many time
Rofous napped yuhina......many time
Fire breasted flowerpecker....once
Whiskered yuhina...many time
Yellow checked tit.....once
Khalij pheasent...once
one not identified

Birding Trip to Thin jhura,Part 1

Thin jhura is a hill top located at an altitude of 3360mts.from where one can  see view  of whole gangtok town,Mt.kanchendzonga and tiger hill.Since it is located in the Fabongla wildlife santuary,birding  and trekking to hill top would be  lifetime experience.On friday we got permit to do camping in goali tar and the fees was  not so high,they charged us  Rs.50 per tent,Rs.25 per person as entry fee and Rs.20 for camera.They have even  opened online booking and if you want to book  log of Golitar then you must book in month in advance.
On Saturday at 2pm, we started our journey from Tashi View point and from there it is 5km drive to sanctuary gate.Weather forcast was also not showing good sign  but we were very hopeful.As soon as we reached Fabongla gate ,our car tire got punctured and we had to struggle for at least 15min to replace it because we thought if we left it for tomorrow then it would be difficult to replace after 4hours trekking and we did the right thing.Again it took 20 min walk from gate to Goalitar,carrying all food stuff ,tent and sleeping bag was pretty tiresome .We all were excited for this and for  all  my friend it was there first experience but for me it was a third time,first was in Singba sanctuary,yumthang,second was in Pangthang .Even though it was my third time i haven't pitch tent by myself and i was not sure how to do it.When it was a time to pitch a tent,we checked  tent bag and checked all item first,first we got confused.So i called my friend Madan fro help but got network problem but later we could manage to pitch it our self .when  our tent was ready, Care taker of santuary brought some firewood for camp fire and we gave him Rs.400.By the ,it was already dark and we headed toward log house for dinner for which we have brought cup noddles.There we meet some guys from Lal market,Gangtok and they were there for trekking to Thin jhura and they used to come to place annually.They were very nice and friendly and they even offered us their dinner but we feel not accept first but when they insist us again ,we said ok.Food was awesome and never expected that for dinnner and thats the thing about camping.Afer dinner we did camp fire and went to sleep early.

Birding Trip to Thin jhura,Fabongla wildlife santuary

Glimpse of Sikkim Pargliding festival 2012

Ist Sikkim International Prargliding Festival 2012.

Four day 1st sikkim International paragliding festival 2012  was organised by sikkim tourism and civil aviation department in association with paragliding association of India(PAI)and Sikkim paragliding adventure sports cooperative society Ltd from Oct31-Nov3 here at gangtok.Last year PAI annual paragliding festival was held at Kamshet ,Maharastra,India.This year total of 60 Indian and International paragliding pilot from Nepal.U.S.A,Austria,South Africaand ,Sweden have participated.
Festival was inaugurated by Bhaichung Bhutia ,former Indian Football captain and the  owner of united sikkim football club.Paragliding Association of India has made him lifetime honorary member during this occasion.

This year main event were free flying,spot landing contest and acro show.In addition to that photo exhibition and evening cultural show at M.G Marg added flavor to this festival.Main attraction of the  festival were Sanu Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Sherpa who were voted as 2012 people's choice adventurer of the year by National Geographic for  climbing Mt.everest,paragliding down and then kayaking to the sea.Both of them were felicitated on this occasion for their achievement.
Take-off point was at bulbulay dara,8km from gangtopk and the landing spot was at Reshithang which is 20 min flight from take-off point.
Initiative taken by Sikkim tourism department to boost the adventure tourism in sikkim by organising such festival was really appreciable said tourist from Mumbai.Success of the festival showed the seriousness of the department and the professionalism of  the youths especially Sikkim paragliding adventure sports co-perative Society Ltd.   This festival has shown the potential of the youth who were in this field and scope of adventure sports in sikkim said Addl. secretary ,Tourism Department.
No doubt festival has given exposure to Sikkim in world over and from now onward Sikkim would be known not  only for beauty and nature but also for adventure sports.

SpiceRoads Cycle Tours Offers Sikkim as Alternative to Tibet

SpiceRoads Cycle Tours Offers Sikkim as Alternative to Tibet SpiceRoads Cycle Tours launches Cycling Sikkim's Tea Trails tour that visits cultural and natural highlights of this land-locked north Indian province. Bangkok, Thailand, June 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Chinese authorities are no longer issuing entry permits to Tibet to foreigners, effectively closing Tibet for 2012, and for those interested in Tibetan culture SpiceRoads Cycle Tours now offers a 10-day cycle tour to rugged and remote Sikkim in northeast India. SpiceRoads Cycle Tours has had to cancel two Lhasa to Kathmandu tours due to this sudden and unexpected change in permit rules to Tibet. Sikkim is bordered by Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, and the influence is seen in the people, the majority of whom are ethnically Nepali, and the two predominant religions of Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Stops on this cycle tour include the 200-year-old Tibetan Enchey monastery in Gangtok and the Rumtek Monastery, which dates back to the 16th century and is lead by the 16th Karmapa who fled Tibet in 1959 and took over Rumtek as his main seat in exile. Throughout the ride the Kanchenjunga mountain range of five peaks and includes Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world with an elevation of 8,586 m (28,169 ft), is ever present, another reminder of the snow-capped peaks of Tibet. The Cycling Sikkim's Tea Trails route is 330 kilometres over six days of cycling and also takes breaks to make a wish at Sikkim's holiest lake, sample tea from local plantations, and ride a toy train in the colonial hill station of Darjeeling. The riding will be strenuous as it will consist of exhilarating descents down into valleys and then climbs up over passes (none higher than 2,100 m). The tour costs US$1,950 with an additional $175 for bike rental. and starts and ends at Bagdgora airport in Sikkim. Included is accommodation, most meals, drinks and snacks while riding. SpiceRoads Cycle Tours has three fall departures and are offering a 10% introductory discount for 28 Oct–6 Nov, 25 Nov–4 Dec, 23 Dec–1 Jan tours. Contact Information SpiceRoads Co., Ltd Patricia Weismantel +66 (0) 2712 5305 Contact www.spiceroads.com

Awesome Kangchendzonga

Our next stop is Pelling in West Sikkim. It is easy to get around Sikkim in "Share Jeeps". They run often & are inexpensive, but crowded. This time we hire a jeep to take us to Pelling. The road is narrow and rough in places & includes very steep climbs and decents. We travel thru beautiful country & what I can only describe as "cloud forest", very lush vegitation, with lots of ferns and moss. 

Arriving in Pelling we walk to Pemyangtse Monestary, one of the oldest & most important in Sikkim. There, we are blown away by the wooden sculpture on the third floor, "Mandala of Padmasambhava's Heavenly Abode". It is a 3D wooden mandalla that took to monk who built it 5 years to complete. 

Next day at dawn, the clouds clear for a while & we get our clearest & clostest view of the Khangchendzonga Massiff, 3rd higest peak in the world. It is considered a diety in Sikkim & it is easy to see why. It takes our breath away just to look at it. 

Next day we rent a Jeep, along with James from Britian, & visit the Holy Lake of Khecheopalri. 

View of Kangchendzonga

It is considered a footprint of the Goddess Tara & is said to be so holy that birds pick out any leaf that falls in the water. 

That evening, back in Pelling, we see a buffett set up in a nearby hotel. We wander in and are not sure if they are serving the public or if this is for a special group. The workers hustle us in & start filling our plates with delicous south Indian cuisene. Turns out that this was a buffett for a tour group, but they have all finished eating. Now the staff is eating and cleaning up & they want to share with us. They are very friendly and generous hosts and seem to enjoy feeding us almost as much as we enjoy their wonderfull cooking! there is no charge for the meal, but we leave a generous tip and are thankfull for the beautiful day we have had in this beautiful place.


source:http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Sikkim/Pelling/blog-722340.html 

Birding to Highland of Sikkim.

SOS(sikkim Ornithological Society)member toured  Highland land (Gurudogmar lake ,Thangu and Lachen)of Sikkim,India in search of Highland Bird species from 12/05/2012 to 14/05/2012.Detail of trip report  will be publish later.

Niraj Thapa,Karma Tempo and Pempa Tshering(me)

Thangu,North-Sikkim

Gurudogmar Lake-Sikkim

As one of my friend said Gurudogmar is the last place God has made.

View of Gangtok from Ganesh Tok

Sandruptse

Sandruptse

Sandruptse  is 7km from Namchi town,Headquarter of south district of Sikkim and 72 km from Gangtok.Sandruptse means wish fulfilling hill in bhutia language.Sandruptse is famous for world highest statue of Guru Padmasambhava,Buddhist Patron saint of sikkim.

Bronze statue of Guru Padmasambhava is 135 ft  tall and it can be seen from many places around Namchi.
The foundation stone was laid by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on 22/10/1997.The total cost of bronze statue was Rs.4.55 crore.It took nearly three years to complete with 1000 labourers and many experienced engineers,architect and scupltures.Finally  on 18th feb 2004,it was inaugurated by Pawan Kumar Chamling,the chief minister of Sikkim.

Satellite view of Sandruptse

Some other statue of Guru Padmasabhava:
Rewalsar  lake,Himachal Pradesh,India

Phamlhagang Home Stay

Phamlhagang  Home Stay 

Yet another beautiful homestay in west sikkim,India is Phamlhagang Homestay  in village called Singyang,Pelling,West Sikkim.Place is beautiful,simple,neat and clean.Foods are served from family kitchen and vegetables are supplied from their family kitchen garden,purely organic.One can experience traditional way of life and village lifestyle.Location of this homestay is very near to Pelling and Pelling gives you panaromic view of Mt.Kanchendzonga,the third highest peak of world.Phamlhagang homestay is surrounded by many old monasteries of sikkim like Sangcholing monastery and Pemayantse monastery.Even the ruin  2nd capital of sikkim,Rabdentse is also 20 minutes from Pelling.
If one is interested in bird watching,forest of  Pelling provide you ample opportunity to see many rare species of birds of Sikkim.
How to reach:Singyang,Pelling is 133km from Bagdogra,nearest airport and 127km N.J.P,nearest railway station.
Room range:$30-$50


For more information visit:Phamlhagang Home Stay

Sikkim Snow And Cultural Festival

Tandong Hill

Tandong  hill is the  highest hill top of sikkim,located at an altitude of 8530ft surrounded by lush green forest .Trekking to this hill top is possible from Damthang,south -sikkim.Every year many local people and people from nearby state trek to this hill in the month of april to enjoy the panaromic view of plains and mountain ranges.Historically, this has been a place of recluse for Buddhist Lamas who spend years in meditation amidst the silent scenic grandeur

Tandong in lepcha language means "the upraised horn ".As per the local legend,Tandong hill rescued the lepchas from the flood.Even now, the Hill is regarded as a benefactor and people pray to the hill every year on the 8th of august(tandong- lo -ram -fat) to keep them away from the calamity of flood always.

Trekking to this hill would be spiritual as well as adventurous experience.

           

kagyad Dance

Kagyed or Kagyad is a Buddhist festival held in parts of northern India, particularly Sikkim. The Kagyed dance is performed on the 28th and 29th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Calendar which usually falls in early December.

The Kagyed dance symbolizes destruction of the evil forces by burning effigies made of wood, flour, and paper. and dance  enact a variety of themes from the buddhist mythology. Practitioners also pray for peace and prosperity for every Sikimmese home. Annually the festival is performed by the monks at the  Tsuklakhang Palace,Phodong monastery and phensong monastery  two days before Sikkimese new year.

Dzongu,Sikkim.

 Dzongu,Sikkim was listed in one of the 12th destination  to see in India by Shivya Nath which appear in one the India's national newspaper "Hindu" on 30th dec.2011.Here is the extract of the article.

Why look elsewhere when you have plenty to see — and feel — in your backyard? Shivya Nath lists 12 destinations for which you don't need a passport

 Dzongu, Sikkim

A secret paradise near Gangtok, Dzongu is home to dense jungles, hidden waterfalls, and beautifully virgin valleys. Surrounded by rugged Himalayan peaks on all sides, Dzongu's picturesque villages are home to the Lepchas people, who welcome visitors to stay with them in their humble homes and shower them with traditional mountain hospitality and food.

Despite its setting in the Himalayas, Dzongu is different from its northern counterparts in the tranquillity of its setting and the peaceful vibes of its scanty population. A taste of life in the North-east of India makes you realize what a truly diverse country we live in.

For full article read   http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/travel/article2760807.ece

Sikkim Snow Fest 2012