Portfolio | Resume | Home

A trip to Shangri~La

Samy always had numerous tales about Sikkim, and I had developed fascination of being there. This zeal scaled heights as we gradually took uphill from Ranipul. There was an immediate chemistry and I knew Shangri-La had been waiting so long to welcoming me.
It was India, yet all I felt was a destination 'paradise' - in many ways like my own Nepal. This was a captivation from the very beginning when we started my journey to Gangtok. We had arrived Kakarvitta pretty late on Monday, November 4, 2002. Luckily there was the last Pijo leaving for Gangtok.
That was the same day for the festival of lights - Depawali. It turned out to be a perfect moment to enter Sikkim. As the Pijo took a momentous turn a little further from Ranipul Gangtok revealed in its full glory. It couldn't have been any better.
There were tiny houses all over the slowly sloping hill. The top of the hill was bright. It was different than that I had imagined out of Samy's tales. I kept wondering, by far, I was simulated by the beautiful Gangtok.
The Pijo steadily pulled into the town. People were all in bright colours and making merry. It must have been this aura too that supplemented the vivacity.
Few years back I had been to the beautiful Tansen in Nepal. Gangtok is similar to Tansen, both have the dense population dwelling on the ridge. Else they are two different worlds, beautiful and mesmerizing in their own individual ways.
On arrival there was a slight disappointment though. I was looking forward to meeting Mua (Samy's mother). We had brought apples, bananas and a coconut to celebrate Dipawali together. I was expecting Mua to be the soul to welcome me.

There is magic in the cold waters of Gangtok. Every time I bathed I experienced a mystic energy up my spine. Back home I make myself comfortable with warm water from the solar heater. I wonder what Sikkim had in its water. I did feel immense strength besides my head getting cramp momentarily.

The air in Gangtok is cool, and so are the people. The beauty is in their naive attitude and similarity to Nepalese. I felt as though I was in my own country, a different locale and unique culture. I rejoice every single moment spent in the land of Shangri-La.

While leaving Gangtok (Saturday, November 9, 2002) I was blessed by Khagnchendzonga. That was the only day it revealed in its majestic form, head and chest above the sprawling hills. Probably it was there to see me off. The picture is as bright as the brilliant snow in the back of my mind.

previous