<Trip Report>

By train we reached SILIGURI[ Northern part, state: West Bengal , India ] in the early morning & had our breakfast. We took packed lunch & hired a jeep. Next, it was the checking part! We checked thrice all the rations & equipments 'cause we had the knowledge that once we leave this city it would be a real trouble for us if we missed a urgent equipment or ration. We reached PELING in the same day & took rest.

Next day , we enjoyed the breathtaking sunrise in PELLING & started quickly for YAKSOM. By eleven we reached at YAKSOM. There we had to do all the formalities like taking permits , hiring of porters , guide etc. That was all for the day. From the next day our trek would start. It was a dream like sensation we felt in our heart & soul.

1st Day: In the early morning we started our journey. After trekking couple of hours we realized it would not be so easy. Though we knew that first day of every trekking is very tough & tiring. We fixed a target of  hardest 16 k.m. trekking in the very first day crossing 5 ranges [ ups & downs ]. Our first resting place was in SACHEN. A wooden bride on a river & a small hut- that was all. It looked deserted & rocky. We felt the cooling breeze. Then again our trek resumed. It was too hard, tiring & suffocating......Next we reached at BAKHIM. The tribal villagers served us warm tea made of Yak's milk. I never tasted such a tasty & powerful drink in my life. We started again for TSOKA from where we got the glimpse of Mt. PANDIM. We took a break for the day. We were so tired that day that we all went into dreamland just at 7:30 p.m. Yes, it was the 1st day only !

2nd Day: In the early dawn we mesmerized to see the red light effect on Mt. PANDIM. Then we strated. After a stiff climbing to 13900 ft , we reached our 1st PARAO [ resting place ] at DEORALI. After taking lunch we moved to DZONGRI at around 3 p.m. We explored the whole area & got the first glimpse of magic KANCHENDZONGA with its beautiful mountain range. We mesmerized. At night we discussed a little about our trek planning & then went to sleep.

3rd Day: At 5:15 a.m. we started to climb to DZONGRI TOP to view the sunrise. It was a breathtaking experience ! Then at around 6:30 a.m. we came down to Trekker's Hut & had breakfast & resumed our normal journey. All the HIMALAYAN mountain ranges started to open up in front of our eyes. It was a terrific sight ! And, little downward, we got the glimpse of RHODODENDRON Forest ! Suddenly a stiff downward journey through RHODODENDRON forest took us to KOKCHURANG. We took rest a while & then crossed a river called  PREK CHU without using any bridge !! Then we moved to THANGSING [12600ft], a flat  deserted landscape just beneath the Mt. PANDIM. We decided to halt for that day.

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4th Day: We started our journey at sharp 4 a.m. as we had to cross the river PREK CHU ' cause at night all mountains & lakes became frozen & that's why the water level of river falls down in the early morning. We watched sunrise on our way. It was a fantastic  feeling ! Suddenly, We noticed a greenish blue lake in the lap of mountains. Yes, it was the famous SAMITI LAKE, popularly known as a holy lake. The lake was surrounded by several peaks like PANDIM, JOPUNO, FORKED PEAK, KABRU DOME, KANCHENDZONGA etc. We enjoyed hot coffee sitting on a rock. It was a bright sunny day with mind blowing strong cool breeze. HEAVEN. Yes, we felt it to be a earthly heaven, a place with untouched beauty ! We prayed , worshiped to GOD HIMALAYA on the bank of SAMITI LAKE by giving our loved chocolate. We enjoyed & walked around the whole day. Another day slipped away.

5th Day: This was the most memorable day for us. At 3 a.m. [midnight], we started to crawl to the top. It was blind darkness!! We couldn't even see our own hands ! But sky was sharp & clear. We started with the help of 4 cell high powered torch. First we crossed the SAMITI LAKE by riding over the hill [left of the lake]. It was too cold & breezy. Probably -10 degree centigrade ! We moved to ZEMATHANG at around 4:35a.m. Though it was still dark, but we were able to see the OAK-LAK-THANG, a hanging glacier. It was looking like a giant! We replaced our battery & started climbing down to CHEMATHANG. It took approx. 45 minutes to get there. CHEMATHANG is basically a sandy bed of a dried lake. Some hundred years ago, there was a lake with full of water but due to a huge landslide the river changed its way & the lake became dried & deserted.

 Then suddenly we got the glimpse of first ray of sun on KANCHENDZONGA - it was golden red ! It was mesmerizing ! No word could express that moment we realized through heart & soul. We drank the elixir of the beauty hidden in nature! One by one the whole mountain range became pinkish [ colors kept changing frequently ]. It was an unimaginable scene I had ever, ever seen in my life ! Then we started climbing again keeping GO PEAK & green GO CHA LAKE to our left. The path was covered with loose snow, so we had to walk very carefully due to the fear of sudden fall. At last we reached GO CHA LA ! It was covered with glaciers. The sight was really breathtaking ! In front of us it was the great KANCHENDZONGHA ,in our back there was Mt. PANDIM, to our left OAK-LAK-THANG, hanging glacier , green GO CHA LAKE .....It is really impossible to describe the beauty of HIMALAYAN RANGE ! At around 6:30 a.m. the sun dazzled in the sky & reflections was so high that if you open your sun glasses it will made you snow blind! We stayed there for 30 minutes. The breeze was blowing like a storm with severe cold ! It became impossible to stay there for hours. So, we decided that we had had enough !

We started to climbing down towards SAMITI LAKE following the same route. After reaching at SAMITI LAKE , everybody congratulated us as total of 16 trekkers started for the GO CHA LA , but only 6 of them [ including us] became successful. After resting an hour , we again moved  for THANGSING. At around 3:30 p.m. we reached at THANGSING. We spent the whole night sharing our experiences with others ! A big day passed away.

6th Day: Now the returning journey began. We followed a different route. We avoided the stiff climbing to DZONGRI. But it was also a tiring walk through RHODODENDRON forest. At 2:35 p.m. we reached PHEDANG. Then we moved to TSOKA. Suddenly, thunder storm with torrential rain started & we heard a sound of Avalanche ! We  were really frightened! It seemed everything would be demolished!

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7th Day: At around 6 a.m. we started for the last 16km. walking to YAKSOM. We followed the same route. A feeling of sadness graved into our heart & soul as this was the last day of our trek! This feelings can't be expressed in words but can only be realized . What we saw, what we felt .....were a frame of unknown nature , untold, untouched.....

8th Day: Back to SILIGURI.

Thanks.

Regards,

Somnath [ Photographer & Trekker ]

Avisek [ Webmaster ]

< PEAKS & HEIGHTS >

  NAME                                 HEIGHT [ ft ]

  KANCHENDZONGA                        28169

  KANCHENDZONGA SOUTH                  27808

  KANCHENDZONGA CENTRAL                27828

  YALUNG KUNG                          27903

  KUNGBACHEN                           25928

  KUNG                                 18280

  KOKTHUNG                             20166

  KABURU SOUTH                         24005

  KABURU NORTH                         24074

  THALUNG                              25925

  KABURU DOME                          21650

  FORGED PEAK                          20017

  BLACK KABURU                         15480

  PANDIM                               22010

  SIMVO                                22360

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<PERMITS & FORMALITIES>

 All the permits has to be taken from YAKSOM. From the SIKKIM TOURISM's YAKSOM office permits for trekking is to be taken. If any one wishes to stay in "Trekkers Hut" for the whole trip, then also permissions & booking for that has to done here.  And also , for entering into the KANCHENDZONGA NATIONAL PARK permits are granted from Forest Office. For both still & video camera certain nominal charges has to be paid.

< RATIONS & EQUIPMENTS >

 RATIONS: Rice, Garlic, Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Soup powder, Onion, Chili, Potato, Salt, Milk powder, Chocolate, Orange juice, walnut, mustard oil, turmeric powder, Vitamin C tablet, Kerosene Oil, Honey, Biscuit, Glucoses etc.

 EQUIPMENTS: Pump stove, Pressure cooker, Dish, Mug, Spoon, Knife, Match box, Lighter, High powered 4-8 cell torch, Sticks, Tent, Sleeping bag, Sack, Wrist watch, waist pouch, Sleeping mattress, Plastic Sheets, Ropes, Alarm watch, Compus, Water bottle, Camera, Polarizing filter for camera, enough film, Batteries, Binocular etc.

 DRESSES: Soft rubber soul well gripped high quality shoe, Shocks, woolly cotton inner for upper & lower, Truck suit [ upper + lower ] Jacket, water plus air proof rain coat [ upper + lower ], Monkey cap, Cap, Sunglasses, Gloves etc. All items must be of high quality & light weighted & comfort fittings.

  These lists are not conclusive. More items may be necessary like medicines  which are not included in the list. You are requested to check all the items at least thrice so that aftermath it doesn't hamper your journey.

So, Enjoy !

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