Goecha La- the door steps of Mt. Kanchenjunga,  story of a unforgettable trekking. (Part-3)

 Day 3:  Tshoka (9,650 feet) - Dzongri (13290 feet)

This is going to be much tougher day for us. Yesterday rained all through the night. Too much cold morning today. The rain stopped but too overcast and foggy morning.  

Guide Ajay told that lot of snow are waiting in Deorali Bugial for us and might have to face snowfall too. Samu & Tanu ( two members of my team) glad as well as exited to hearing this.  But I know it will going to much tougher to trek high altitude with the snowfall.

After finishing breakfast around 7.00 A.M we started our journey to our today's destination- Dzongri.  First we crossed the Tshoka Monastery.  After some time we found our trek path made by Pine log. around 500 miters we got such wooden trek path. Now we are walking through  Rhododendron forest. Rains in the night had made the pathways a lot slippery.

After some time passing through Rhododendron territory - we got the first snow beside our path. We all exited to see the first snow of this trekking. Weather was very overcast. yet we had taken the first snap of snow in the Rhododendron forest. 

Bird near Phedang log hut.

 The path is very much stiff now, much slippery and fully covered with snow. Weather is  too much foggy- visibility 5 to 10 feet only. Altitude had started taking its toll. We had to take rest for few minutes after ten to fifteen steps.

Almost midway to Dzongri, we reached at  a nice bugial (open field) which was surrounded by Rhododendron forest.There is a small log cabin. Roof of that log cabin was little bit white due to snow which was melting now. The snow of the Bugial was also melting. We understand we have reached at Phedang (11,550 ft).   Trekkers generally stop here for lunch. Some trekkers spent night here too by pitching tent on the field. We don't have the plan for lunch here. We took a break with some cookies and chocolate.
 

Crossing the Deorali Bugial

There was heavy mist all around and with the swift winds it was playing hide and seek on the landscape. After nearly half an hour break, we started our journey to Dzongri. Phedang to Dzongri is a wonderful climb through dense Rhododendron forests. Suddenly mist covered all around and snow fall started. After a  hour of stiff climbing the forests gets thinner,
 we have reached a nice snow covered field .This is called Deorali Bugial. A marvelous place. Snowfall stopped now and suddenly the Sun appeared. We didn't wear  the Sun glass due to the overcast weather. But now we felt the reflection of snow. Quickly we Protected  the eyes with sun glass. After only two minuets the Sun again disappeared and the mist coverd again.

We understand we almost made our today's journey.  Dzongri is not too far now, only about 30 minuets down hill  from here. Sun appeared again. After some time we found the trekkers hut of Dzongri. No sign of snow at there. All the snow melted due to bright sun. We reached Dzongri at last. .
Monilal (our Yak man) already reached the upper Dzongri and pitched our tent beside the trekkers hut.
 Guide Ajay welcomed us with hot tea. 

Surojit Supervising the tent just after reaching Dzongri.

 Click on Photo for LARGER view.....


to be Continued.....


Read   
Dzongri - Goechala Part 1 
Dzongri - Goechala Part 2 

Goecha La- the door steps of Mt. Kanchenjunga,  story of a unforgettable trekking. (Part-2)

Near the bridge on prek chu

Day 2: Sachen (7,200 feet) – Tshoka (9,650 feet). 

This is a short trek, but the altitude gain is considerable. Trekkers love the initial amble through the forest – it gives them a chance to loosen up before the stiff climb to Bakhim from the bridge over Prek.

Little water falls beside the trek-path

The trail out of Sachen undulates but maintains an even altitude, in fact gaining a few feet until 45 minutes and 2 kms later you drop down to the bridge over Prek.

The trail climbs sharp through a mixed oak forest until the wide switchbacks level somewhat half hour later at the sight of the first Rhododendrons. here I have found many birds. But light condition was very poor at that time due to rain. so unable to snap the photo of the birds. 

The altitude gain is rapid and the air gets cooler perceptively. Soon the trail climbs to the ridge and stays there until -another half hour later- we get to Bakhim. From the third bridge  it takes an hour to get to Bakhim (the total distance is only a kilometer but feels a lot longer).

Cloudy View from the Tea stall of Bakhim

Bakhim has a Forest Rest House which is now very much damaged due to earth quack . Trekkers like staying at Bakhim (we stayed here at the time of coming back)– simply for its view of the Yuksom valley. Bakhim has a lovely tea stall where the owner dishes out some snacks as well. 

 BOOK   HOTEL for       GANGTAK      PELING    DARJEELING

With a well deserved rest we started your climb to Tshoka which is another 45 minute climb. But we take around 90 minutes to cover that distance due to rain. The weather was too cold. Our guide Ajay & his team was far away at that time.

TSHOKA

At over 9,000 feet high, Rhododenderon trees abound everywhere. The trail gets dark from the overhanging trees and meanders for another ten minutes. It suddenly pops out to a plateau and the trekkers hut of Tshoka.
Tshoka is a small village with some 10 houses and a couple of wooden cabins for the trekkers. There is a small lake right at the end of the village and a small Buddhist temple on a hillock.There’s also a flat camping area to the left of the trekkers hut. Though we thought to stay at tent at Tshoka- Yet we decided to stay at a wooden hut that night, due to coldness as well as availability of room to stay. 

All the night was raining . Though we slept well but we understand tomorrow lot of ice are waiting for us in the path- which will be too much tougher to climb .

Tshoka Monastery

Next

 Click on Photo for LARGER view.....



 Read 
Dzongri - Goechala Part 1 
Dzongri - Goechala Part 3

Goecha La- the door steps of Mt. Kanchenjunga,  story of a unforgettable trekking (Part-1)

Mt. Pandim at morning from Yuksom

The Goecha La (4940 m.) trek in Sikkim is  the most romantic trails in the Indian Himalayas. The enchanting walk through the Tshoka Rhododenderon forests, the vast Dzongri Pass and Thansing meadows, the startling blue waters of Samiti lake, the looming presence of Kanchejunga and Pandim, the icy trail to Goechala make lots about the trek very romantic.

Crossing the 1st Bridge

We four friends (me, Tanu, Surojit & Shamu) strats for goechala on april 3rd 2012 , accompanied by Guide Ajay (who is a nice  guide and man too) .

The Goechala trek starts at Yuksom, a fairly large settlement in West Sikkim. It was once the capital of Sikkim.

Day 1: Yuksom (5,700 feet) to Sachen (7,200 feet).

  

Most trekkers like to trek from Yuksom to Tshoka in a day. This makes the trek very long and the altitude gain too much.  We targeted  to trek up to Sachen on 1st day.

 BOOK   HOTEL for       GANGTAK      PELING    DARJEELING

 

Crossing the Land Slide Zone.

From Yuksom, the Goechala trail starts just behind the houses after the forest check post. Cross the last few huts of Yuksom and skirt around the fields of Yuksom to enter the V shaped valley of the Rathong river (many mistake it for the Prek – earlier Prek and Pha Khola merge to form the Rathong). The trail, though passing through the fringes of the forest is exposed for about half hour. From here onwards it is half hour to the first bridge over the Pha Khola.

Sachen Treker's Hut

By the time the trail gets to Pha Khola, We were well into the thick of the forest  now. The gently undulating trail climbs gradually.

Sachen at 7,200 feet is a small clearing where a single log hut and a shelter on the trail exist. The log hut a few meters below the trail. The hut has two rooms= We  four friends were one and Our guide , porter and Yak man were in another room. 

No other team on that day at Sachen. so we spent that night very nice at there. After dinner around 8 pm we entered in sleeping bag.

Crossing the Land Slide Zone.

 Click on Photo for LARGER view.....


To continue Read  =>    Goechala Part 2

Discovered a New Bird in India - Named "great nicobar crake" 

 

A completely new bird has been discovered by the scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at great nicobar island which was totally unknown to science. The species discovered and named "great nicobar crake" by ZSI scientists on Great Nicobar Island in India.

The discovery has been published in British scientific journal Birding Asia.

Two Scientist of ZSI  C. Raghunathan and S. Rajesh Kumar were on the Island to develop an inventory of the fauna of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve under a Unesco programme with the support of the central environment and forests ministry.

The Scientific name of the species not yet been done because unless the type specimen is found a bird can not ne named scientifically which will try to collect soon by ZSI.

The group belongs to - Rallina crake. Rallinagenus already has eight species, which is mainly found in Asia & Australia.

Looks :- Bill thick and short, neck little long, legs are heavy short claws. tail fairly short, plumage brown with darker back,below portion of breast is broad black abd narrow white bands. The iris bright red., fleshy eye-ring orange-red. Bill almost entirely very pale green .

It is not a good Flier but it can Run quick.

MOICHHARA ---- The Curt Race

Moichhara is actually a village game in Westbengal , India. This is one kind of cart race. This is very much popular sports in Bengal.

Some Photographs of Moichhara

Click on any photo for  LARGER view

"Tunganath" -The Highest Temple of the world.

"Tunganath" -The Highest Temple of the world.

Chowkhamba from Tunganath

Tunganath is one of the 5 Shiva shrines, the Panchkedar. Panch – means 5 and pronounced as punch; Kedar – name of Hindu God Lord Shiva and pronounced as Kay-daar. The other 4 are Kedarnath, Madhmaheshwar, Rudranath, and Kalpanath.

At the Panchkedar the worshipped stone or image is considered a manifestation of Lord Shiva’s various body parts. At Kedarnath the rump is visible, at Madmaheshwar his navel or belly, the face at Rudranath, the hair (locks) at Kalpeshwar and his arms at Tunganath. All of these Temples were supposedly built at the behest of Adi Shankaracharya.  

 Tungnath (altitude of 3,886 meters) is the highest temple in the world. Legend has it that the arm of Shiva appeared here. Ravana, of the Ramayana, is said to have performed penance at this temple to propitiate Shiva. The high altitude temple is a Seat of Swyambhu Linga or the Lord Shiva Incarnate. The temple, one of the Panchakedars or one of the five Shiva temples, is situated in Chamoli district of the Uttarakhand region. The mythology has it that Lord Shiva was enraged at the act of homicide enacted by the Pandavas by killing their brethren in the grand battle of Mahabharata. Aware of Shiva's annoyance, the Pandavas built the temple to please Lord Shiva and for their own salvation. Others claim that the Adi Shankaracharya during his historic visit to the region had got it built. The cite the presence of Adi Shankaracharya's image in the garbha-griha or the sanctum of the temple. However, it also houses images of the Pandavas. Besides, the ashtadhatu images of Kaal Bhairava and Veda Vyasa are among the multitude of images there. A dark left-tilting one-foot high linga is the centre of attraction. The locals describe it as an arm of Lord Shiva. 

How To Reach

Chopta is the gate way of Tunganath. Rishikesh - Ukhimath 180 kms Drive. From Ukhimath to Chopta another 35 km. Nearly 4 Kms Trek to Tunganath starts from here.
Chandrashila peak is another 1 km trek from Tunganath. one can climb the chandrashila peak from Tungnath as it is in the same feature and can be reached in about an hour's time The peak provides a rare panoramic view of innumerable snow peak. The trek passes through forests of Rhododendron and alpine meadows. If heading towards Ukhimath one should not miss Deoriatal, now jeepable from Mastura. It is a small deep lake at an altitude of 2440m. In early morning, the snowy ranges including Chaukhamba and Kedarnath is clearly reflected on the water; an unforgettable sight.

Lolegaon -the ultimate travel destination for lovely nature of hill

Enchanting Mt. Kanchenjunga at early morning

If anybody want to spent some timeless time with nature - then Lolegaon is the ultimate destination for that. Lonely Himalayan hill at an altitude of 5500 ft , surrounded by the forest, which contains Dhupi, Deodar, pine trees. and obviously the world's 3rd highest peak  Mt. kanchenjunga with it's whole family. Lolegaon is a small village which is locally known as KAFER.

from the Bus stand of Lolegaon

The Lolegaon's market is near the  small bus stand , few little shop- mostly of them are tea shop where popular snacks is MOMO ( a Tibetan food). 

The heritage forest is situated nearly 500 mtr far from the bus stand . It is a lovely place surrounded by large trees. Here was a nice canopee but unfortunately only the ruins of that can found now a days there. Yet the forest along with the ruins of canopee is still a very charming place.

The Lonely path of forest at Lolegaon

Jhandidara is another great place which is 4 km from the bus stand. This is the sunrise point. Early morning one can go there by trek or by car to view the great show of Sunrise. The first Sun ray on the world 3rd highest Peak  Mt. kanchenjunga is spellbound all. Then after one by one light comes on the other peak like kabru dom, Shimvo Japuno, Tenjingkhan, mt. Pandim Siniolchu etc.

How to reach 

Nearest Air port :- Bagdogra

Nearest Railway station :- - New Mal or New Jalpaiguri

From Bagdogra or New Jolpaiguri lolegaon is  nearly 140 km away by Car.

Attractive Place near Lolegaon is  :-

• LAVA
• RISHOP

Black-rumped Flameback

The Black-rumped Flameback is a woodpecker. Its length is aprox 26-29 cm.

 

  Like other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks. The long tongue can be darted forward to capture insects.

 

 

They forage from the ground to the canopy. They feed on insects mainly beetle larvae from under the bark.

 The breeding season varies with weather and is between February and July.

The Purple Sunbird

The Mother Sunbird at night in it's nest.

Scientific Name :-  

Nectarinia Asiatica

Found every where in India-in Gardens, groves, cultivated lands, scrub country side, forest, semi forests . Commonly found in compounds, wooded parks etc.

Feeding :-

Flower nectar, insects, spiders etc.

SIZE :-

Approximately 10 Cm.

Making Nest by Male Sunbird

Nesting :- 

Nesting by pendulous pouch of soft grass, cotton etc. Suspended from a bush. Nesting season is generally from march to may.

Female is brown or olive brown from above and pale dull yellow at below. Slender and curved bill for sucking the nectar from flowers. Tongue is tubular.

male is metallic dark blue and purple that looks like black. The pectoral tufts are bright yellow and scarlet.

Related Post

• The Common Indian Myna
• The Black-crowned Night Heron
• The Common Kingfisher

The Common Indian Myna

The common myna (Acridotheres tristis), also called the Indian myna, is a highly commensal Passerine that lives in close association with humans. It competes with small mammals and bird for nesting hollows and on some islands, such as Hawaii and Fiji .

Description

Indian mynas are 23 to 26 cm long, weigh 82 to 143 g and have a wing-span of 120 to 142 mm cocoa brown colour. The head, neck and upper breast of the adult is glossy black, while the under tail coverts, tail tip and the outer feathers are white. The white feathers can be seen most clearly when the bird is in flight. The bill, legs and feet are bright yellow, while the adult iris is reddish brown to brownish yellow in colour Male and female .

 Like most territorial birds they have a bout of intense calling in the early morning that lasts between 5 and 15 minutes. Males call more often than the females, and pairs sometimes duet. The territorial call is a rowdy medley of creaky notes, growls, rattles, raucous, gurgling, chattering and bell-like sounds in rapid sequence often strung together as a song.

Mynas in India are regarded as symbols of undying love, because they often pair for life. In India maina is used as a term of endearment for young girls . 



**********************************************

Related Post

• The Purple Sunbird
• The Black-crowned Night Heron
• The Common Kingfisher