A Week Exploring Nature & Culture
around a Remote Eco-Lodge
in the Eastern Himalayas
Hosts: General "Jimmy" Singh, Peter Lobo and Catherine Pradhan LoboWhen: Available year round, except for the monsoons in Jul-Aug. The Ideal period is January to May and September to December. Length: 0ne week for the basic tour, and another 08-12 days for options of exploring Sikkim, or the Himalayan uplands up to elevations of 4500 meters. Number of guests: Ideally a group should be of 04 persons, to fit into a jeep with guide, and baggage. We are happy to host individuals, and couples, at a higher fee. For the Trek in Sikkim permits are issued only for groups of 04 persons. Languages spoken: Nepali is the main language of the people. Large sections speak Lepcha and Tibetan. In the towns most people can communicate in English. All of our local guides and us are English speaking. Fee charged per person:
ITINERARYYou arrive at Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway station. We will meet you and drive you 80 Kms in 2.30 hrs to the " Raj" Hill station of Kalimpong. It is a scenic journey along the lovely Teesta River Valley, with its abundant forests and small habitations. Dinner & overnight Stay at GURUDONGMA HOUSE, personally hosted by retired Indian Army General "Jimmy" Singh. Kalimpong, is an exotic town of beautiful people, mystical and enchanting? Ruled by Bhutan for 155 years, and annexed by the British in 1865, it was developed as a center of the wool trade with Tibet. This trade flourished until the Chinese took control of Tibet, in the 1950's The Lepchas, who were the original inhabitants, were subjected to Bhutanese, Tibetan, British, and Nepalese influences. A gentle and docile people, they have almost lost their identity, and are now called "The vanishing tribe". However history has left behind a fascinating ethnic blend of Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepalese people. Here Buddhism rubs shoulders with Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. Gumpas, churches, temples, monasteries, monks and missionaries; all coexist in a jovial and tolerant society. Flower and orchid nurseries, colonial bungalows, churches of the "Raj", and Buddhist monasteries are there to explore. A quaint bustling bazaar, is a Pandora's box of surprises? Kalimpong is a wanderer's delight. Buddhist tankhas, hand beaten silver, Bhutanese weaves, Chinese lamps, hand crafted paper, Lepcha daggers, Nepali Khukaris and Buddhist masks, are some of the shopping attractions. The Wednesday and Saturday "Hat", or village market, brings together people from surrounding areas, selling an amazing variety of products.
Day 03: Lava is a small bazaar amidst forested hills. It originated as a halting place for trade caravans going to Bhutan. It was fortified during the Bhutan rule, and latter the British captured and destroyed the old fort. A Buddhist monastery of the same period has been expanded and is active. A center of the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation, which is dedicated to preserving the forests, it is fast developing as a focal point for Eco-tourism. View the Rachela Pass, which opens into Bhutan, (clouds permitting) and visit the Monastery. Visit the Neora National Park nature Interpretation Center. Continue drive along the forest road to Lolegaon. Now we drive for 25 kms, in 1.30 hrs, along a winding road following a spur line, with ups and downs, through unspoiled forests, with hardly any habitation. Enjoy nature at its best, and see the incredible variety of flora. After a picnic lunch and a visit to over 100 years old heritage forest, we take a short down hill trek, whilst our jeeps traverse a wilderness trail. Trekking time is 02 hrs, and we will walk through the heart of the forest, to a Village, inhabited by the Tamangs, a Nepalese tribe. Passing through Cardamom plantations we cross a mountain stream, and reclaim our jeeps, for the last 06 kms to the Samthar Farm House. Dinner, and overnight at the farmhouse. The Farmhouse is an old Lepcha house built of stone and timber, converted for comfortable living, whilst maintaining its ambience. It has a lovely nature garden with scenic views. Hosted by Catherine/ Peter, and the General.
Today the ethnic groups are fused together in harmony. They have adopted Nepali as a link language, yet maintained, their diverse cultural identity. It is an ideal place to peep into lifestyles of this fascinating hill community. It also has diverse flora, well developed mountain agriculture, forests, and river valleys, and offers breathtaking views of the Panorama of snows.
DAY 04: After a leisurely breakfast, take a short conducted walk through the local hamlets, a meet people in their homes and fields. Your local hosts from the village will take you to various ethnic homes, explain methods of agriculture, including Ginger plantations, plenty of photo opportunities, and fascinating glimpses of rural lifestyles. Return for lunch to the FarmHouse. In the afternoon take a second walking trip to another part of the Samthar Plateau or attend cooking lessons by Catherine In the evening sample local Millet beer, "chang", served in traditional bamboo containers, in lamp lit atmosphere. Dinner and overnight at the farmhouse.
DAY 05:
DAY 06:
DAY 07: The walking option takes 3 -4 hrs, of downhill walking, through forests, terraced cultivation, and isolated homesteads, to reach the confluence of the Rilli and Teesta Rivers. Here we cross over a hand pulled ropeway. Once across we transfer to jeeps, to drive for 02 hrs to reach Bagdogra Airport. Picnic lunch enroute. If you opt to drive, the route takes you via a forest trail of 70 kms, to reach the plains at Bagrakot. Of this 50 Kms is a rough wilderness drive, through forests with few villages. There are good views of the river valleys in the plains. From Bagrakot, we have good highway for 45 kms to Bagdogra. Overall driving time is 05- 06 hrs with picnic lunch enroute. Time to say good bye at Bagdogra as you board your flight.
OPTIONS: |
DAY 02:
Scenic and remote, The Samthar Plateau, at an elevation of 1500 Meters, is isolated by river valleys, forests and ill- developed communications. The inhabitants are a blend of various ethnic groups-Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepali. The original Lepcha trebles lived in the valleys. They were woodsman, and utilized the forest resources to live off the land. Knowing no religion, they worshiped nature spirits. When the Bhutanese ruled this land, many were converted to Buddhism. Latter the British rulers brought in Christian missionaries, who converted some of them to Christianity. Hinduism arrived with the Nepalese settlers, who taught the Lepchas to farm the land.
Early morning we take a walk to Samthar Top to view the sun rising from the plains and the first rays lighting up the snow peaks. Also time for birding. After breakfast a full days trek to the Lepcha Valley. Our destination is a small hamlet with a 100 years old Lepcha Buddhist temple. After a picnic lunch we trek through the valley visiting tribal homes built in bamboo and thatch, meet the people in their homes, and return to the Farmhouse in late evening, for dinner and overnight.
