North Sikkim – A Traveler’s Diary

North Sikkim – A Traveler’s Pictorial Diary Gangtok . Lachen . Kalapatther . Gurudongmar . Lachung . Zero Point . Yumthang. Day 1 Gangtok – Lachen Day 2 Lachen – Kalapatthar – Gurudongmar – Lachung Day – 3 Lachung – Zero Point – Yumthang Valley – Gangtok Day – 4 Gangtok – Siliguri – Journey back to sweet home Tit Bits Back to Travelogue Room Back to Literary Art Visual Realm Photography (Single) Photography (Series) AI Gallery 3D Gallery Painting Gallery Literary Realm Essay Room Travelogue Room Poem Room Music Room About Contacts Visual Realm Photography (Single) Photography (Series) AI Gallery 3D Gallery Painting Gallery Literary Realm Essay Room Travelogue Room Poem Room Music Room About Contacts Website developed and maintained by: SP Mukherji +91 87774 57531 ©2026 spmukherji@gmail.com ©2026 Edit Template

Mist, Mane and Marble

Mist, Mane and Marble Five day circuit – Ooty, Bandipur & Mysore Takeoff while Kolkata was still asleep The driver waited at the pickup point Humble breakfast: Puri and Sabji The smooth highway with first hint of the hill Aroma of Karnataka coffee Lunch at Mysore: Mutton Shikh Kebab Departure: The Journey Begins On a late February, a 6:00 AM takeoff from Kolkata, while the city was still asleep, transitioned into a day of shifting altitudes and sweeping vistas. By 9:00 a.m., I had landed in Bengaluru, where my driver was waiting at the pickup point. Swiftly, we started our journey in an attempt to avoid the notorious Bangalore traffic snarls and soon the congested roads of India’s Silicon Valley gradually eased into long, open highways. Breakfast was humble yet practical—puri with sabji—followed by a short pause once the first silhouettes of the hills appeared, accompanied by the unmistakable aroma of Karnataka’s filtered coffee. Lunch in Mysuru offered a welcome interlude before the ascent toward the Nilgiris. Smooth highways gave way to the forests Deer grazing by the side of forest road Peacocks sat lazily on the branches The Rainy Threshold (Ooty Arrival) The drive to Ooty evolved steadily in character. Smooth highways transitioned into stretches flanked by forest and eventually into winding ghat roads. The air grew cooler and  vegetation denser and the sky turned a bruised purple. By the time we approached the hills, the sky had darkened and threatened to rain without warning. Peacocks galore on the forest roaad https://spmukherji.art/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Peacock.mp4 The Nilgiris did not offer a postcard welcome; they offered drama. We navigated the 36 sharp hairpin bends in a torrential downpour. Headlights sliced through the mist, reflecting off the slick, black asphalt as the town of Ooty emerged, looking like a moody masterpiece rendered in charcoal. It was a cold, wet and strangely fitting introduction to the highlands. Ricocheting 36 hairpin bends in torrential rain https://spmukherji.art/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VID_20260225_173246419.mp4https://spmukherji.art/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/36-hairpin.mp4 I quickly checked in at Lake View Resort. The sky started to clear gradually revealing the crimson hues of the setting sun over the ridges. From my room I watched, in awe, how the town of Ooty bathed in the colour of Mother Nature. I swiftly checked in The Sky slowly cleared Gorgeous sunset view from room Over the course of five days, highways became hill roads, hills yielded to forests and forests ultimately led to palace corridors—which in totality gave me enough opportunity to share my travel experience. The Mystic hills A view of Ooty town Lake View Hotel My cottage Self made morning tea A view from my balcony When the Mist Lifted in the Morning The rain had cleared overnight. What had looked distant and obscured the previous evening now appeared sharply defined. The hills around Ooty looked freshly washed, their slopes bathed in early sunlight. I prepared the morning tea, sat by the private lawn and took time to savour the mystical surroundings. Built on a hilltop, Hotel Lake View has 116 well-appointed rooms, most of which has great views. Every room has a balcony, a private lawn and a living room with a recliner sofa and dining table. The hotel also has a multi-cuisine restaurant serving delicious food.  Centrally located with the view of Ooty lake within a walking distance, I felt this property offered enough incentives to budget travelers for a decent stay a couple of days.  Moment: The Cuddly Intruder “A morning visitor: A local cat slipped into the room, bypassing the cold mist for the warmth of my company—and quite clearly, a request for a snack. After morning tea, I began the day with a complimentary breakfast. The view of hill bathed in gentle sunshine from the arched window in the dining hall was awesome. Moment: The Mental Arithmatic “With low occupancy, breakfast was served via a fixed menu rather than a buffet, capped at ₹560. The repeated calculations of selecting and reselecting items became an unexpected exercise and made me stronger in mental arithmetic: a small, amusing detail of travel logistics. The Day Trip The morning began at Doddabetta Peak, the highest peak in the Nilgiris, where the morning air was cold and visibility stretched across infinite, layered ridgelines. The light was diffused and soft—perfect for slow, sweeping panoramas rather than hurried snapshots. Later, we drove toward Coonoor. Sim’s Park was our first stop which offered curated greenery and quiet walking paths. Another view from Dodabetta Ooty town from the view point Closeup of a spiral staircase at the View Point At the top of Dodabetta Quiet walking paths at Sim’s Park Curated greenery at Sim’s Park Next we drove for Dolphin’s Nose which opened dramatically toward the valley below. The road ended abruptly at the viewpoint, creating the quiet illusion of standing at the edge of the world. The approach, however, was calm and contemplative. The road was so picturesque, that I frequently had to ask the driver to stop the car for some photo shoot. Visit to strawberry farm, tea factory and homemade chocolate shops added more flavour to the already fascinating sojourn. Viewpoint (1) Tea Garden on the slopes of the mountain Dolphin Point – Resembles the nose of a Dolphin Viewpoint (2) Viewpoint (3) Strawberry blooming in the farm Moment: The Inquisitive Young One “Noticing a herd of bison in a Connoor tea garden, I asked to halt the car; suddenly, from nowhere, a young inquisitive one peeped out of the tea leaves and then posed for a photograph. However, the day’s highlight was the rhythmic mechanical symphony of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway—a nostalgic climb where vintage engineering meets the ancient pulse of the hills. Ascending the Nilgiris isn’t about speed; it’s about the steady, mechanical pulse of a bygone era. The rack-and-pinion system—a technical marvel dating back to 1908—clocks out a rhythmic symphony as it bites into the steep mountain grades. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway https://spmukherji.art/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Nilgiri-Toy-Train.mp4 Connoor Station Preperation for the journey The puffing steam engine The pilot amidst the engineering marvel The coaches being

First Day In Abu Dhabi

My First Day in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Airport The wheels of our Air Arabia flight kissed the tarmac of Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi, at precisely 6:40 AM. As I peered out of the window, the sprawling, opulent airport unfolded before me like a prologue to the extravaganza that awaited in the days ahead—a teaser for indulgence in a world of luxury, curated to perfection. Navigating through the airport, I found the trek to the baggage claim surprisingly refreshing, treating it as an impromptu morning walk. For those less inclined to such enthusiasm, sleek conveyor belts and complimentary transfer taxis offered an effortless alternative. Immigration was seamless, baggage retrieval efficient, and outside, the city greeted us with an orderliness rarely witnessed in Kolkata. Taxis queued with precision, and our chosen ride—a plush Mercedes family cab—effortlessly accommodated us along with six sizeable suitcases, still leaving ample room for more. Billiard-smooth roads with limousines and sedans By the time we reached our host’s apartment, the sun had fully risen—later than what I was accustomed to back in India. Sinking into the comfort of a sofa, I sipped on the rich, aromatic Turkish coffee offered as a welcome drink. Just as I began to relax, a strange, persistent gushing sound caught my attention. It was unmistakably familiar—the rhythmic roar of ocean waves crashing onto a golden shore. But I hesitated. Despite my limited knowledge about Abu Dhabi’s geography, I knew that the sea lay at Corniche and wasn’t anywhere near our host’s centrally located urban dwelling. What, then, could be mimicking this oceanic symphony? Curious, I stepped onto the balcony of our 14th-floor apartment. The revelation was astonishing. Below me, the city’s wide, billiard-smooth roads were teeming with limousines and luxury sedans, surging forward with breathtaking speed. It wasn’t water waves crashing on the shore—it was waves of accelerating cars slicing through the city, their collective rush producing the illusion of a restless ocean. The city’s thoughtfulness in urban planning was immediately evident Eager to immerse myself further in this urban dynamism, I descended to the pavement, finding a seat among the neatly arranged benches. The city’s thoughtfulness in urban planning was immediately evident—the sidewalks were divided into dedicated sections, including one for cyclists. Parking zones were seamlessly integrated within pavement areas, ensuring the main roads remained unclogged and unobstructed. But it was the roads themselves that left an indelible impression. Once the traffic light turned green, cars bolted ahead in synchronized bursts, the symphony of humming engines with restrained fury venting their wrath into the ether. There were no honking horns, no smoke-belching vehicles—only the clean, controlled cadence of modern engineering at its finest. The signaling system synchronized impeccably; matched with everything was the top-notch discipline displayed by the drivers. Pedestrians, however, were second in command on the main roads, confined to zebra crossings and dictated by favorable pedestrian signals. A contented cat lapped water from a blue bowl But in the by-lanes, the hierarchy shifted—here, pedestrians reigned supreme, and the most extravagant cars would come to a patient halt, waiting for every last walker to clear the path. I was told that any car-owner involved in a mishap faced a staggering fine—an incentive that ensured order and respect on the streets. Quite an amazing orderliness. And then, amidst this mechanical perfection, I stumbled upon an unexpected sight that I was not quite expecting. It warmed my heart. A small cluster of doves strolled unhurriedly along the pavement, pecking leisurely at scattered grains. Nearby, a contented cat lapped water from a blue bowl, thoughtfully placed for strays. These tiny, beautiful imperfections—a fragile rebellion against the city’s structured efficiency—brought a smile to my face. Even within the calculated rhythm of Abu Dhabi’s fast-paced life, I already had glimpsed a quiet, soulful harmony. Back to Travelogue Room Back to Literary Realm Visual Realm Photography (Single) Photography (Series) AI Gallery 3D Gallery Painting Gallery Literary Realm Essay Room Travelogue Room Poem Room Music Room About Contacts Visual Realm Photography (Single) Photography (Series) AI Gallery 3D Gallery Painting Gallery Literary Realm Essay Room Travelogue Room Poem Room Music Room About Contacts Website developed and maintained by: SP Mukherji +91 87774 57531 ©2026 spmukherji@gmail.com ©2026 Edit Template