This Mother-Son Duo’s Trip to Gangtok and Darjeeling is Setting Major Travel Goals!
Fulfilling one's mother's wishes is an extraordinary act of love. It is about receiving that glance from your mother, that says,
I am proud to be your mother.
Karn always wanted to go on a trip to Darjeeling with his mother. She always spoke of going to Ghum station once. And Glenary's. And Keventers.
Just like she did in her childhood family trip.
It was Karn’s birthday, and he wanted to celebrate it with his mother. Thinking about what would be the best possible way to celebrate this day, he finally decided to go for a small mother-son trip to Darjeeling and Gangtok. It would do things, he thought-
It will make his mother HAPPY!
So, packing a bag full of sweaters and snacks, the duo set out for an adventure in the land of the ‘Hidden Valley of Rice’.
Warm-up in Darjeeling
Since they had booked their trip from Thrillophilia, they did not have to think about any arrangements or transport. They had taken care of it all. It was a 5-day trip which included guided tours of Darjeeling and Gangtok. All the hotels were booked, cars were ready, and so were the people who were to guide them.
Knowing that it would be Karn and his mother on the trip, they took special care of them.
From Bagdogra airport, they were escorted to Darjeeling first. Upon reaching the hotel, they received a call from Thrillophilia’s team, asking them about their journey and the hotel. Such calls continued till the very last day. Their transparent communication and daily updates helped Karn and his mother track their journey and their expenses well.
Coming back to the destination experience, Darjeeling, the jewel crown of West Bengal is a place renowned for tea estates, monasteries, and the spectacular views of Kanchenjunga that it offers. They were taken to the famous Tiger Hill to watch the sunrise, and fortunately that day the weather was perfect to witness the sunrise clearly, changing the shades of the snow-capped mountains as well as the sky above. Their visit to the Batasia Loop was also made memorable when they saw 360-degree views of the entire Himalayan range from there (they had to use binoculars though).
On their sightseeing tour, they bought green tea and black tea from the estates, and also witnessed a sleeping red panda in the Zoo! Overall it was a very fun-filled experience.
Their trip to Darjeeling ended with a visit to Mall Road, where they not only had a beautiful dinner but also strolled the markets to get their hands on some authentic Tibetan handicrafts and curio pieces.
And then, an entire day was kept in stock for exploring the city of Darjeeling. They went to Glenary's and Keventers both. And touched upon the famous Ghum station as well, clicking a picture or two!
The Sikkim Show
After reaching Gangtok, the first thing they did was head to the MG Road. It was such a vibrant place, filled with local shops selling different items from food to toys and souvenirs. The driver, who was really helpful and cooperative, suggested a nice restaurant to them in MG Road. Together, they had a huge bowl of Thukpa - each.
Later in the evening, the driver took them to a nearby viewpoint which was not included in the itinerary. Since he was a local there, he knew the routes by heart.
The next day, they went to the famous Tsomgo Lake which was known to decide the future of the Monks. It is held sacred, especially in that region. They rode a Yak there, an inclusion from Thrilloophilia’s end. They understood how important these animals were for the survival of the local people in Sikkim. So, they paid a generous amount to the rider and went forth to visit the Baba Mandir.
After paying homage to the temple, they had two options- either to visit the Nathula Pass or the old Baba Mandir further away from there. Since both of them required an extra charge, they decided to keep Nathula for the next day and go to the Old Baba Mandir presently.
The old Baba Mandir is known to be a very awakening place, as his spirit is still felt there by the army personnel (as they claim). They had a peaceful time exploring the place, and the surrounding mountains and valleys all around made their trip much better and worth it! Nathu La Pass' visit on the next day was also a marvellous experience. They played with snow, making snowballs and throwing them at each other, clicking pictures, and enjoying the stunning views of the Himalayan terrain.
Their sightseeing tour of the various falls went pretty well. And they wrapped up their time in Gangtok with a heartwarming cable car ride.
Contended, they finally returned home with a basket full of good memories and Tibetan and Sikkimese souvenirs.
Thanks, Thrillophilia!
Thrillophilia had taken extra care of this duo, they had even gone an extra mile to make their experience worth remembering. All their itineraries were well-synced and the regular check-ups were a cherry on top which made the trip to NathuLa pass a possibility.
So, with a note of thanks to Surbhi, Avik and Shivadri, Karn and his mother bid farewell to the trip with a promise to perhaps visit again!
Read More: Thrillophilia North East Reviews