Debasish Deb
If you are bored of watching the
Kanchenjunga from crowded Darjeeling or Pelling, it’s time you headed for
Rinchenpong. Far away from the bustle of noisy tourist spots, Rinchenpong was,
till recently, a small village in the hills of West Sikkim, 6,000 ft above sea
level.
None other than Rabindranath
Tagore had spent a couple of days in this getaway in the 1920s. Rabindranath
Smriti Van, the house where the poet stayed and enjoyed the scenic view of the
Himalayas, is just 2 km from Rinchenpong bazaar. It is a major tourist draw and
has been maintained well.
Rinchenpong, which is more
popularly known as Silent Valley, is particularly attractive for those who like
short hill treks. Jungles, orchids, a variety of birds and treasures of ancient
Sikkim are the draws along the trail.
About 3 km from Rinchenpong
bazaar is the Resum monastery. Located at the junction of three hills, this
place of worship was built almost two centuries ago by a local lepcha and is
still under private supervision. The place offers an excellent view of the
mountains, especially of the sunrise from behind the Kanchenjunga.
A 30-minute walk through the
jungle will take you to a popular tourist attraction of Rinchenpong — The
Heritage House. The stone and wood construction, which came up in 1860, was
used to host the British governor, a regular visitor. In the semi-darkness, the
interiors reveal multi-cultural influences, including wall paintings and wood
carvings of the traditional Tibetan school.
One of the oldest monasteries of
Sikkim, the Gey-Sanga-Yangtze Gumpha, is also a walk away from the main bazaar.
It houses a statue of Ati Buddha with a lady embracing him. This unique
religious icon of the Nyingma sect of tantrik Buddhism symbolises the power of
lust.
Rinchenpong is about 122 km from
Siliguri. It takes about four hours to get there from Jorethang. There is a
regular jeep service. The road has been extended 3 km to Kaluk, a small town
that can also be reached through a memorable jungle trail. The vast openness of
Kaluk and the panoramic view of the Himalayas can be a special treat.
Thursday is the local market day.
People from neighbouring areas gather to buy and sell everything from bangles
to baskets, turning the occasion to a festival. During the day, hundreds of
Sikkimese crowd the shanty eateries and partake of hot momos and chhang, the
local drink.
Both Rinchenpong and Kaluk have a
number of luxury resorts as well as budget hotels.
Going
New Jalpaiguri is the nearest
railhead. Buses and jeeps are available from Siliguri to Jorethang. Rinchenpong
is a two-hour journey from there. Walking is the only way of travelling within
the town.
Staying
There are several budgets as well
as luxury hotels in Rinchenpong and Kaluk. Most of the hotels have restaurants.
Momo and thukpa are available in the local eateries.
have great week
ReplyDelete