As a part of our Sikim trip, 2009 we reached Pelling. That was my fifth trip to there and Pelling is perhaps the most Green land I have witnessed in all my Himalayan trip so far. We were the six member team shared in Three rooms at Hotel Baichung, just alongside the Helipad ground of Pelling. Reaching there, we decided to add some new dimension to our Trip. So, we finalized to visit Sangakcholing Monastery and Rabdantse Ruins all by walk.
Sangak Choling Monastery
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| The Trail Behind |
It happens to be the second oldest monastery of Sikim. Situated at a hill top, it requires a trek of 2.5 Km to gain a height of 1000 feet to reach there. The original one was destroyed few years back by one devastating fire and rebuild later with the sense and touch of the old one.
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| Mountain View on the way |
We started the walk at around 6 in the morning. The trail starts just opposite of old helipad ground of the city. Weather was not very pleasant and we were walking slowly as the road became muddy with overnight rain. The whole trail was made really broad with guard wall and within one or two years it will be accessible by car. I was comparing the trail with the one during 2002 which was narrow, steep and provided some kind of essence of a Trek. But now, it is easy, casual and the trees alongside the road are much more thinner.
Within an hour so we reached the top. The monastery is at a real calm place with surrounding mountains. Occasional little students were gathering at the big hall for Morning Prayer with the instructions of their teachers. But we seldom heard any noise.
We were deprived of the view of Kanchenjunga as clouds covered it but compensated by the grand view of kabru South and North. The door of the Grand Monastery was eventually closed and the beautiful sound of prayer was coming from outside. We spend a couple of hour there, took some snaps and finally descended to our hotel.
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| They are on the Trail |
Within an hour so we reached the top. The monastery is at a real calm place with surrounding mountains. Occasional little students were gathering at the big hall for Morning Prayer with the instructions of their teachers. But we seldom heard any noise.
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| The Sangak Choling Monastery |
We were deprived of the view of Kanchenjunga as clouds covered it but compensated by the grand view of kabru South and North. The door of the Grand Monastery was eventually closed and the beautiful sound of prayer was coming from outside. We spend a couple of hour there, took some snaps and finally descended to our hotel.
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| Descend from Top |
Rabdantse Ruins
After Lunch we soon came out of our Hotel to visit Rabdantse Ruins. Rabdantse was the ancient capital of Sikim. The old palace of the then King was gradually restored by the Archiological Servey of India. It is almost 3.5 Km from Pelling city to reach the main gate but from there on, it was another 1.5Km up and down walk through the well maintained but narrow trail. The trail was through some dense forest and being September, it was full of small leeches.
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| Rabdantse..Ancient Capital of Sikim |
As we reached there I noticed a huge difference of what I found here during the year 2002. That was much more original, providing some real test of old dynasty. Now it is much more ornamented, artificial which proves a great effort put by the Govt to make it a tourist/picnic spot.
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| Trail |
Mount Kanchenjuga provides some glorious view from there but being a overcast afternoon we were deprived of that.
We spend some hour there, ventured the place and still I could not believe the drastic change in its look. As Sun was setting, we slowly began our walk back to our Hotel.
These two venture was actually a tinny little test to my own endurance of whether I can walk around 10-12 Kms in the ups and downs of the mountain. I was to attempt my 1st ever trek during December.
How was that Trek??
The story is here : - At the Land of Blue Poison.
