Darjeeling III

Had decided to venture towards the Tiger Hills view this morning, but, not inside the crowd zone. To remind all of you, that means leave at 0400.

So set my alarm at 0600. Got up and peeped out of the window. Clouds all around. Went straight back to bed. Just around 0700, took another look. The clouds seemed to be receding. Got organised and headed out towards the view point.

Got into traffic from the word go. On the narrow road to the resort, then as soon as I got on the main road. Reached the turn off to the view point. Asked the policeman there if I could go up the road. He said sure, as soon as the 200 cars up at the view point come down !!

Turned tail and headed back to the resort. On the way back decided to do Kalimpong. Back at the resort had a heavy breakfast and then a shower. Was back on the road by 0930.

The road to Kalimpong is steep and curvy. More about that on the way back, because that is where the engine felt the gradient. Good top. But, needs delicate handling. You pass thru trees of the pine variety on either side. There are small towns every few kilometres.

What is so nice to see while driving are the houses and the women. Every house on the road in the smaller towns dotting the highway, is decorated with flowers in a multitude of colours. The women in the hills are in the latest of winter wear fashion, hair brushed out, lips painted. A pleasure to look at. And, have a very strong feeling they know how good they look.

Sometime into the drive got a gap. Stopped and took yet another shot of that which never fails to fascinate me.

 

Suddenly came across a troop of monkeys lining the roadside, on the walls of a temple. Stopped a bit away, as I did not want one of them getting at me. From the safe distance tried taking some shots. The guys just kept hiding away from the camera. Then, as though some message had passed, all started towards me. Took a shot, got into the Thar and set off. No way I was going to ask them why.

 

Crossed the Teesta river. 

 

 

Crossed this gorge from one mountain to the other on this bridge built by the BRO or the army. A bridge made of a metal frame, with wooden planks for vehicles to navigate across on. Extremely common sight anywhere in the hills in the border areas.

 

Came across a sign that I have not seen before. Leave it for your imagination. The road actually did something like that.

Turned on to the road connecting Kalimpong with Siliguri. Traffic increased, but not too much. Anyway, I had no timeline. The same road goes on to Gangtok. Maps took me past the Kalimpong turnoff. I believed maps, even though there was this huge banner saying “Welcome to Kalompong”. Such is my current belief in maps. Maps wanted me to turn in to a wall of rock. I refused, did a U turn and went under the banner towards Kalimpong. As I approached, traffic started increasing. A bit into town, decided I had had enough of sight seeing of urban development. Turned around. Tanked up on diesel.

Had seen a tea stall in the middle of a flat piece about half way. Stopped for a cup of tea. Was given some laced with ginger. It was also a much needed pit stop. Stayed a while taking in the surrounding landscape.

Past this there is a 27 kilometer run to Darjeeling. Most of the climb is second gear stuff. Initially tried getting to third, then thought the better of it. Stayed with second most of the way.

Got to the Darjeeling turn off by 1330. Decided to give the Tiger Hills view point a shot. Not a soul stopped me. Went all the way to the top. Saw the clouds.

 

Got back to the resort by 1430 and had a light lunch. 

Then went for a long walk, to work out all the food that was tucked in. Did I mention the road up to the resort. First gear stuff, about 200 meters, 2 wide hair pin bends. One hike up that, the heart is pounding. At the end of walking down to the highway and then back up, it feels good to be able to do it with just one halt.

Great skyline when I got back. It has been a seriously long day. What started off as a stay in bed it is cloudy, turned very full.