(Chapter Three) : Day Two of Sandakhu Trekking from Tumling to Kalpokhri

Hello Friends,

The second morning of our trekking greeted us cordially with a beautiful glimpse of sunrise over the hill top, though the clouds and mountains tried their best to hide the sun, the tinge of a yellowish orange sky made for one of the awe inspiring view of Sleeping Buddha, the illusionary image created by Eastern Himalayas one could ever see across these mountains when the sun hit the tip of Mount Kanchenjunga and sky gradually clearing out and continuous change of colour of the whole Mount Kanchenjunga range basking in sunrays through the clouds was just magical colossal beauty of nature.

After the sunrise phenomenon we got back to our lodge, had our breakfast and started proceeding towards our next destination. It was a long day as we covered approx 14 kms crossing Singalila National Park which had a gradual descend full of ups and down covering 8 kms and taxing on knees but beautifully laden meadows replete in plush greenery of flora, bamboo and Rhododendron forests was rare and vibrant.

Usually the journey post lunch is way more painful and to add to the pain the trail post garibas was rugged hill with uneven stones which made the ascend complex and tiring. After Kayakata the walk was painstaking. Clear skies accompanied us most of the time but we knew that change is constant in mystical Himalayas.

In no time, we were once again walking into the mist and sight blocked by the chilling fog. The heart kept hammering into the chest as we kept climbing up and each turn leading to a slew of endless turn making the voyage absolutely irksome.

Finally we negotiated the hardship to reach our shelter at “Chuwang Lodge”, Kalpokhri where nature’s wonder a picturesque Black Lake laid amidst the mountains considered holy by the locals and waters of this lake, believed to have medicinal value, never freeze, even in the winter..!  

By the time we reached it was dark and really cold, all of us were exhausted after an assiduous walk. Once again we had early dinner and were off to bed excited with the thought of being at Sandakphu the next day…!