Flying into the "Third Pole"

March 10, 2009, Kathmandu, Nepal

Woke up in wee hours when all the Thamel folks are deep asleep after boozing/partying nightlong. Anyways, we have also not slept very well in excitement as we were nearing a long cherished dream come true.As came outside, cool climes, soothing chimes of temples got us to a more familiar desi feeling rather than the 'Mini Sin City' Thamel becomes after 10 PM with drugs, dance bars, casinos, prostitutes and their mostly "$ paying Foren Customers" at every corner. We drove through a more familiar morning look hawkers selling newspapers, kids going to school, long distance buses preparing for their day long journey to far off corners, sadhus/priests perforing religious rituals around Pashupatinath Complex, Buddhist Monks chanting hymns n prayers around Boudha/Sayambhu, Narayanhiti Royal Palace standing tall and overall certain pockets of the city are already stuck in traffic snarls waiting and cursing govt about their lack of infrastructure, corruption,bribery,mismangement of traffic system etc.




This is what we are more used to do in India also and hardly had any feelings about the dream that is going to be fulfilled in an hour from now. Loud sounds of a Boeing's propeller just overhead helped us to realise we are there...........the domestic terminal of Tribhuban International Airport, Kathmandu.It is really hard to believe by looking that it is an airport.With no security checks, no prohibition in anything and lack of infrastructure it looked just a like a Indian Railways' warehouse.

But yes we are here for our flight of lifetime that is "Mountain Flight" which will become the best part of your memories to cherish in rest of your life. Several airlines in Nepal run this hour long sortie to the snow capped Himalayas including Mt.Everest -- an enigma that serves as backbone of this small, landlocked,poverty and insurgency stricken nation. EVEREST--The 7 letter magic draws people upto Nepal from all round the globe. Nepal's economy, national importance in global diaspora survives on its Himalayan peaks and to be precise the jewel in the crown "Mt.Everst". People who cannot climb or trek upto the basecamp may choose this flight which takes them upto the majestic tower of snow to touch it with heart. Flights of Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines are most popular.They offer a window seat to everyone and comes with a cost of around INR 4000(as of Mar, 2009) for SAARC nationals.














As we look from the cockpit



Mt. Everest........we are there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Garpanchkot......monsoon getaway

Stuck inside a city reeling under heat, humidity, pollution & post election political violence, where to go? Its monsoon time, though not bountiful for agriculture this year , but still enough to dampen your mood, comfort. Roads are getting potholed, waterlogged, hills are suffering with landslides. So struck upon an idea by few blogs by a short weekend getaway least vulnerable from monsoon havoc located at drier parts of the state...Garpanchkot at Purulia.


Garpanchkot is a secluded forest bungalow(WBFDC) built in the lap of Panchakot Hill(Panchet Hill) easily accessible from Asansol/Adra(about 35-40 Kms) from both places.Truley, those who will expect customized site seeing tour, shopping, partying Garpanchkot is not a place for them. It has nothing but a resort, where you can stay a day or two for a change from boring city life among greenery of the hill.There are few ruins of old terracota temples, palaces of ancient Panchkot dynasty, feudal princes who ruled over the region a millenium ago.


16th Aug,2009. We set off for GPKot from Asansol. Soon we crossed over to Purulia via Dishergarh. We got first views of our destination from the bridge over Damodar.





Saikat's brand new i10 made this trip so enjoyable



Soon we reached Sarbari More,then Puapur village. From Puapur a road towards right goes to Panchet Dam over Damodar River.The other way goes to the WBFDC resort just 2.5 kms apart from Puapur. Panchet Dam in monsoon offers panoramic view of the reservoir and drive thorugh the dyke of the dam is an enjoyable experience.





Panchet Dam over Damodar











Welcome to Garpanchkot Eco Tourism Resort



The Dining Hall



Our cottage Mahua, where we stayed



Ruins of Panchkot reminds of glory of the past, as well as negligence to preserve our heritage in present.

Useful Tips: Garpanchakot is a nice weekend stay you can enjoy. The only place to stay is WBFDC Eco Tourism Resort. So it is advisable to ensure your room well in advance. Though it can be easily covered from Asansol, Dhanbad, Durgapur within a day. The resort is satisfactory in service and overall staying experience. Authorities need to give a bit of extra effort to make it a excellent experience.

Driving Direction: The resort is situated in the lap of Panchet Hill which is located around 35 Kms from nearest big town Asansol and around 27 Kms from Adra. If you are visiting from Kolkata , drive along NH2 uoto Asansol.Asansol is well connected by numerous trains with rest of the country and frequent bus services suitable for all pockets are available from Kolkata, Ranchi, Bardhaman, Siuri ,Adra, Purulia etc.

Drive through Dishergarh, cross Damodar River to enter Purulia District. You will see Panchet Hill in distance in right. Drive towards Sarbari More, then upto Puapur.Here take a detour to right for a couple of kms to get into Panchet Dam. The road towards left will take you to the resort(1.5 Km).

Rinchenpong Borong ......Hidden Paradise Part III

Start of another day with blessed with bounteaous sunshine.

Now its time to take a walk with mesmerizing views

Started walking uphill towards Famtam Village to assimilate soul and body with rejuvenating Himalaya.





Will keep coming back again n again till last breath.

Rinchenpong Borong ......Hidden Paradise Part II

....continued from Part I

going towards Ravangla

A little break for obvious reasons



after a bumpy ride from Ravangla towards Borong.Borong is a sleepy hamlet nestled among the hills near Ravangla. It offers cool climes & stunning view of Mt. Narsing and few other peaks in a clear day. Wildflower Retreat is the only accomodation available here.



Welcome to Borong

Upper Ralong Monastery