Sikkim…. The Hidden Kingdom

I start off again… travelling to another corner of the world. The fairy tale just never ends. So far so good. The Mumbai story has come to an end. And another chapter begins. My caravan moves to the tiny Himalayan state of Sikkim. Its been one month now, in this relatively pristine Himalayan region, a sparsely populated state that gives great importance to preservation of the environment. One still does not see much evidence of deforestation. Lets begin this series with the capital of this beautiful state, Gangtok. Sikkim is a state that prides itself on its rains. It is said that there are only 2 seasons in Sikkim- the winter season and the rainy season. The winter season is one when it is cold and it rains every alternate day. The rest of the year it rains everyday. During the monsoon, its always raining… phew!!! And I thought Mumbai rains were the worst one could experience. Its been 3 weeks now since I landed here, and its rained every evening since then.

As is well known, rains in the Himalayas brings forth sights worth dying for. That is exactly what unfolds before my eyes day after day in this chilly, rainy region. Sometimes early in the morning, sometimes late in the afternoon. The clouds invade our little kingdom, turning it into a fairy land. They swallow the hills and everything in sight. Sometimes they devour the town itself. The institute campus turns misty, lending it a ghostly feel. I stand for hours under the hospital porch and take in the wonderful sights and the cool breeze. That point offers the best view of the valley. I cant control my trigger happy finger and fire my camera in all directions. Feast your eyes on the extravaganza below. Remember.. this is only a beginning. The best is yet to come.