My experience in Sikkim - Part 1.

I recently travelled to Sikkim for a 4-night, 5-day trip. I booked the trip using a tourist operator - Siliguri Luxury Cabs and Services. I was actually searching for self-driving cars when I found this operator. Even before them, I had contacted several operators in Sikkim. They all charged exorbitant prices - for south Sikkim they charged upwards of 70k per person without food. This particular operator just charged 57k for 3 people. This included 5 nights, 6 days plan with Darjeeling as well. The places covered were Gangtok - Nathu La Pass and regions surrounding it, Pelling, Ravangla, and Namchi. Day 1: Pickup from Bagdogra and enroute Gangtok. Our flight landed at 3PM and it took us almost 5 hours to reach Gangtok. One thing I did not anticipate was how quickly it went dark. By 5:30PM the sun had set and it became very dark. Due to this we could not see the Teestha river clearly🥲 [Tea was nice.](https://preview.redd.it/blgwpb0vod9e1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b7336f40efc4b548155739d5a9dd77cd667b77da) Day 2: Nathu La Pass, Tsongmo Lake, Baba Mandir, Hanumantok, Gangtok ropeway On the way to Nathu La Pass, we had a magnificent view of Kanchenjunga. https://preview.redd.it/146ngqc4pd9e1.jpg?width=6000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=773e0185561b022e75de4219ccc43d5981f55048 Followed by this we visited Nathu La Pass. Our driver had oxygen cylinders just in case we ran out of breath and it did happen. At that altitude, I idiotically ran and very soon it became hard for me to breathe. https://preview.redd.it/045ib35gpd9e1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e8e2be73768d6d9888652e549e6ab64eb56324c Next we visited Tsongmo Lake and I have to say, Damn! It was so beautiful! https://preview.redd.it/nocjodmnpd9e1.jpg?width=3265&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09cbde7bafe2687091b2a2b625beaca1943bea10 In Tsongmo Lake, we had a yak safari. Taking a photo with the yak costed 100 per person and the ride costed 600. We negotiated and brought the total cost to 500. Our driver said the price was okayish. Next in the list was Baba Mandir and our driver shared the story of Baba Harbajan Singh. Followed by this we went to Hanumantok and then return to Gangtok. In Gangtok we visited a monastery (forgot the name). Here I learned the difference between a monastery and a stupa. https://preview.redd.it/q15ycf3aqd9e1.jpg?width=659&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76f53980f4addb88107195d4a07961281a0318c2 The ropeway was a new experience for me. Never been in one. https://preview.redd.it/5k61qwxgqd9e1.jpg?width=494&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=55f9f946c58a89ca1c16eced790074775a9c6a04 Lunch was after Ganeshtok. A small shop. But had a surprisingly good thukpa. https://preview.redd.it/51at4krmqd9e1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1acf9916bffc14681938ac137d6a0c1f127d6423 After this we returned to Gangtok and explored MG Marg for some time. We went there earlier in the morning and I have to say, it was so beautiful. Clean and neatly maintained. [MG Marg in the morning.](https://preview.redd.it/0iro71jyqd9e1.jpg?width=650&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b1489c1f4bac2d0838c38f7155748e2f9188a49) Dinner was in our hotel as we were tired at that point.