Tshangu Lake
I had visited Gangtok
the capital city of Sikkim, in the year 1998. This city is situated at an
height of 4,700 feet and the memories of the place which is still fresh in my
mind is the Tshangu Lake, which is located at the Indo-China border at an
height of 12,400 feet.
On the day of our visit
to Tshangu Lake, we all got up early and got ready by 8’ o’ clock. After having
breakfast we all boarded the taxi, which was waiting patiently for us outside
the hotel. The driver started immediately, and the taxi zoomed towards Tamand
Gompa Road, crossing the busy streets of Gangtok.
It was the month of May and to my surprise the
streets were busy with school going children with their heavy bags on their
back and the school buses plying on the road, when most of the schools of India
have Summer Vacation. To clarify my doubt, I asked the driver “how come these
children are having school in the month of May”? Driver answered me that there
the schools run in full swing in the summer months, as the weather is very pleasant
in these months, but the schools have winter vacation in the peak winter
months, which is unbearable there.
Coming out of the city,
we headed for Tshangu Lake through the winding roads of Ghat. A journey through
this road is really an unforgettable experience, with natural beauty all
around. Initially everyone in the group were very energetic and happy, but
slowly the energy level became feeble as we moved higher and higher as some of
the members from our group started feeling sick, due to continuous twist and
turns of the vehicle. I carried some
Domstal tablets with me to prevent vomiting, so the sick ones gulped the
tablets to be alright at least when they reach Tshangu Lake. But by the grace
of God, all throughout the journey, I was very energetic and enthusiastic, so I
went on clicking photographs of the picturesque surroundings through the window
pane or sometimes getting down at certain points. As we were ascending the
heights, the clouds started ushering us with open arms. Opening the window
panes we could even touch and feel the clouds. I would have certainly gone out
and got wet by these clouds in any other place but the temperature being very
low there, I could not dare to get wet by the clouds.
While getting up the
Ghat Road we could only see some tourist cars and more of army Shaktiman trucks
going up and down the hill road. The roads were bordered with many army camps
with army jawans moving on the roads. Halfway to the lake, we came across
Kyongnosla Waterfall, the view of which was so appealing that we told our
driver to stop the vehicle there. We all got down to get closer view of the
waterfall and my brother-in-law went towards the fall with two pet bottles to
grab this clean and clear water in them, as it was told by our elders that
water from waterfall coming through the rocks is very good for digestion and
tasty. But this water was used less for drinking and more for washing as three
members from our group started vomiting while going up. After moving up for
some distance, our driver stopped the vehicle for the astonishing view of
famous snow-clad mountains known as Kanchanjangha, seemed to be very close from
there.
Kyongnosla Waterfall
Kanchanjangha Mountain
After short stops at different points the
vehicle stopped at small shopping spot at a height of 10,400 feet, where most
of the tourists were sipping hot cup of tea or coffee as the temperature fell
down drastically, with two sweaters on, I was feeling very cold. There were
some shops selling woolen garments and some traditional dresses of Sikkim with
some handicrafts too. To keep the body warm there were some wine shops too.
After sipping a cup of
coffee we all started for the final lap of the journey to Tshangu Lake, which
was still 2000 feet above. Finally at around 12.30 pm we reached our
destination the Tshangu Lake, after travelling for about 40 Km. We all
hurriedly got down the taxi with lots of enthusiasm. We all were mesmerized by
the view of the lake and the mountain covered with snow in some pockets
standing just in front of us.
Tshangu
Lake
Seeing us, the small
boys from 2 to 3 shops came to us, for marketing their stuffs. With the help of
one of these boys we all headed for the shop where they were hiring gum boots
to climb the snow laden mountain easily. Putting on gum boots we all moved
towards the mountain. After climbing few yards my husband and co-sister felt
tired and were scared to move up more. I, my two year old daughter and
brother-in-law continued moving up and we reached the peak where we played with
ice lying beneath us, we threw ice balls on each other. Just beneath this
mountain there is a lake named Tshangu lake, which is deep blue colored water
body of nearly 1 Km long. It was so thrilling and exciting that we spent around
an hour there. Here we took many photographs. We climbed down after being
called down by my husband and co-sister who were waiting for us down there.
Getting down the hill
my daughter took a ride on Yak. After this we headed for some snacks or food
from the stalls put up there. We had some light snacks as we had to descend
down by about 8000 feet through the same winding roads around the mountains.
But then also some of our group members started vomiting on the way which was
cleaned by Bisleri drinking water and waterfall water.
Yak
Ride
On
the whole the trip was very exciting which can never be forgotten.
