Profile of the Himalayas

Greetings Mountaineers.

Please forgive this intrusion, but I need some ideas. The Himalaya
Atlas construction is progressing slowly and what I am looking for are
ideas about simple maps that will help amateurs like me orient
themselves a bit when confronting hundreds of aerial panoramas. I am
attaching a first draft of one of four such maps. Suggestions,
corrections, additions …

Open it in your web browser and stretch out the window as far as it
will go. This is best seen on a large screen.

Thanks for any assistance you may be willing to offer. – Bill

–
Dr. William A. Bowen
California Geographical Survey

drwilliambowen@gmail.com

Darjeeling – Land Rover Nation

A Land Rover Series One Dash Board stripped to its basic frame. Land Rovers ply seemlessly to Sandakphu where the most modern of 4X4 fail.

Long and Short Treks at Dzongri and Goechala

We offer short and long trek at Khangchendzonga (Dzongri and Goechala Trek)

SHORT TREK AT KHANGCHENDZONGA (DZONGRI AND GOECHALA TREK)

DURATION: 5 NIGHT / 6 DAYS

DAY 1: Darjeeling to Yuksum (By Land Rover/Jeep)

DAY 2: Yuksum to Tshoka (18 Km)

DAY 3: Tshoka to Dzongri (17 km)

DAY 4: SIDE TRIP: Dzongrila and Rathong Valley (Halt at Dzongri)

DAY 5: Dzongri to Bakhim (19 km)

DAY 6: Bakhim to Yuksum and back to Darjeeling / Gangtok / Probable Destination

LL

LONG TREK AT KHANGCHENDZONGA (DZONGRI AND GOECHALA TREK)

DURATION:

DAY 1: Darjeeling / Bagdogra / Siliguri to Yuksum

DAY 2: Yuksum to Tshoka

DAY 3: Tshoka to Dzongri

DAY 4: SIDE TRIP: Dzongrila and Rathong Valley (Halt at Dzongri)

DAY 5: Dzongri to Thangsing

DAY 6: Thangsing to Goechala and back to Kokchering

DAY 7: Kokchering to Bakhim

DAY 8: Bakhim to Yuksum, back to Darjeeling / Gangtok

LAND ROVER SAFARI TO SINGALILA

You can also enjoy the Land Rover Safari to the Singalila Ridge. Land Rover are the world famous four wheel drive vehicles left behind by the British people after the British Raj. Still after more than 60 years these cars are running and you will be a person to travel in these vintage adventure cars. Land Rover Drive from Maney Bhanjyang to Sandakphu is for 5 hours. You have to be back on the same route because there is no jeepable route from Phalut onwards.

Trek to Sandakphu

SINGALILA TREK [SANDAKPHU, PHALUT]

It is said that trekking originated in India in Darjeeling, Darjeeling has one of the most spectacular treks to offer along with the beauty of the hills. The charms of the Himalaya along with its mysteries gradually unfold as trekkers transverse through the dense forests of rhododendron and verdant landscape, through the miles of green-carpeted meadows and sleepy hamlets lost in time. These trek is popularly known as “Singlalila Trek” and Sandakphu, Phalut Trek” and it is “will enable” trek to discover the sublime Himalayan interiors unmarred by mankind.

Singalila range is the main mountain range in Darjeeling (West Bengal, India). It runs through the border of India and Nepal and merges into the southern ridge of Mt. Kanchendzonga. Though most of the people, guide book, travel agents, say it as an easy trek as because most of the trek is done on the jeepable road. Indeed it was true till June 2000. But after 2001, onwards the Wildlife Division 1 (Department of Forest and Authority of the Singalila National Park), Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (Tourism Department) and local people had opened a new trekking route (about 80 percent on trek route) through the dense forest of Singalila National Park (SNP) to promote tourism and make this trek as an adventurous and beautiful in this range which became a boon to the nature lovers of the worlds. You will also enjoy the stunning views of the Mt. Everest (Nepal), Mt. Kanchenjunga (Sikkim, India), Mt. Lhotse (Nepal), Mt. Makalu (Nepal), Mt. Chomolari (Bhutan) and other mountains throughout the trek from these region. Most of the villages you will encounter on these trek will be Nepalese. Indeed at times you may believe that this trek would be more appropriate to say trekking in Nepal.

THE TREKS OFFERED BY OUR COMPANY

1. SHORT TREK AT SINGALILA RIDGE: [DURATION 3 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS ]

1. 1. Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang – Tonglu / Tumling (11 km)
   2. Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling – Sandakphu (20 km)
   3. Day 3: Sandakphu – Phalut (21 km)
   4. Day 4: Phalut – Rammam (24 km)
   5. Day 5: Rammam – Rimbick (16 km) and back to Darjeeling by jeep

1. LONG TREK AT SINGALILA RIDGE AND PHALUT WITH HALT AT GORKHEY [DURATION 5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS]

1. 1. Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang – Tonglu / Tumling (11 km)
   2. Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling – Sandakphu (20 km)
   3. Day 3: Sandakphu – Phalut (21 km)
   4. Day 4: Phalut – Rammam (24 km)
   5. Day 5: Rammam – Rimbick (16 km) and back to Darjeeling by Jeep

1. LONG TREK AT SINGALILA RIDGE AND PHALUT, WITH HALT AT GORKHEY [DURATION 5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS]

1. 1. Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang – Tonglu / Tumling (11 km)
   2. Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling – Sandakphu (20 km)
   3. Day 3: Sandakphu – Phalut (21 km)
   4. Day 4: Phalut – Gorkhey (15 km)
   5. Day 5: Gorkhey – Srikhola (17 km)
   6. Day 6: Sri Khola – Rimbick and back to Darjeeling by Jeep

1. LONGEST TRE AT SINGALILA RIDGE AND PHALUT [DURATION: 6 NIGHT / 7 DAYS]

1. 1. Day 1: Maney Bhanjyang to Tonglu / tumbling (11 km)
   2. Day 2: Tonglu / Tumling to Kalipokhari (14 km)
   3. Day 3: Kalipokhari to Sandakphu (6 km)
   4. Day 4: Sandakphu to Phalut (21 km)
   5. Day 5: Phalut to Gorkhey (15 km)
   6. Day 6: Gorkhey to Sri Khola (17 km)
   7. Sri Khola to Rimbick, and back to Darjeeling by Jeep

1. VILLAGE TREK OFFERED BY OUR COMPANY IS AS FOLLOWS: [DURATION 3 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS ]

1. 1. Day 1: Jaubari to Danga via Mazua (15 km)
   2. Day 2: Danga to Karni Farm via Khola Gaow (22 km)
   3. Day 3: Sight Seeing at Karni Farm (18 km)
   4. Day 4: Karni Farm to Darjeeling

1. VILLAGE TREK ALONG WITH SINGALILA TREK AND PHALUT TREK

1. 1. SHORT TREK: Village Trek [4 Nights] and Singalila Trek [4 Nights] in total [7 Nights / 8 Days Trek]
   2. LONG TREK: Village Trek [3 Nights] and Singalila trek [6 Nights] in total [9 Nights / 10 Days Trek]
2. LAND ROVER SAFARI:

1. 1. Land Rover Safari till Sandakphu and back i.e. 1 Nights 2 Days [Extra Night Halt is also possible]
   2. Land Rover Safari till Sandakphu, Phalut and back i.e. 2 Nights 3 Days [Extra Night Halt is also possible]
   3. Land Rover Safari and Trek to Phalut i.e. 3 Nights 4 Days. [Extra Night Halt is also possible

FACILITIES PROVIDE BY OUR COMPANY ON ALL OUR PACKAGES ARE (Ex Darjeeling)

1. Land Rover Fare from Darjeeling to Maney Bhanjyang and Land Rover fare from Rimbick to Darjeeling on returning.
2. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea/coffee twice and two bottles of purified water every day.
3. Hotel/Lodging expenses throughout the trek
4. National Park Entrance fee.
5. Porter wages if porters were required.
6. Guide wages and usually there will be two guides i.e.
   1. One guide from the company who will be responsible for the trek. Company guides are professional guides with vast knowledge of the area, mountains, flora and fauna of the Singalila.
   2. According to the authority of the National Park, where trekking is permitted i.e. Wildlife Division 1 (Forest Department, government of India). It is mandatory to have a local trained guide from Maney Bhanjyang, guide office. These guides are trained by the Wildlife Division, National Park Authority). The advantage to have these guide is that they have great idea of the locality and the new trekking route which was opened by the Tourism Department, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, and Wildlife Division 1, Government of India
7. The facilities offered for a Land Rover Safari are as follows:
   1. Jeep fare from Darjeeling to Maney Bhanjyang and back to Darjeeling from Maney Bhanjyang
   2. Land Rover fare (usually it will be private and reserved exclusively for the entire group), its halt charges, food and accommodation for the driver.
   3. Guide wages for both company and local guide
   4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea/coffee and purified water.
   5. Hotel/ Expenses in the trek/journey
   6. Park entrance Fee.

Please Note: The Day 1 charges have not been included in the trekking itinerary. So, the group / client themselves have to cost of Day 1.

One Day Treks offered by Hot Stimulating Treks N Tours

Average distance covered daily – 15 kilometers (10 miles)

Walking time excluding stops – 4 to 6 hours

Lowest elevation: 1500 metres

Highest: 3636 metres

The types of one day treks offered:

1. Organized Trek
2. Tent House Trek
3. Eco Trek – An Eco Tourism Package
4. Village Trek
5. Monastery Trek with lecturers on Buddhism

We also provide Airport Drop and Pick Up.

For a detailed package please contact us at hotstimulatincafe1@yahoo.com

Tibetan Wall Paintings at Durpindara Monastery

The Tibetan Monasteries spread across the Darjeeling Hills a magnificent art galleries featuring old and new Buddhist Paintings. These paintings essentially depicting different facets of Vajrayana Sect are aesthetic pieces of art. Students of Tibetan Paintings should visiting as many monasteries as he or she can. Especially the old Monasteries. I love visiting the monasteries. These photos were taken at the Durpin Dara Monastery situated at Kalimpong. The monastery is not as old as compared to the monasteries in Darjeeling or the one at Pedong but its importance likes in the exquisite art works that it features. The monastery was also consecrated by this Holiness The Dalai Lama himself. The monastery is known as Zang Dhok Palri Monastery in Tibetan.