Ruins of Splendour

Rabdentse,Pelling,Sikkim

It was around 4.00 pm when the Rabdentse was reached on a drive from Pelling, Sikkim. Our vehicle dropped us at the main gate, from where the site of the royal ruins could be reached only on foot. The slanting beams of Sunrays through the clouds were in a mood for an early pack up, and before it was late, we began our walk through the stone paved way to see the Royal relics of ancient Sikkim, Rabdentse. It was an uphill walk surrounded by trees on both the flanks of the trek route. Sometimes the walk was tiring and frightening too due to dense vegetation around but, it was a safe place and tourist friendly.

View of Kanchenjungha at Rabdentse

Finally, the relics of Rabdentse appeared before us, in an array of roofless stone structures, with majestic view of Kanchenjunga in the backdrop. Replete with tales of history, crumbling ruins of the capital of ancient Sikkim, for over hundred years, were calling us. The cluster of walls in the premises was standing as reminder of a capital, as a symbol of power and like a signature of Royal affluence in the reposed ambience. The assorted walls, that housed the prestigious residence, throne and the Buddhist chorten (chaitya or prayer hall) of the Royal family of Sikkim or Chogyal were bereft of sheen, and destined to eerie silence. But, the breathtaking beauty of gorgeous Kanchenjunga at Sunset was still intact to spellbind us. With a blush on the sky, curtain of darkness were slowly spreading over the decrepit legacy of history where time had gone for a never ending sleep and, through the stone paved way, it was time to retreat.

Royal Chorten,Rabdentse,Pelling,Sikkim

The kingdom of ancient Sikkim, Rabdentse, has been declared a monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

A Gateway to Dooars

The coronation bridge/Sevoke bridge

Sevoke Bridge is a prominent landmark and can also be considered as a gateway to the Hills and Dooars. Just 27-Kms away from Siliguri town it is standing like an invincible warrior that shoulders the route to Dooars, on river Teesta. The famous landmark of this region is also commonly known as Bagh Pool or Tiger Bridge. A memento of British India the symbol of revere was erected on river Teesta to commemorate the occasion of Royal coronation in 1937 in the picturesque landscape of mountains and river. The bridge has been nicely mingled with the surrounding, is not only an engineering marvel that connects two mountains, also a distinct crossroad connecting the Hills and the Dooars with Siliguri. The road from Siliguri town to Sevoke Bridge, pass through a stretch of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary having a fair number of wild animals.

The attractive landscape from  Sevoke bridge

The beauty of Coronation Bridge is its simplicity in design; the cantilevered structure on the Teesta River has added more beauty to the landscape without obstructing the view. It is also a popular picnic spot in the vicinity of scenic landscape and a holiday destination to stretch out in the eternal beauty of nature or to fathom out the gushing flow of Teesta under its deep blue colour. A place to admire the seizing blue colour of Teesta at Sunset, that look differently new in different seasons.

View of the landscape from Sevoke Bridge

Surrounded by the protective care of nature it was estimated that the bridge would serve for a life span of hundred years, even at the edge of century, still relentless towards its duties. The huge bridge that enhances the grandeur of the landscape in its presence and as a reminder of British rule in India is worthy to be titled “Gateway of Dooars” as a mark of our concern towards our Historic landmarks.

In the kingdom of happiness

Delo,Kalimpong

The hilltop looked like a crown, over the Graham`s home, Kalimpong. Yogesh pointed his finger to the top and said-that is Delo, our next destination. In a very short time through the uphill gradient of pine lined lane and after six kilometres drive, we reached Delo. Yogesh dropped us at the entry gate and on the other side; nature received us with her unique gravitation.

in the premises of nature,Delo,Kalimpong

Entered in the premises of Delo and consequently we were surrounded by the discriminating beauty of the place, nicely blending the scenic beauty with display of colours. Soothing breeze, in a crystal clear weather accompanied us as we proceeded towards the entirety of a refreshingly fabulous landscape.

Delo in a clear weather

Delo had a wonderful collection of attractive flowers of varied colours. As we were reaching to the top, in every turn the garden surprised us with her munificent display of colours. Leaning on the lap of nature, Delo is a place to laze around under the gentle warmth of Sun, amidst the virgin landscape or staying in wide exposure of nature, an ideal place to discover endless portrayal of different moods of drifting clouds on the canvas of green mountains or a place to capture the changing moods of reposed nature. The bountiful of fabulous beauty of nature surrounded Delo like a garden of heaven, the silhouette of river Teesta flowing with azure were an added beauty to the frame, where we rejoiced in witnessing the mountains, meeting with fluvial flow under sweet warmth of the Sun.

Kanchenjunga

In the colours of dazzling flowers I still freshly recollect my memorable holiday in Kalimpong where I replenished my energy with the perpetual fresh fragrances of nature. Kalimpong is a place to me in the close proximity of nature just doorstep away, where drifting clouds portray many moods on the mountains, where glimpse of glamorous Kanchenjunga brighten the morning and a place to genuflect before the generosity of nature.

The Eternal Sun

Rabindranath Tagore

Shantiniketan Express left from Howrah Railway Station. I felt like flying in ecstasy for uniting with much awaited holiday and besieged by ineffable delight for the eternal personality through whose expressions I witness a golden tryst with my incipient age. He is Rabindranath Tagore or the Sun with his galore of gleams, we are indebted daily.
                                             “Let my name be known
                                              That I am a man of yours.”

The Bauls

It was my trip to Shantiniketan and travelling through the landscape of wide spread golden fields with busy farmers harvesting their yield made the journey unforgettable indeed. A splash of refreshing wind, swept away the last memory of my hackneyed routine. The folk songs of the “Bauls” were a bonus in the train till we reached at Bolpur Station.

Gitanjali museum opposite to the Bolpur railway Station

My Shantiniketan tour began with the museum “Gitanjali” situated exactly opposite to the Bolpur Railway Station. I was like experiencing the life portrayal of Rabindranath Tagore in their interminable collection and decent display of rare photos, furniture of the great poet or his family, rail coach on which Rabindranath Tagore once travelled. It was a rare opportunity to ensemble the gallery that framed many colours and numerous shades of life of the great litterateur.
Now for the pivotal attraction, we headed for Shantiniketan or the abode of peace where we went through series of houses, garden, artworks, and finally it was the museum of the god of literature. I felt the hefty waves with roaring sound were rising in my heart and sometime was feeling like standing at the shore of an ocean that colour our emotions, enrich our existence, rejuvenate our soul and a constant source of inspiration in our daily life. It was indeed the most valuable experience for my entire life time, revisiting my affection towards him. I bent down to shower my deepest respect for the great man, through whose eyes we began dreaming.

                             Where words come out from the depth of truth;
                      Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
                                      Where the clear stream of reason
                      has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Prayer hall at Shantiniketan

The desolate pride

Dakhil Darwaja,Malda

The day was hot and humid in Malda, and we began our journey through the National Highway with hackneyed pictures of urban hustles and after few kilometres drive it was a change in the scenario on a left turn. It was a picture of smooth going and within the frame the array of buildings and mosques of medieval time were standing like the reminder for visitors that, the site happened to be the prestigious capital of Bengal or famously known Gaur. The decrepit colonnades and arches of the relics were ready to take us to a journey to its glorious past where different dynasties have left their valuable contributions towards a rich history. Still surviving medieval relics of Malda hark back and invoke the inquisitive to imagine the picture of the desolate structures once hummed with life in their heyday.

medieval mosque in Malda

Terracotta work on the brick structure of Dakhil Darwaja, where series of trident could be clearly noticed or the replica of Ganesha still surviving on the wall of Aadina Masjid invoke series of questions in mind. The roofless relics of the mosque once had gilded walls and turrets, cogitate to fathom out the grandeur of the place. It was truly an expressive example that depicts confluence of culture and impression of different dynasties written on the walls of the architectural relics. Inundated in pride, I could not suppress the wish to recite the lines of Rabindranath Tagore in mind-

                                    ;“The Aryans, the non-Aryans, the Dravida and China
                                                             Sakas, Hunas, Pathans and Mughals
                                                                  All are merged in one body......”

the idol on aadina mosque,Malda

I found Malda truly a place distinctively different to shoulder the responsibilities to represent West Bengal in tourism. A place to experience the enliven history of medieval Bengal in its superb architectural relics. Somewhere the structures like miniature Buddhist stupas invoke curiosity to the History lovers and somewhere mesmeric floral works and inscriptions crafted on the pieces of black stone still display the signature of superb craftsmanship.

Aadina mosque,Malda

The architectural relics of Malda have huge potential in them and promising enough to represent significantly the state of West Bengal in the global map of tourism. Malda has every needed ingredient for a successful tourist destination and could achieve more mileage if its architectural relics could be represented in different local art forms which can act to accentuate the advertisement in the field of tourism.

Visit to an unforgettable landscape

Temi tea garden,Sikkim

The weather of the autumn morning was pleasantly cool at the time we began our journey from Rabangla for Namchi, Sikkim. In the entire route to Namchi, we were mesmerized by series of picturesque landscapes and on the way it was the famous Temi Tea garden of Sikkim, where we were compelled to respond to the natural beauty of the fabulous landscape. The azure of the sky created an exotic backdrop for the Temi tea garden and its surrounding mountains. We were drawn to the hypnotic beauty of the tea garden and kept looking gleefully for hours to the wealthy nature. The indomitable thirsts for the splendid beauty of “leafs and bud” dragged us to its close proximity, and eventually we discovered ourselves keenly engaged in saving the scenic landscape in memory, unconcerned in deep exult to get slithered. It was such a heavenly displays of generous nature, furthermore an invitation of wealthy treasure of fresh and clean air. The gleams of the sun were playing on the tea leafs, like a treasure of gold. My winged imagination of reverie flew over the picturesque slopes of the tea garden like a colourful butterfly or like a piece of cotton, drifting over the alluring landscape!

Hypnotic landscape of Temi Tea Garden,Sikkim

The garden with magical landscape, adored worldwide for its product that add the elegant gold colour to the morning cup. The saplings of the Temi had their progenitor in Darjeeling but, surprisingly the products of Temi tea garden is a blend of liquor and flavour simultaneously. Temi tea garden organically produces and exports their product under strict export guideline and also considered one of the prominent tourist spot in this region.
Limitations of time seized freedom of our reverie and were compelled to end our association with nature. It was time to resume our journey but, needless to mention here it was indeed a quality time we spent for awhile at Temi tea garden and it was a rejuvenation of our entire soul and we were deeply filled with a long desired mental peace. With a heart full of clean air along with the unforgettable memories of the landscape, our vehicle slowly proceeded for the next destination.

fireballs of Rabangla

Rabangla

Have you ever tasted “fire ball?” “The innocent looking chillies of Rabangla, have fire in them.” – The young driver was very eager to notify us and kept discussing about the fireball chillies for a long time. The discussion incited an irresistible curiosity in me to fathom the fire of the chillies, like my impatient inquisitive to explore again the majestic beauty of Kanchenjunga from Rabangla.

Kanchenjunga

The tiny hill town of Sikkim was in its fabulous mood, when we reached in the bountiful of scenic treasure. Without any struggle, we got our hotel in Rabangla. In eager haste, I removed the curtain of my room to fall in love again for the greatest attraction that brought me away from home. Stupendous peak of Kanchenjunga appeared like resting in the backdrop of the azure and the snow clad mountain peak was gleaming in dazzling golden colour of mid day, reminded me the glaring eyes of Guru Padmasambhav.

The imposing landscape

After lunch, we were on the road, to have a glimpse of the beautiful town and for having a stroll through the ups and downs of the hilly roads. In the market areas of Rabangla, the fierce chillies, shaped like tiny balls or like the shape of volcano were abundantly sold, were said to have medicinal effects and most prolific. The chillies were sold by the local farmers on the footpaths and were costly too. The easy going nature of the small town was very attractive; the beautiful landscapes in a widespread composure, where the nature spread her curtain of shadow over the mountains in the evening. Awhile witnessing the sketches of heavenly landscape in the serenity was worth for a prominent place in the hall of fame of my lifetime experience.

Tiny hill town,Rabangla

On our way to the hotel, I was in search of the souvenirs of Rabangla. Among the hackneyed display of fang-sui articles, I got attracted to the collections of fire balls in the form of pickles. The manager of our hotel loudly laughed at my peculiar possession as a memento.

Sunset at Rabangla

Coming home, it was time to revisit the sweet memories of Rabangla and time to taste the so called sizzling pickle. The fiery pickle made of the hot chillies, when went inside the stomach, in a trice the sizzling taste spread through the nerve cells like a high voltage electric shock or like a pyre, unendingly started burning into the stomach, accompanied by terrific sweating. The unforgettable and unpredictable hot taste of the pickle mixed with the invisible warmth has a feeling like freshly tasted and notwithstanding, invoking the desire to taste again. It resembled the inexplicable beauty of Rabangla, the sweet nest of bower, with green memories of the majestic view of Kanchenjunga gravitate me always.