Early in the morning, as we were about to start the drive for Hilley from Rinchenpong, the rains started. As the mountain slopes slowly changed their attires to participate in the rain dance, I was overwhelmed with joy. Our cab driver steered ahead. His vehicle swished ahead through the mists and the clouds swimming close to the vehicle glasses. It seemed like an heavenly ambience - the perfect setting for our rhododendron adventure.
Photography Courtesy: Avik Das
By the time we reached the starting point of our short trek, Hilley, the rains stopped briefly only to change its form to drizzles. We got our permits to enter the rhododendron sanctuary and geared up ourselves with trekking poles, waterproof ponchos, water bottle and dry food. Our trek was to last only for a few hours as we had to cover only about 8-9 Kilometres up to Varsey and down to Hilley again.
Photography Courtesy: Avik Das
As we started and reached barely a distance of 150-200 metres, the icy cold hailstones started to hit us like shards of glass. The bare hands got numbed for some time. The easy trail turned a bit tricky in some patches due to the incessant drizzles. The weather setting couldn't dampen our uplifted moods which released the sighs of appreciation while viewing the blooms of rhododendrons - the bright red, pink, white and fuchsia clusters interspersed with the broad green leaves. Even though the yield suffered this year due to the untimely snowfall, the mere presence of the flowers mesmerized us.
Photography Courtesy: Avik Das
The corridor was well guarded by chinese bamboo plants from one side, and Rhododendron trees on the other. The variant shades of green were well interrupted by the variant shades of the quaint blossoms.
It was quite difficult for us to choose which way to observe, - the moist, puddled trail with the gingerly sights or up above and around the pretty and decked up flowers.
Photography Courtesy: Avik Das
We gave ouselves away to the flowery temptations as soon as we reached the last point, an uplandish mound in Varsey. The cool mists and winds shrouded us with ecstasy and we couldn't turn down the welcoming glances of the pretty red, pink, fuchsia, magenta rhododendrons and raised the toast to the success of our Hilley - Varsey trek with the bites of 'Balaram Mullick's Korapaker Jolbhora Sandesh' - for no other way of ending would have been sweeter.
Important Details of this trek:
i) We stayed in Rinchenpong (West Sikkim) and drove for about 2.5 - 3 hours to Hilley.
ii) The entire trek took about 4 - 4.5 hours to complete. (Walking up to Varsey and coming back to Hilley.) We drove back to Rinchenpong on the same day.
iii) If you want to stay inside the sanctuary or nearby Varsey, you would need to book rooms in Guras Kunj or carry your own tents. No other accomodation is available except Guras Kunj.
iv) Another alternative is to stay in Okhrey or Hilley and do the trek.
v) Best time to experience the Rhododendron extravaganza is from the last week of March to mid May.
By the time we reached the starting point of our short trek, Hilley, the rains stopped briefly only to change its form to drizzles. We got our permits to enter the rhododendron sanctuary and geared up ourselves with trekking poles, waterproof ponchos, water bottle and dry food. Our trek was to last only for a few hours as we had to cover only about 8-9 Kilometres up to Varsey and down to Hilley again.
As we started and reached barely a distance of 150-200 metres, the icy cold hailstones started to hit us like shards of glass. The bare hands got numbed for some time. The easy trail turned a bit tricky in some patches due to the incessant drizzles. The weather setting couldn't dampen our uplifted moods which released the sighs of appreciation while viewing the blooms of rhododendrons - the bright red, pink, white and fuchsia clusters interspersed with the broad green leaves. Even though the yield suffered this year due to the untimely snowfall, the mere presence of the flowers mesmerized us.
The corridor was well guarded by chinese bamboo plants from one side, and Rhododendron trees on the other. The variant shades of green were well interrupted by the variant shades of the quaint blossoms.
It was quite difficult for us to choose which way to observe, - the moist, puddled trail with the gingerly sights or up above and around the pretty and decked up flowers.
We gave ouselves away to the flowery temptations as soon as we reached the last point, an uplandish mound in Varsey. The cool mists and winds shrouded us with ecstasy and we couldn't turn down the welcoming glances of the pretty red, pink, fuchsia, magenta rhododendrons and raised the toast to the success of our Hilley - Varsey trek with the bites of 'Balaram Mullick's Korapaker Jolbhora Sandesh' - for no other way of ending would have been sweeter.
Important Details of this trek:
i) We stayed in Rinchenpong (West Sikkim) and drove for about 2.5 - 3 hours to Hilley.
ii) The entire trek took about 4 - 4.5 hours to complete. (Walking up to Varsey and coming back to Hilley.) We drove back to Rinchenpong on the same day.
iii) If you want to stay inside the sanctuary or nearby Varsey, you would need to book rooms in Guras Kunj or carry your own tents. No other accomodation is available except Guras Kunj.
iv) Another alternative is to stay in Okhrey or Hilley and do the trek.
v) Best time to experience the Rhododendron extravaganza is from the last week of March to mid May.
Vison sundar
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