1997 - Leh Ladakh Trip.17 - 31 Aug 97.

Leh Ladakh Trip.

The Map shows complete Leh LadakhTrip  

This is screen shot of our Leh Ladakh Trip. Just to give you over all picture of routes,  the tourists attractions we visited.

Full details and.  description about, routes, hotels stayed, restaurants where we had food and the tourists attractions visited by us are given in interactive google map. For inter activities map GO HERE

I call this map "TRAVEL - MAP- O - GRAPH". Simple reason being when you navigate through the map,  you get complete information about each and every aspect, that is routes followed, hotels stayed, restaurants where we had food and the tourists attractions visited by us during the trip. You can also have access / see the albums, see all and each photograph. Read their captions which are full of information, at times detailed with link to wiki or other Internet sources.

I therefore presently I do not write travel blog with text and photos, as is the normal Practice. 
May be I will resume it after I have caught up with all my "TRAVEL - MAP- O - GRAPH"

I know reading text and seeing photos of the trip is easier as compared to navigating through the map. 

In case you have problem/ not conversant about navigating through the map, guide lines are given below.
How to navigate through interactive map:

When the interactive map opens, unlike the map above, it may not be centered.  When you place the cursor anywhere on the map, an icon of palm fist will appear. you can move this map to centre the map and see your desired area by pressing left click and moving the map to desired position.

To see the locations and info about them. Click the location of place you are interested in, in left panel, that place will be highlighted in panel and the map will move to the location selected by you along with a panel giving information about that place. If photos have been taken there they will also appear in the same panel.

Links to albums one for the location and one for the whole trip are also given there. Clicking the link will open that album. most of the photoa will have detailed info taken from the net. 
If you want to view map detais of place zoom in the map.
After you have gone through the place, zoom-out again before going to next place.
Please make that extra effort, you will not be disappointed.

HAVE A NICE TRIP.

1991 - Dimapur - Imphal - Kohima - Kaziranga Trip.

1991 - Dimapur - Imphal - Kohima - Kaziranga Trip.

THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN BETWEEN  11 June and 08 July 2021. 

Due to ennui, god knows why intermittently just did not feel like writing in recent past.

Irrespective of the date when the map was made and the blogged, It has been published backdated, to maintain historical sequence.

These backdated blogs are written as much to record our travels and places seen all those years in the past. 

With Ajeet in engineering college and Anuj in XI standard, this blog would have been the last travel blog written to present a photographic record of the growth of Ajeet and Anuj through those early years unfortunately there are NO PHOTOS of this trip.

This is a screenshot of our Dimapur - Imphal - Kohima & KazirangaTrip. This Screenshot is just to give you an overall picture of the routes followed, the tourist's attractions we visited. But these details can not be accessed here.

Full details and descriptions about routes, the information/write up about tourists attractions visited by us, can be accessed in "interactive" google map. For an interactive map GO HERE.

NO PHOTOS.

BACKGROUND.

All these backdated trips have been blogged by serially going through the photo albums. 

That was the only way to ensure that I did not miss out on any trip due to reduced memory from ageing. 

After writing about our Darjeeling - Gangtok - Nathu La - Kalimgpong Trip from album number 10, took out album number 11. 

Album 11 Starts with our photos from Ambala. First trip was 

Yol – Manali – Kulu – Mandi - Manikaran - Simla Trip. 

Started writing about it. After writing for a few days realised that I had left Shillong and had already reached Ambala so what about the time we had gone to Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal and Kaziranga Trip?

Discussed this with Mummy and Ajeet.

 Ajeet did remember the trip, though vaguely and was not of much help.

 Mummy did remember that our camera had gone unserviceable and we had sent it for repairs. So there were no photos whatsoever and no photographic record.

We had communicated with Brig Kadam and Col Nadkarni to fix the trip details.

NOIDA - 1985 - 87.  

Col Kadam was our neighbour. He was in the Jag branch at Army HQ. I was in Air Hq. 

He also had two sons who were friends with Ajeet and Anuj. Mummy and Mrs Kadam were also friends. 

Though Col Kadam and I did not have much interaction, but because of the above-mentioned friendships, we were also sort of friends.

SECUNDERABAD - 1988.

Lt Col. Nadkarni from Infantry was my coursemate and also syndicate mate in LDMC. He was posted as GSO (I) in an infantry division in Nagaland.

SHILLONG - 1991.

No memory of the year in which we did this trip. Considering Ajeet's 12 exams etc, It is most likely that the trip was done in 1991.

I have no idea at all about how I established contact with Kadam, who had become Brigadier by then and was posted to Dimapur. The same is the case with Nadkarni, who had become full Col and was posted to Kohima.

After repeated communications finally, the trip details were finalised. 

We were to reach Dimapur under our own steam. 

Thereafter responsibility of our stay, messing, transportation and sightseeing was Kadam/ Nadkarni's baby.

Shillong.

Those days Bodo agitation was going on in Assan and every other day Bodo activists used to announce "Assam Bandh" for a day or more. Generally, the duration was from between dawn to dusk. By 1991 things had been much quieter and the agitation seemed to have died its own death. Preceding our planned trip there were no agitations for quite some time.

There were regular bus trips between Shillong and Dimapur. The bus starting in the evening from Shillong and reaching Dimapur by morning was best suited for our plans. So one fine evening we boarded a bus for Dimapur and commenced our trip.

After a night-long journey, by about 0530, reached a petrol pump around 10 to 15 kilometres on the outskirts of Dimapur.

That day ours was the first bus to reach the petrol pump. The driver parked the bus by one side in the petrol pump. Almost everyone got down. They were all talking excitedly among themselves in the local lingo. Came to know that Bodo activists, without any prior notice had announced Assam Band from 6 AM to 6 PM. Driver and conductor announced that because of the band the bus would remain at the petrol pump till 6 in the evening as that was the best place to wait during the band period. As time progressed the number of cars, trucks and buses waiting by the roadside near the petrol pump kept increasing.

I have no idea how, but I managed to contact Brig Kadam. Told him the details that we were stuck at the petrol pump till evening. He told me to stay put at that place as he would see what he could do about getting us to Dimapur before evening.

In about an hour or so we saw an LMG mounted open jeep followed by a Jonga which again was followed by another LMG mounted open jeep. The convoy stopped at the petrol pump. One JCO, unerringly approached me to enquire if I was the airforce officer coming to meet Brig Kadam.

In the meanwhile, drivers of the three vehicles had reversed their vehicles and were now facing in direction of Dimapur. The sequence of vehicles was a Jonga sandwiched between two LMG mounted open jeeps, JCO requested us to get in the Jonga. We got in the Jonga. Our luggage was kept in one of the jeeps. As soon as we were seated in the Jonga, the lead jeep started a warning siren. The silence of the morning was split apart by the screeching sound of the warning siren. The crowd which had gathered to see all this were startled by the sudden sound of the siren. Along with switching on the siren lead jeep just took off. Our Jonga and trailing jeep with LMG followed closely. 

We set a course for Dimapur in a close formation convoy. Throughout the journey from the petrol pump, through Dimapur town to Cantonment warning sirens of lead and trailing jeep was going full volume. The drivers had floored the throttles and never slowed down. Not even through town. Speed was reduced and sirens were switched off only when we had reached the guard room of the cantonment.

WOW! WHAT A TRIP IT WAS.

 This trip with our Jonga being escorted by two sirens blaring LMG fitted jeeps travelling at breakneck speed will forever be etched in our memory.

Dimapur.

We had started our trip to Nagaland from Dimapur. At that time and till writing of this blog I had never realised that then and even now, Dimapur is The gateway to Nagaland by road routes.  

We will never ever forget the way we arrived in Dimapur. Unfortunately, that is the only crystal clear memory of Dimapur. 

I no idea about the number of days we stayed. About the tourist sights, we saw I have only a vague memory of giant chess pieces carved out of huge rocks, lying around in a haphazard manner. It was said that when Pandavas has passed through Dimapur this was the place where Bhim played chess with these huge stone chess pieces. After googling around, it is now clear that what we saw was Kachari Ruins. The list of tourist attractions of Dimapur is given below 

• Triple Falls.
• Green Park.
• Diezephe Craft Village.
• Rangapahar Reserve Forest.
• Zoological Park.
• Chumukedima.
• Kachari Ruins.
• Nagaland Science Centre.
•  I am sure some of these may not have been tourist attractions then. we must have seen some of them and some may have come into the existence as tourist attractions later than 1991. 
• If interested check out
•  https://tourism.nagaland.gov.in/package-tours/ 
• and
•  https://www.holidify.com/places/dimapur/sightseeing-and-things-to-do.html
• Kohima. 
• Background.
• After Dimapur our next destination was Kohima. The capital city of Nagaland.
• During chit-chats and discussions with Brig Kamat came to know that, even though Bodo agitation in Assam was on the wane, Naga hostiles were very much active in Nagaland. Most of the units of these Naga hostiles were armed with automatic and semi-automatic weapons. These fellows often ambushed army vehicles and not only caused tremendous harassment of army personnel, occasionally causing casualty and damage to transports. Things had come to such a pass that army movements were taking place only during daytime and that too only in convoys which were under protection heavily armed escort vehicles in front and the rear and interspersed in between the convoy. Throughout the day only two convoys left from Dimapur for Kohima two convoys reached Dimapur from Kohima. One convoy left in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Afternoon convoy left at such a time that it had to reach Kohima before nightfall. Under armed escort, moving with caution these large convoys took much longer time to cover the distance. Almost three times that of a normal travel time. 
•  Similar convoy movements were organised between Kohima and Imphal.
• With limited time at our disposal, it was not possible for us to move with convoys.
• Col Nadkarni was of course in regular contact. 
• To solve the problems of our movements he had organised a jeep with civil registration and a driver in civies. 
• We came to know that in case of emergencies or when fast travel was required between destinations, the army had vehicles on its strength which had civil registration numbers, Drivers for these were also soldiers but they were in civil dress.
• On the day of departure, one such civil registered jeep reported to us. The driver told us that he has been briefed in detail about travel plans. where to take us, where to stay, which all places of attraction to be visit etc.
• On the due date, the civil registered jeep with a driver in civil dress reported at Brig Kadam's residence. We bid adieu to the lovely and hospitable family and set course for Kohima. 
• KOHIMA.
• No memories, where we stayed, which all places we saw or any other things of Kohima as such.
• What I do remember is the II World  War cemetery.
• It was beautifully maintained. Better than most of the private gardens. Each and every grave was kept spotlessly clean. The gravestones had no moss whatsoever unlike other stone slabs that are likely to gather moss in humid and heavy rainfall areas. This also indicated the care with which the graves were looked after. Each grave had its own little flower bed. During our visit, most of these had a variety of flower plants in full bloom. 
• This cemetery for Allied war dead is maintained by Commonwealth War Graves Commission. A memorial commemorates the war dead of Indian origin who were cremated as dictated by their faith. 
• The Memorial and the Cemetry lies on the slopes of the Garrison Hill area in what was once Deputy commissioners the Tennis court.
• It was at this famous "tennis court" battle in which the unstoppable advances of Japanese forces were halted and they were bested for the first time. The tennis court battle was also called the Battle under the Cherry Tree. The cherry tree was a Japanese sniper post. 
• The cherry tree was not there but we were shown where it was located.
•  With geometrical precision laid out graves in the cemetery, beautifully tended and with the individual colourful flower beds these graves of allied soldiers who had died fighting at this place during World War II presents a poignantly beautiful vista
• The serene calmness, silence, and beauty of the cemetery have left an everlasting impression and memory.   
• The epitaph carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery has become world-famous as the Kohima poem
• When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
• or Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.
• After visiting and seeing all the places where we were taken by our driver we left for Imphal.
• This blog/website nicely covers 20 best tourists attractions in and around Kohima. 
• https://traveltriangle.com/blog/places-to-visit-in-kohima/  
• IMPHAL. 
• Just as at Kohima only thing I remember is the War Cemetery of Allied soldiers killed at Imphal in World War II.
• Each and every word written about Kohima War Cemetery holds true for the war cemetery at Imphal as well.
• Imphal war cemetery left just as lasting an impression as was the case with Kohima war cemetery.
• This blog/website nicely covers the 15 best tourists attractions in and around Imphal. 
• https://traveltriangle.com/blog/places-to-visit-in-imphal/
• We may have seen some of the places like Kangala Palace and Kangala Fort. Unfortunately, I have no memories of them 
• I very strongly feel that around 1991 few of the best-considered tourist attractions may not have existed as such. Lokatak Lake is an example. Loktak Lake was not at all considered a tourist attraction at all. It was just one of the lakes in the area.
•  After seeing what all the driver had to show us we set a course for the return journey to Shillong via Kaziranga.
• KAZIRANGA WILD LIFE SANCTUARY. 
• The jeep dropped at one of the hotels located on the main road. He recommended it and told us that it was quite reasonable.
• I am not quite sure but vaguely remember that the room was on the stilts. It had bamboo walls and a tetched roof. It was ok to spend the night. After making enquiries at the hotel went to the point from where the safaris started. A jeep safari was available. Tut the route covered was almost 100 150 Kms or so and extensively covered a large area. It was also too costly. Opted for an elephant safari.
• If I remember it right it lasted for about 3 - 4 hours. There was thick fog in patches. We were lucky to spot few one-horned Rhinos  An animal species for which the sanctuary is world-famous. Apparently some times the fog was so widespread visibility so poor that visited did not see any Rhino. Other times the Rhinos were far from the safari route and so again, were not seen. 
• Went back to the hotel and waited by the roadside for buses heading to Shillong. Around 4 PM , as luck would have it an Assam Rifles or Assam Police coach, not sure which, stopped nearby for a tea break.
• I went and had a chat with the person in charge. He readily agreed to give us a lift right up to Shillong.  
• Boarded the bus, looked around, empty seats were available only towards the rear. Beggers have are not choosers so went and settled down towards the rear and of the bus and so we were on our way to Shillong.
• • Our driver kept playing one particular song, continuously for almost all of 12 odd hours. It was a popular and a hit song of those days. 
  • Tried to remember without any success. Mummy also remembered, but she also could not remember the movie or the wordings of the song. However, she did remember that it was from a box-office hit of those days starring Salman Khan and Bhagyashree.
  • Googled for a movie starring Salman Khan and Bhagyashree came up with
  • Maine Pyar Kiya.
  •  From  the songs of the movie search results identified the song
  • Dil Deewana bin sajana ke mane na, yeh pagla hai samazane se mane na, 
• • Hindi movie Maine Pyar Kiya was a superhit. The song Dil Deewana bin sajana ke mane na, yeh pagla hai samazane se mane na, was even a bigger superhit. 
• • Just to take you back to that bus trip here is the video of that song. 

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx1Y7h6NBpk

  • Though I had forgotten the song but never in this life I am going to forget the fact that we heard a song, over and over again, for 12 hours of the night journey between Kaziranga and Shillong.
  • How dearly I wish I could recover with similar ease the details of all those past journies.
• After getting down at Assam Police/Assam Rifles camp, thanked them profusely and took a taxi to Upper Shillong and home. 
• End of the Trip.   

1991 - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Nathu La - Kalimgpong Trip.

1991 - Darjeeling  - Gangtok - Nathu La – Kalingpong.

THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN BETWEEN 19 and 31May  2021 

Irrespective of the date when the map was made and the blog published, It has been published backdated, to maintain historical sequence.

These blogs are written as much to record our travels and places we have seen all those years in the past, as they are to present a photographic record of the growth of Ajeet and Anuj through those early years.

 Darjeeling  - Gangtok - Nathu La - Kalimgpong Trip.

This is a screenshot of our Darjeeling - Gangtok - Nathu La - Kalimgpong Trip. This Screenshot is just to give you an overall picture of the routes followed, places where we stayed, and the tourists' attractions we visited. 

But these details can not be accessed here.

Full details and description about routes places stayed, and the information/writes up about tourists attractions visited by us, can be accessed in "interactive" google map. 

For an interactive map GO HERE. 

For the album with photos of Darjeeling  - Gangtok - Nathu La – Kalingpong trip Go Here.

For main 10 ALBUM MAY 1990 - OCT 1992.which contains photos of the above trip Go Here.

PQ 55/4. Our home.

Background.

It was pure luck that when we were returning from Indore trip in 1990, we had run into Col Suresh Gadre at the Officer’s Mess Fort Williams. He was then Chief Works Engineer at Siliguri. On hearing our desire to see as many states and places in the East during our Shillong posting, he told us that as CWE his area of responsibility included West Bengal and  Sikkim. He would help us in visiting Darjeeling, Gangtok, Nathu La Pass and Kalimpong. All these places were worth seeing for their natural beauty. We of course knew it and were keen to see them.

After returning to Shillong I had kept in touch with him. When we finally decided to undertake the trip we informed him when we would arrive in Siliguri.

Now the catch here is that there was no date stamp on any of the photos and none of us remembers either the dates or the month of the visit. The only Available clue is that in the last of the photos taken at Kalimgpong/ Siliguri we are wishing Priti (Mummy) Happy Birthday, So, on 7^th May 1991 we were in Kalimpong/Siliguri.

This way, May as the month was decided for this blog. Photo of Siliguri mess has a noting       " 5 FOD Mess, 30 April 1991" So we were in Siliguri on 30 April. However, all otherdetails, dates remain elusive and no dates have been recorded for any other places.

 Shillong to Siliguri via Guwahati.

First a road journey from Shillong to Guwahati. Thereafter we travelled by train from Guwahati to Siliguri.

No photos and no details are available.

Officers Mess, Siliguri.

 Not many memories.

It can be safely assumed that we must have called on Suresh Gadre and at least had one meal with them.

He briefed us that he has detailed a jeep along with the driver. The driver was briefed about where all to take us. He was also told about our accommodation at various places and other details.

Suresh had made arrangements for our stay in the officer’s mess.  Unfortunately, most of the photos do not have map locations. Given here is the assumed location of the mess. The reason for locating it there is that it is next to CWE’s office and near some married quarters.  The driver picked us up the next morning. 

Our trip to Darjeeling etc had commenced.......

Officers Mess, Siliguri – Darjeeling Road Route.

The driver reported well in time. We had already collected our packed breakfast and were ready to go.

During the journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling you climbed almost 6300 Feet that being the difference between the height of Siliguri (392 feet AMSL)  and Darjeeling(6700 feet AMSL).

At many places, the climb is quite steep and there are hundreds of hairpin bend in the road. Luckily by this time Ajeet’s road sickness was over. We never found precisely when and how he overcame that malaise.

The route is quite picturesque. One is captivated by the beauty of nature. Steep hills on one side and deep gorges on the other side of the road.

Added to the natural beauty of the route is the presence of a rail line of toy train from Siliguri to Darjeeling which runs along the road for most of the distance.

Almost halfway to Darjeeling, the Railway line almost traverses through a circle. The road runs right next to this point. This place when we had travelled way back in 1991, was known as “Ghoom-Loop” Due to its proximity to the village and Monastery of that name. It is said that people from the train get down at the beginning of the loop, walk across and again boarded the train on the other side of the loop. At that time the area within the loop was a saucer-like depression. It was a barren grassy patch with a couple of odd trees and wild growth of shrubs and bushes. 

Today in 2021, Satellite view of the google map shows it is now called “Batasia Loop.”.  The place is totally transformed and has been made a major tourist attraction with a garden, War memorial etc. The link for the write up about  Batasia Loop by Darjeeling tourism is @ https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_000017.htm

Photos taken during the road trip are given here as well as uploaded on the map at the photo location.  

Mall Road/ Chourasta, Darjeeling.

Went to Chorasta( four roads) at the end of the mall road.

Chourasta and Mall are located at the heart of Darjeeling. It is the main tourist spot and commercial hub of Darjeeling. Most of the vintage shopping places and hotel are located around this place. 

It is the place where the tourist and locals gather to enjoy the beauty and bask in the sun. Pass time looking at the people going about their business and generally pass time in a congenial atmosphere.

On a clear day from various vantage points around this place, one can have a magnificent view of Kanchanjunga in all its glory. Priti and I had visited Darjeeling at least three times earlier. Unfortunately, we never had a look at Kanchanjanga as on our every visit there were too many clouds around and the peak was hidden behind the clouds. Our luck did not change even this time. Poor Ajeet and Anuj also missed out on the beautiful view.

Collage of photos here and on the map.

The link for the write up about  Mall Road and Chowrasta by Darjeeling tourism is @ https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_000013.htm

Went around sightseeing, maybe for a couple of hours and then set a course for Gangtok.

Darjeeling - Gangtok Road Route.

After all these years too many details of the journey are forgotten. However, judging from the terrain it must have been a thrilling and adventuresome journey.

Apparently, no photos were taken en route.

 Gangtok.

A Mess, 17 MT Div.

We had Stayed in A mess of 17 Mountain Division. I had no idea of its location. Then I remembered that Ravi was posted to Gangtok while we were in Shillong. So I asked him if he remembered the location. He replied to inform that while he was there in 1993 A Mess was located near the present location of Black Cat Institute. Accordingly, I have put the location of the mess near BCI. From looking at the photos one can easily imagine how fantastic was the panoramic view of Gangtok and the valleys and mountains from the mess. 

Do not remember the duration of our stay. 

we saw Rumtek Monastery and Orchid Garden in Gangtok. 

 Rumtek Monastery.

My memory is that the statues and the paintings had very vivid and brilliant colours. We were told that no synthetic or modern paints were used Only vegetable paints made by the monks were used. Which, looking at the colours themselves I felt was a fantastic achievement.

Following description based on wiki and incredible India web sites.

Rumtek Monastery also called the Dharma Chakra Centre,  is located around 24 km from Gangtok.

It is the largest monastery in Sikkim and reflects the best of Tibetan architecture. 

It is located in a very picturesque location with flowing streams, the mountain behind and snowclad ranges in front and a river below.

The prayer hall has splendid murals, statues and 'Tangkhas'. 

Flower Show Center.

Do not remember much about this place. Looking at the photos there must have been plenty of orchard varieties and other flowers on display. Write up on this from Sikkim and Darjeeling tourism website is given as captions in photos taken at flower Show centre.

Today in the photos of these websites it is looking fabulous. Many of the facilities like a paved pathway, fountain etc may not have been there in 1991 but natural beauty must have been always there.

Gangtok - Nathu La Road Route.

The memory so far as this trip, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Nathu La and Kalimgpong trip is concerned is mostly blank. 

Do not remember the dates, the duration, the location of places where we stayed, how much was our stay at each place. Sufficient details about places we saw to describe them from memory are also missing. 

To put it bluntly, do not remember anything at all.

If it was not for the photos and sketchy captions written in the album when the trip was fresh in mind, I would not have been able to write anything at all. This one sentence "In 1991 we went on a trip to Darjeeling, Gangtok, Nathu La and Kalimgpong", would have said it all. 

Having said all that, some incidents during the road journey to Nathu La and at Nathu La itself are etched so deeply that I am not likely to forget them ever! 

Here are few such memories. 

Tigers Path: 

On the road, there is a Brick and cement road sign stating Tigers Path. By the time we had reached this place, we were already climbing for quite a while. At places, the climb was quite steep. At places hairpin bend one after the other. On one side there were steep mountains and on the other side deep valleys. The valleys were all covered in clouds. Clouds were coming down from the higher mountains and settling down in the lower levels of the valleys. In fact, at many places, we were driving through thin layers of clouds. While taking a break our driver told us that on this route if the clouds increase become thicker and settle down on the road reducing visibility to such a degree that one had to either turn back or wait for the clouds to lift up. In fact, he told us that if such a thing had to happen we would have to cancel the further journey and return to Gangtok. Fortunately, the clouds did not worsen and we could complete the trip.

 Changgu Lake - Tsongmo Lake - Tsomgo Lake, 

Even before we had reached the Tigers Path sign, we were seeing snow deposits along the road and the surrounding hills. The thickness of the snow deposits kept increasing as we went further and higher towards Nathu La. Few kilometres after the Tigers Path sign reached Changdu lake. It is a glacial lake, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the capital Gangtok. It is located at an elevation of 3,753 m (12,313 ft), 

 Lake was not frozen. However all around the lake, ground and hillside were covered with snow. At this place, it was not an unbroken blanket as patches of barren earth were interspersed with snow-covered ground.

 The water was dull grey with low clouds. Its mirror-like surface without even a ripple on its surface as there was no wind at all. There was death-like silence all around. Without any greenery and signs of any type of life along the lakeshore. The scene appeared totally barren desolate. In a strange way, it still appeared quite majestic and had a beauty of its own. 

This was a far different scene from what has been described in Wikipedia about the lake. Excerpts are given below.

The lake is the venue for the Guru Purnima festival which is also the Raksha Bandhan festival when the faith healers are known as Jhakris of Sikkim assemble at the lake area to derive benefits from the healing qualities of the lake waters.

After the winter season ends in the middle of May, the periphery of the lake has scenic blooms of flower species of rhododendrons (the state tree of Sikkim), primulas, blue and yellow poppies, irises and so forth. Also seen in the precincts of the lake are several species of birds including Brahminy ducks. Wildlife seen includes the red panda.

Tourist attractions at the lake site include joy rides on decorated yaks and mules where kiosks offer a variety of food and drinks. There is also a small Shiva temple on the bank of the lake.

 More details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tsomgo

Encounter at the bunker. The road became Steeper and the number of hairpin bend also increased. Came across a bunker. When we went to have a look at it met a young Sardar ji 2nd lieutenant. He was posted there and was staying in the bunker. It was a hard and lonely life for a young fauji. Mummy had carried some laddus for us to eat in case Ajjet, Anuj felt hungry. She gave a couple of them to that young lonely boy. He was overjoyed and almost ecstatic at getting something sweet and cooked at home. we can never forget the joyful expression on that young officer's face.

Nathu La. 

 Eventually, the climb eased off. and we had reached a point where the road was almost level with a hint of a gentle climb towards Nathu La. The height of Nathuls pass is 14149 Feet AMSL. Even in May, there was a thick blanket of snow and all the hill ranges were totally covered with snow. One could imagine how tough life would be in the hick of winters. 

The road surface had become very slippery. Our jeep slipped and skidded badly. It was very scary as the danger of going off the road was very real. It was a feeling we would never forget. Eventually, we were just crawling along even at that slow speed the driver had difficulty in controlling the slip and skid. When we came in the sight of Nathula which may have been just about a km away we left the slipping and skidding jeep behind and started walking. At places, we had to traverse through the snow and our shoes became wet and soggy. Pant bottoms were also wet. All that discomfort could not dampen our spirits which were buoyed by the beautiful awesome sight of the snow-covered mountain ranges as far as we could see. 

Gol Ghar. 

We were led to a round gazebo sort of structure with a roof of galvanised iron sheets and large glass windows all around to give a good all-around lookout of 360 degrees. This was called Gol Ghar due to its round shape. It was located almost on the border and China was less than a stone's throw away! Mountain ranges on the Chinese side were given names by our jawans based on the shape of the mountain range against the horizon. A mountain looking like the hump of a camel was called Camelhome,. There was also a Rabbit mountain and some more. This way when the camel mountain name was mentioned everyone knew where to look and which place was being referred to. 

After spending some time at Gol Ghar started back to go back to Gangtok.

After a good night's sleep, the next morning set course for Kalimpong.

Gangtok - Kalimpong Road Route. 

Started for Kalimpong. for almost half the distance it was the same route we had come from Darjeeling.

The first break was at the Rangpo Police check post. The arched gate declaring that it was the border between Sikkim and West Bengal was of typical Sikkim architecture and looked good so took a photo./

Short of Chitery, Teesta Forest we turned left for Kalimpong. 

Later as the road was running very close to Teesta River had couple of breaks before finally reaching Kalimpong. /There is no record of where we stayed. As Suresh who was CWE, I felt that the most probable place would be either in the officer's mess of some army unit or MES Inspection Bungalow. I have opted for MES IB as the place we stayed in Kalimpong.

Durpin Monastery, kalimpong.

Went to see Dupin Monastery. The statues, the draperies, the tapestries etc were similar to what we had seen in Rumtek Monastery. This may give one a wrong impression that "you have seen one monastery, you have seen them all".

Nothing could be far from the truth.  

The statues are so beautiful, the tapestries so amazing. The colours of the tapestries so vibrant and vivid, the designs so good. The weaves and designs of draperies so beautiful that no matter how many times earlier you may have seen them, at every fresh look they look as beautiful as ever. One can never get enough of their beauty, no matter how many times you have seen them. And so it was at Durpin Monastery. Enjoyed the visit thoroughly.

 Following courtesy Lonely Planet.

Kalimpong’s largest monastery, formally known as Zangtok Pelri Phodang, sits atop panoramic Durpin Hill (1372m) and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 1976. There are impressive murals in the main prayer room downstairs, presided over by Padmasambhava (the Indian sage credited with spreading Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century), interesting 3D mandalas (visual meditational aids) on the 2nd floor, and stunning Khangchendzonga views from the terrace. Prayers are held at 6am and 3pm.

The monastery is about 5km south of the town centre, most easily reached by taxi (one-way ₹200). It's a pleasant mostly downhill walk back to town, passing the army golf course and canteen. You can stop for a tea at the 1930s English-country-style Morgan House, now a state-government-run hotel.

BN Pradhan Cactus Garden.

Went and saw BN Pradhan Cactus Garden. Hundreds of arities of cactus. From minuscule to huge. From plain looking to most colourful. From dangerous-looking hard thorns to very silky and delicate looking growth.

 Spent a good time looking at the varieties of cactus plants.

07 May 1991.

I do not remember ever having stayed in a place with wallpapered rooms. The last of the photographs of the album were taken on Priti's( Mummy's) birthday. The room had wallpapers. 

So it must have been either on the last day at Kalimpong or during our return to Shilling during transit halt at Siliguri where the room had wallpaper,

#Where ever it was with these last birthday photos our trip to Darjeeling, Gangtok, Nathu La and Kalimpong came to an end.

1990 – Shillong - Indore – Calcutta – Shillong Trip.

 1990 – Shillong - Indore – Calcutta – Shillong Trip.

THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN 21 May  2021 

Irrespective of the date when the blog was published, It has been published backdated, to maintain historical sequence.

These backdated blogs are written as much to record our travels and places seen all those years in the past, as they are to present a photographic record of the growth of Ajeet and Anuj through those early years.

Background.

PQ 55/4.

While trying to write about our - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Nathu La – Kalimgpong Trip, 

I remembered that Whenever the topic of our trip to Darjeeling, Gangtok etc came up Priti and I were very clear that some time towards the end of 1990, all of us were in Calcutta. We stayed in officers Mess at Fort Williams. This was very evident from the few photos in Album no 9 (5/88 – 5/90) which had always confused me as I have no memory whatsoever of ever going to Indore and Calcutta from Shillong during that time. (Link to these photos is included in the end.)

Speaking to Priti and Ajeet, who have elephantine memories this is what emerged.

During the academic year in 1990 when Ajeet was in 10th standard due to board exams we did not go anywhere.

Once Ajeet’s exams were over, it also being the warrant year decided to go to Indore. We travelled to Indore by train via Guwahati. No other details about the train route, train names etc are available.

 The return trip was done on 50% concessional fare by Indian Air Lines from Indore to Calcutta. This time we stayed in Officer’s Mess at Fort Williams.

One day as we finished our breakfast and were leaving the dining hall, Priti happened to spot Col Suresh Gadre.

In their time, the fathers of Suresh and Priti were together in Gwalior Army and later in the Indian Army after the independence. Due to long association, Gadre’s and Naik’s were family friends. Priti was treated as a younger sister by Suresh and all the Gadre brothers.

Therefore it was but natural that when Priti saw Suresh we met.

Long chit chat between them to bring each other up to date about the happenings in both families. Suresh mentioned that he was Chief Engineer at Siliguri. Our plans to visit the Eastern states during our Shillong posting was also mentioned. Suresh said that being Chief Engineer he can help in organising a trip to Darjeeling - Gangtok - Nathu La – Kalimgpong. 

I told him that I will keep in touch and would definitely take him up on his generous offer. Later on, This was to result in our doing the trip. 

From Calcutta returned to Shillong bt train via Guwahati

Link to relevant photos of Indore trip is given below.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dtMjE6rJLTWP6Crs6

 

1989 - Trip - Aizawl - Agartala - Udaipur - Kumbhigram.

THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN BETWEEN  01 to 29 January 2021. 

 Irrespective of the date when the map was made and the blogged, It has been published backdated, to maintain historical sequence. 

These backdated blogs are written as much to record our travels and places seen all those years in the past, as they are to present a photographic record of the growth of Ajeet and Anuj through those early years.

Aizawl - Agartala - Udaipur - Kumbhigram. 03 - 10 May 1989.( Likely dates.)

This is a screenshot of Aizawl - Agartala - Udaipur - Kumbhigram Trip we did in 1989. This Screenshot is just to give you an overall picture of the relative locations of Shillong and all the places visited by us. Details can not be accessed here. Full details of journey and description can be accessed in "interactive" google map

For Interactive map go here.

Link for the album with photos of Delhi - 1985 - 1987. trip is given below 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4b2Zrb2JnXHkohiAA

This album shared from the main 7ALBUM.85/4-10/86 and 8 Album 11/86-8/88 @  

https://photos.app.goo.gl/P7xJWabcvmgzGBMi9

As is well known by now a lot of details of these old trips are based on the recollections of Priti. In this case photo sequence in which we visited these places did not confirm the sequence in her recollection. So I consulted Ajeet as well as Anuj. Anuj was as vague as me. Ajeet was a great help. His recollections were as good as or better than Priti's. 

Big problem - their stories and sequence in which we did the trip did not tally. The details and description of this trip is based on memories of Ajeet, Ajeet and Priti combined and with some modifications.

Aizawl - Agartala - Udaipur - Kumbhigram.

At the end of the course, postings were received for officers of all three services.

Naval fellows all went to coastal cities.

From the Air Force to various air force stations. Bajwa and I were posted to HQ EAC at Shillong. 

Quite a few Army officers were also posted to North-Eastern states. Army officers are very hospitable. When they came to know that we were posted to Shillong, they asked us to come to visit them and offered to show us around their area of operations. We did take up their offer during our stay in Shillong. 

Knowing we were going to Shillong we took some policy decisions.

First was that we may not be able to visit relatives in Pune, Mumbai so we should visit them before going to Shillong. It resulted in the Pune Mumbai trip during joining time, before leaving for Shillong.

The second was, home visits will not be possible in the 'non-warrant' year. 

Third, Dring non-warrant years or the year when we do no go home, to use Shillong stay as an opportunity so visit "Seven Sisters".  As seven states located in the  North East were collectively called. 

Must have been within a month of our settling down at peak, I was waiting to see the SASO with Wg Cdr Narwekar who was SO to SASO. During chit chat, I told him that Ajeet had just got in 9th standard. He suggested that I ask for "screening from posting" for 4 years. He informed that all 18 Regional Engineering Colleges in India have a certain number of seats reserved for those students who do their 12th standard board exams from any of the NE states.  He said he had done it and now his son was doing engineering in one of the RECs.

He further said that due to Bodo land agitation screening will be 100% agreed as people were not willing to come to the valley. That day after I discussed this with Priti. We both felt we should apply for the screening.

I applied for screening for 4 years plus the estimated time required for results to be declared and all the formalities for admission to selected REC to take place. The screening came through. Eventually, Ajeet completed his 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th from Shillong. He also got Admission to a reserved seat in the Meghalaya quota of Calicut REC.  

After celebrating Ajeets birthday on 6 Jan 1989 we moved from peak to quarter no PQ 55/4 at upper Shillong. Life became a bit easy as Ajeet Anuj could walk down to the KV and I also did reach my office within 10 odd minutes.

Our trips to northern states were to start from quarter number 55/4, our new home for the remaining stay in Shillong.

One of the first of the seven sister stats to be visited was Tripura, followed by Mizoram and then Kumbhigram in Assam. We had made plans and fixed dates for travel. In this trip, the Army was not involved. Instead, it was the Assam Rifles. 

As told by Ajeet this is how for Agartala, Aizwal and Kumbhigram visits involvement of Assam Rifles came About. 

I had gone to attend some meeting as Air force rep, to Lower Shillong in the office of some high ranking civil official. Among people from other civil departments, there an Army brigadier, on secondment to Assam Rifles was also present. 

During a break, I happened to mention to him that we were planning to go to Agartala and Aizwal and thence to kumbhigram. Also mentioned the date we were travelling from Gauhati to Agartala by Indian Airlines flight and planning to stay with some Army unit. By some great coincidence, that Brigadier was also travelling by the same flight to Agartala. He was very nice and told me that he will look after our accommodation and transport requirements at both Agartala and Aizwal. I was thrilled to hear this.

The Journey begins.

PQ 55/4. Home.

During those days travel to northeastern states was restricted. One had to have a permit issued by the state government to enter that state. It was called a "red line permit". So, well in time, I had obtained red line permits for all of us for our travel to Tripura and Mizoram. 

I had taken some casual leave so that we could avail 50% concession offered by Indian airlines to defence personnel proceeding on leave.

No memory of how we travelled from Shillong to Guwahati airport.

Guwahati Airport.

While waiting for the flight I had to make contact with our benefactor, the Brigadier from Assam Rifles. Here the problem was that I could not recollect how that Brigadier looked :-(

I thought it may look ridiculous me asking likely looking people if he was Assam rifle brigadier. I got around this by urging Ajeet and Anuj to ask every person we felt looked like a brigadier:-).

Till the time of boarding, we had not contacted our brigadier. I was worried and sourly disappointed as I was really banking on him for our accommodation and transportation. I was so sure that the Brigadier will arrange everything that I had not even contacted any of my army friends from LDMC course.

Any way boarded the aircraft and proceeded to Agartala.

.

 Agartala Airport.

During the flight, all I could think was where we were going to do for our stay.  

Anyway Collected the baggage. At the exit gate, an armed guard stopped us to check our red line permit. Having satisfied himself he allowed us to leave the airport.  

Went out of the airport. Within a short time, one army jawan approached me and asked if I was captain from the airforce on my affirmative response he told us that the brigadier had informed their unit that one airforce captain will be arriving with family and the unit was to look after their all arrangements. Accordingly, the jawan had brought transport to take us to the Officers mess.

I was extremely happy. It was a very nice and thoughtful gesture on the part of that Brigadier to remember to give necessary instructions to the units at Agartala and Aizwal. 

Will forever be grateful to him. Unfortunately do not remember his name. 

Officers Mess, 46 Assam Rifles. Agartala.

Being the guest of Brigadier we were given good accommodation and looked after very well..

It was a nice little place. 

 Despite all those years, some memories of that place are etched forever/ Occasional leafing through the album has also helped.

There was a small lake. The officer's mess was located near a small lake. There was a bamboo bridge spanning the lake. They also had boats, Ajeet Anuj and all of us had a great time boating and rowing the boats. 

There were a few jackfruit trees outside our rooms. They were fully loaded with jackfruits. The jack fruits grow right from the main trunk of the tree and look as if they have been stuck or just attached to the trunk. Considering the size of those jack fruits it was quite an unusual sight.

Mess premise also had a huge pile of fossilised full-grown trees. They had the texture and the looks of a natural tree but in reality, were as hard as stones having been subjected to tremendous pressures for thousands of years and has been fossilised. Must have been millions of years old. Their presence would have been most welcome in most of the museums of the country and the world. We picked up two or three small pieces of a portion of a branch.  We carted those around for years and years and displayed them in the drawing-room. Getting knocked around in the packing on every posting, eventually, the wood grains which could be readily recognised as wood fossils were rubbed out and their resemblance to wood fossil was lost completely. They just looked like any other ordinary stone. During a move on one of the posting, they were not packed and just left behind. 

We have no idea what eventually happened to that archaeological treasure lying around in the officers mess at Agartala.

To see zoomable photos with captions go to the link @
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6q57fuQfv39itZRz6

Governer's House / Pushbanta Palace.

As per the briefing they had received our hosts had planned a sightseeing trip to, Raj Bhavan, as The residence of a state's governor is called. We were told that the governor's house and adjoining grounds are quite good and worth visiting.

Raj Bhavan was known as the Pushpabanta Palace in the pre-independence days.  

As per wiki

It was built by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Debbarman Bahadur (1909-1923). He selected a spot on a green hillock known as Kunjaban, for its scenic beauty for building a suburban palace for a retreat. The palace was constructed in 1917. It was named as Pushpabanta Palace and it covers a total area of 1.76 hectares.

The trip was an unqualified success. It was quite grand and a big sprawling place. During the visit, we were told that Rabindra Nath Tagore had stayed in this place for some time in 1923.  Visit to the surrounding grounds is a bit hazy. From the photos, we know that there was a giant stone statue of a human head and some old barrack-like structures. 

To see 4 zoomable photos with captions of Governer’s House go to the link @
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gCoFZmLf7qzut7Rz5

Tripureshwari Temple 

The next day a visit to the famous Tripureshwari Temple, also known as Tripura Sundari Temple was planned. The temple is quite famous not only in Tripura but also among devotees of Shakti. The temple is located in Udaipur about 55 odd kilometres from Agartala. 

Now I do not recollect which type of vehicle we did this trip because one of the two long-distance trips was done in one tonner.

Not much is recollected about the temple surroundings and the temple itself. What I do remember is at least a couple of gleaned sacrificial lambs being taken to the temple.

Another memory is of a pond full of fishes, this also because there is one and the only photo taken there shows Ajeet, Anuj feeding the fish.

 At that time we did not know it but the reason for its fame is that it is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. As per the legend, the little finger of the left foot of Shakti was dropped at this place. 

 For more information go to the link @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura_Sundari_Temple 

Officers Mess, 46 Assam Rifles. Agartala. 

At this time do not even remember how long we sated in Agartala. Was it 2 days,3 days or 4 days?. Could not have been less than 2 nor more than 4. But just no recollection. 

After enjoying their hospitality it was time to say goodbye to Agartala. 

 At this juncture, there is a lot of confusion. As per Priti, we went by road. Ajeet says we went by Vayudoot. I agree with Ajeet. Why I am positive of travel by Vayudoot is due to the harrowing experience at Aizwal airport which is firmly etched on my mind.

Agartala Airport.

Boarded a Yayudoot flight for Aizwal. The flight was run by a Dornier 222 aircraft. It was almost a chartered flight because there were only 6 passengers. So besides us 4, there were only 2 more fellows.

 Aizwal Airport.  

I agreed with Ajeet that we had travelled from Agartala to Aizwal by Yayudoot because I distinctly remember a very hard time given to me by the local security police at the exit of the Aizwal Airport.

After landing at Aizwal security police at the exit asked to produce the redline permit, 

I realised that it was in the suitcase which was checked in the baggage. The police checkpoint was between the arrival hall and baggage collection point which was just beyond the exit gate. I told him that the red line permit is in the suitcase which was checked in and if he will permit me to collect my suitcase I will take out the red line permit from the suitcase and show it to him.

That character refused to let me go the suitcase which was just beyond the barricade and within our view.  He was behaving in a very aggressive manner. Won't permit us to exit without a redline permit which I could not show him as it was in the suitcase and I could not go to the suitcase as it was just outside the exit barricade.

 It was a stalemate. Eventually, he escorted us, almost at gunpoint to the suitcase. I took out our redline permit showed it to him and eventually could get out of the airport.

After this harrowing experience, We were very happy to see another army jawan waiting with transport for 'an airforce captain' 

Officers Mess AR, Aizwal.

Looking at the google maps today I see that it was a long drive from Aizawl airport to Aizwal town and officers mess. Sadly I have no recollections.

For some strange reason, it seems that we did not go roaming around or sightseeing in Aizwal town. All we have, are the three photos taken in the balcony outside our room.

The only lasting memory I have of Aizwal is almost unending lines of empty water tankers going down almost 1000 feet to Chute Lui river which flowed at bottom of the valley,

 There the tankers were and filled with water. Filled tankers ccame up the valley by the same route. 

There was no piped water supply in the town of Aizwal. Water tankers were the only source of water supply to each and every household of Aizwal. To an enquiry as to why water can't be pumped up from the river and for establishing a proper piped water supply system, an officer of Assam rifle informed me that all the water tankers were owned by political leaders. They were minting money. It was they who did not want a proper water supply system.

No recollection of length of stay Aizwal. 

Left for Kumbhigram by road in a one-tonner of Assam Rifle.  

To see the zoomable photo with caption go to the link @

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yfRMzwwiwGaMnomYA  

Officers Mess Kumbhigram.

One ton-journey details are long forgotten. I vaguely remember that Ajeet did suffer from road sickness. 

Looking at the photos of Kumbhigram it seems we must have reached there either on a Monday or a day after the holidays. 

This I can say because when we went around the mess, there were telltale signs as if a big party was held in the mess just a day earlier. There were stalls, lean-to in the shape of bamboo huts which were used as a bar, as a Dhaba for food items etc. 

One day went to see Coomber Tea estate. 

Do not recollect many more details. 

Maybe after a 2-3 days stay at Kumbhigram Returned to Shillong by regular bus service.

For photos go to link

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bH8pXmT4hKfzsp7u9

 PQ 55/4. 

 Priti is very firm in her recollections. She says from Kumbhigram we returned to Shillong by regular bus service.

                                                                    END OF TRIP.