Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging
572KMs Trip Meter 10232 KMs
Wanted to start early as i was really troubled by the heat in Ghy the previous day. Just wanted to climb up the hills. Was wondering if Gangtok was possible. If assam roads keep up their promise then it should be.
Started by 7 am bid byes to Pinaki and time for some spirited riding on the planes. THe roads were very nice and maintaining 90-110 was not a problem. Ofcourse had to brave a couple of bad patches but acceptable. Basically today was to be a ride through. After like 180 kms i see a sign board ahead of me Saying Guwahati 185KMs! Man i just came from there!! It seems thats by the other route north of NH31 via Rangia. There i had to take a left actually. NH31A as said in the Eicher map does not exit. So had to go to Siliguri anyway. Entering Westbengal the roads suddenly worsened, to add to that millions of trucks were waiting on either side of the border and it was a dust storm these behemoths were rising. As i continue i was surprised to see lot more people, cycles rikshaws endlessly. I mean how can the dencity of population be so different accross the border when both states are predominantly Bengali population. Any way roads improve later on and i make it to Siliguri by 4PM.
Gangtok 100 kms away and siliguri not less hot. I wanted to make it to kalimpong atleast. The roads got hilly and but they were very good. Was thinking i should get to some place before 5pm. But here the weather was good, the road was good and lot of regular traffic. So the road may not be so isolated after all i decided to push it to Gangtok. Enjoying the curves left and right. Taking quite a few pix on the way as well. Takes few kms to settle into the hill mode as i was caught watching the scenary and was like riding towards the edge. I crossed the deviation to kalimpong by 5.30 and Gangtok was like 45 kms. But with the good roads i pushed on and soon i was in Sikkim. Just into the border could see the sikkim being Vella. Pretty developed. I ride at a brisk pace and reached Gangtok by 6.30. Now the familier tension of finding a hotel with parking in a hilly city. The city was growing on and on through switch backs and did not know where to look for the hotel as in which is the city center. Finally made it to MG road and took a deviation to Tibed Road, which was a narrow hill road going up. Pretty confused about the room. Only some of them have narrow parking by the foot path. The cheaper rooms have nothing and the ones that have are expensive. Finally settled for a room of 450 Rs in Kanchen Residency. But boy do i have to climb like 4 floors. But settled in. Wanted to check out the MG road for the evening. But of catching a small nap as i was very tired. By the time i woke up it was like 8.30PM. Stuff close by 9 PM and hotel gate closes by 9PM! Man there goes my evening. Hurrry out and of all the places get a parcel of Veg pulow from a pub:D ofcourse i had peg. Then it hits me now that i am in Sikkim now what?? Its been like this at the start of each leg. yeah i have rough idea but no plan of how to go about. Frantically call sparsh who had been to sikkim and other travel forums to get some idea. Thinking that i got some crashed for the day.
Started by 7 am bid byes to Pinaki and time for some spirited riding on the planes. THe roads were very nice and maintaining 90-110 was not a problem. Ofcourse had to brave a couple of bad patches but acceptable. Basically today was to be a ride through. After like 180 kms i see a sign board ahead of me Saying Guwahati 185KMs! Man i just came from there!! It seems thats by the other route north of NH31 via Rangia. There i had to take a left actually. NH31A as said in the Eicher map does not exit. So had to go to Siliguri anyway. Entering Westbengal the roads suddenly worsened, to add to that millions of trucks were waiting on either side of the border and it was a dust storm these behemoths were rising. As i continue i was surprised to see lot more people, cycles rikshaws endlessly. I mean how can the dencity of population be so different accross the border when both states are predominantly Bengali population. Any way roads improve later on and i make it to Siliguri by 4PM.
Gangtok 100 kms away and siliguri not less hot. I wanted to make it to kalimpong atleast. The roads got hilly and but they were very good. Was thinking i should get to some place before 5pm. But here the weather was good, the road was good and lot of regular traffic. So the road may not be so isolated after all i decided to push it to Gangtok. Enjoying the curves left and right. Taking quite a few pix on the way as well. Takes few kms to settle into the hill mode as i was caught watching the scenary and was like riding towards the edge. I crossed the deviation to kalimpong by 5.30 and Gangtok was like 45 kms. But with the good roads i pushed on and soon i was in Sikkim. Just into the border could see the sikkim being Vella. Pretty developed. I ride at a brisk pace and reached Gangtok by 6.30. Now the familier tension of finding a hotel with parking in a hilly city. The city was growing on and on through switch backs and did not know where to look for the hotel as in which is the city center. Finally made it to MG road and took a deviation to Tibed Road, which was a narrow hill road going up. Pretty confused about the room. Only some of them have narrow parking by the foot path. The cheaper rooms have nothing and the ones that have are expensive. Finally settled for a room of 450 Rs in Kanchen Residency. But boy do i have to climb like 4 floors. But settled in. Wanted to check out the MG road for the evening. But of catching a small nap as i was very tired. By the time i woke up it was like 8.30PM. Stuff close by 9 PM and hotel gate closes by 9PM! Man there goes my evening. Hurrry out and of all the places get a parcel of Veg pulow from a pub:D ofcourse i had peg. Then it hits me now that i am in Sikkim now what?? Its been like this at the start of each leg. yeah i have rough idea but no plan of how to go about. Frantically call sparsh who had been to sikkim and other travel forums to get some idea. Thinking that i got some crashed for the day.
Bidding byes with pinaki meeting him after 7 years!
His Enthusiastic cousin..
Beautiful North Assam Roads...
At the breakfast...
The bridge across mighty Bhramaputra...
Some wood being transported??!!
The road goes parallel to railway track for some time...
When the roads get bettor on West bengal...its like this...
Yeppiee my bike did a 20K...
Never expected a stupa in Siliguri, but its there!!
Hills towards Sikkim... Quite a lot more hills to get into Sikkim...
Man this is the second time in the day i am getting a sign board to Guwahati... I have come from Guwahati and this point i had done 475 from Guwahati!!...
The river Teesta...
Some monkey business...
The poser...
The Three monkeys on a break!!
Beautiful curvy roads...
River Teesta again...
Some tall trees along the way...
Welcome to Sikkim...
The main arch...
No more pix as it got dark and i slept in the room!!
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