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Although I am working with VDX.TV, I do a lot of pet projects in my spare time. It can include anything. In these works, I gain a lot of experience. Links to such recent experiences are given below.

Sikkim Trip

30-May-2026 – 2-June-2026

Sikkim sits just north of West Bengal, tucked into the Eastern Himalayas. It is a small state, but the landscape changes quickly here: crowded hill towns, quiet monasteries, sharp mountain roads, waterfalls, and sudden open views of the valley. Our base for the trip was Gangtok, the state capital, a hillside city that works both as a destination and as a starting point for many East Sikkim routes.

This was a spontaneous trip. We could not get train tickets in time, but that is not a serious problem from Kolkata, because there are plenty of overnight buses to Siliguri. My wife and I picked one of them and started our journey north.

Gangtok: view from Gonjang Monastery

Day 1: Siliguri to Gangtok

The bus journey was smooth, and we reached Siliguri on time. From there, we took a public bus to Gangtok. That ride was also calm, with the road slowly leaving the plains and climbing into the hills. Gangtok itself is built along the slopes, so even ordinary roads and hotel balconies can suddenly open into wide valley views. We reached our pre-booked hotel around 1 PM.

After freshening up, we stepped out for local sightseeing.

We started with a few waterfalls around Gangtok. Bakthang Waterfall was a pleasant first stop, and Lhasa Falls had its own charm. After the long bus journey, the sound of water and the cool hill air felt like a proper beginning to the trip.

Bakthang Waterfall Lhasa Waterfall

We also visited Gonjang Monastery. It was not as grand as Rumtek Monastery, but it had a quieter appeal, and the view of the valley from there was excellent.

After that, we went to two viewpoints: Tashi View Point and Ganesh Tok. Both were worth the stop, especially for the open views around Gangtok and the layered hills beyond the city.

View from Tashi View Point View from Ganesh Tok View from Ganesh Tok

Our final stop was the Flower Exhibition Centre near Ridge Park. I expected a richer orchid collection, but it had only a few varieties when we visited. For the ticket price, it did not feel worth it.

Wax statue at the Flower Exhibition Centre - Ridge Park

The driver dropped us at MG Marg in the evening. It is the main pedestrian street in central Gangtok, lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, benches, and open walking space. Vehicles are not allowed on the main stretch, so it feels calmer than the surrounding hill roads while still carrying the city’s evening energy. After a day of roads, waterfalls, and viewpoints, it was nice to slow down, walk around the busy street, and end the day with dinner there.

Day 2: Rumtek and Banjhakri Falls

On the second day, we visited Rumtek Monastery, followed by Banjhakri Falls. Rumtek Monastery, also known as the Dharma Chakra Centre, is one of the most important monasteries near Gangtok. It is associated with the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and is often described as a major monastic seat in Sikkim. Rumtek was easily one of the highlights of the trip. The monastery complex felt calm, spacious, and far more impressive than the smaller stops from the previous day. It is the kind of place where the visit feels less rushed, even when the schedule is short.

Banjhakri Falls was a very different kind of stop. It is part waterfall and part landscaped energy park, with sculptures and themes inspired by Ban Jhakri, the traditional shamanic figure from local folklore. The place is more arranged for tourists than Rumtek, but the waterfall and the surrounding greenery still make it worth visiting.

Rumtek Monastery Banjhakri Falls

Day 3: Tsomgo Lake and New Baba Mandir

On the third day, we went towards Tsomgo Lake. It is a high-altitude glacial lake on the Gangtok-Nathu La route, usually described as being around 40 km from Gangtok. The distance does not sound like much, but the mountain road makes the journey feel longer. The best part of the day was the road itself. Every few turns, the landscape opened up in a new way, and this became the day for photographs.

Somewhere on the way towards Tsomgo Lake Somewhere on the way towards Tsomgo Lake Somewhere on the way towards Tsomgo Lake

Finally, we reached Tsomgo Lake, also known as Changu Lake. The lake sits at more than 3,700 metres above sea level, and the altitude is easy to feel in the air. The water, the surrounding slopes, and the high-altitude cold gave the place a very different mood from Gangtok. It felt quieter, colder, and more remote.

The Tsomgo Lake The Tsomgo Lake The Tsomgo Lake The Tsomgo Lake The Tsomgo Lake

After Tsomgo Lake, we continued towards New Baba Mandir. The shrine is dedicated to Baba Harbhajan Singh, an Indian Army soldier whose story is closely associated with the Nathu La region. There are two Baba Mandir sites in Sikkim; we visited only the newer one, which is the more common tourist stop on this route. The road gave us even more dramatic views along the way, with clouds moving quickly across the mountains.

Somewhere on the way towards Baba Mandir Somewhere on the way towards Baba Mandir Somewhere on the way towards Baba Mandir Somewhere on the way towards Baba Mandir

While we were at New Baba Mandir, it started raining. So we began our return to Gangtok. The weather closed in, the light softened, and that became a fitting end to our short Sikkim tour.