Back in June 2013, during the summer semester break in our college, my friends proposed the idea of visiting the eastern range of the Himalayas in north Sikkim. A sound proposal to switch off from humanity and lose oneself in the lap of nature.
Yume Samdong, north Sikkim, popularly known as ‘Zero Point’, is located at an altitude of 15,300 feet above the sea level. Since the place is in close vicinity to the international border between India and China, a special tourist permit is required to visit Yume Samdong.
The Zero Point is located 163 kilometres away from the capital Gangtok. We hired a Bolero which drove us to Lachung on the first day from Gangtok. On the way we realised that our mobile phone networks had abandoned us, travelling through the sharp zigzag curves of the road, the journey was scary and jarring.
The eight-hour drive took us to Lachung, primarily an agricultural village that was opened for tourists in the early 90s. There is no network coverage, making it a perfect hideaway for those who seek quiet.
Simple Nepali, Indian and Tibetan food is offered at most of the guesthouses. Lopchu, a sweet made from milk and sugar is very addictive, the Tibetan momos and the steaming Wai Wai noodles are the most popular and easily available hunger solutions in the area.
The next morning, we headed for the Yumthang Valley, the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary and finally the Zero Point. These destinations are only a couple of hours away and the drive is a visual treat, the scenery alternating between monochrome and technicolour.
The sanctuary and the Yumthang Valley are a riot of colours. Rhododendrons and Himalayan wildflowers, Buddhist prayer flags, and tiny huts made of wood and tin dot the grassy river banks and slopes.
Local stalls offering Tibetan and Buddhist memorabilia, Maggi noodles, Old Monk, and winter wear for hire, slowly give way to sombre military outposts. Vast green fields with herds of Yak grazing around, a tributary of river Teesta flowing through, all watched over by giant, snow-covered mountains on either side, together present a stunning view. Yume Samdong is basically a valley with green grazing patches.
The most important essence of the place lies in the fragrance of the Azalea. Azalea is an important source of income for the locals, who collect the raw material and manufacture incense sticks. There are as many as 14 hot springs in Yume Samdong. These springs are rich in sulphur content and are believed to have medicinal and healing properties.
Located at a high altitude, Yume Samdong in Sikkim remains snow laden throughout the year. Reaching Zero Point is not an easy task, as many people experience headaches because of lack of oxygen and the roads are so steep and winding that travellers suffer nausea and giddiness. But all this is well worth the effort!
The next day, during the arduous journey back to Gangtok, a myriad thoughts related the splendid time I had here flashed across my mind making the bad roads appear less hostile. A few hours out of Lachung, mobile phones start buzzing, and the silence offered by the monochrome and technicolour landscapes is left far behind. It is time to switch on and stay connected.
Published 24 February 2015, 14:46 IST