Announcement

**The Monk** · 02-22-2017, 02:12 PM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Travelogue Approved

Wow. What a start to the travelogue

**sajalsheth** · 02-22-2017, 03:03 PM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

how is the Kolkota - Farraka - Siliguri Route now ?

nice start @jfazer ji

**jfazer** · 02-22-2017, 03:24 PM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Originally posted by sajalsheth View Post

[ATTACH=CONFIG]226419[/ATTACH]

how is the Kolkota - Farraka - Siliguri Route now ?

nice start @jfazer ji

Thanks!

Kolkata - Farraka - Siliguri via NH34 is better than before, 4 lanes are available more;
Raiganj - Dalkhola still is single lane, plagued with huge potholes here and there; other than this stretch, road is fine.

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Originally posted by The Monk View Post

Travelogue Approved

Wow. What a start to the travelogue

Thank you!

**jfazer** · 03-02-2017, 09:02 PM

Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

I have been lazy

to complete the travel-log,
But, here I am to finish it up...

~ : Inspiration : ~

Since I smoke (cigarettes

, not illicit stuffs) too much, I wanted to find out how my smoking-lungs would react up there in Gurudongmar at 17,100 feet! Of course, at that height I won't be smoking, will just be breathing...

You may think I am a bit strange, but this is one of the reasons I went up there to find out if my smoking lungs are fit for high altitude rides!

Besides, mountains are my all-time favorite whenever I think of a trip,
nothing else hooks me up like mountains...

~ Day #1 [November 5, 2016] ~
Destination: Siliguri, West Bengal
Route: NH-34, NH-31 [Never mind what Google Maps renamed them now! it's really confusing

]
Distance: 576 Km [Kolkata - Siliguri]

start-Odo

co-rider Hassan with his Pulsar 220F on 4-lane NH-34

seeing those tea gardens, you can be assured that Siliguri is closing in

We reached Siliguri by afternoon. Stayed 1 night there, next day we will be heading towards Mangan.

~ Day #2 [November 6, 2016] ~
Destination: Mangan, Sikkim
Route: NH-10, SH-510
Distance: 138 Km [Siliguri - Mangan]

We went to Mangan straight as we had a contact there for North Sikkim permission.
No need to go to crowded Gangtok for permission.

Always happy to cruise Sevoke Road

we met this guy on Sevoke Road, he was traveling with his bi-cycle with the message to save trees

our rides!

it was Hassan's first trip to Sikkim, so whenever we stopped, he kept clicking...

Green Teesta

KTM : "Ready to Race"
me: "ready to rest"

Good Morning from Mangan!

~ Day #3 [November 7, 2016] ~
Destination: Lachen, Sikkim
Route: North Sikkim Highway, Lachen Road
Distance: 56 Km [Mangan - Lachen]

A surprise is coming our way as Raima called her friend Hassan and asked us to prepare her North Sikkim permission.
How come? Where is she?

Turns out, she left home the next night of our leaving, on November 6 night.
She rode all the way from home (Kolkata) to Gangtok in one shot, then Lachen will be her next stop where she will meet us.

Accordingly, we made permissions for 3 of us from Mangan.
Left her permission paper at hotel, from where she will pick it up on her way to Lachen.

rider wife (Raima) on her way to Gangtok

In case, you are wondering who is Raima?
Here she is on xBhp

Her trips...
2015 : http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/3...ti-_-solo.html
2017 : http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/3...te-desert.html

clicked by Raima

Shadow-click!

One may think we have reached Lachen by seeing this gateway!
We thought too, but we were wrong...

Lachen is 25 km away from this gateway which says, "Welcome to Lachen"

Hassan with his ride...
Background is majestic!

KTM: yo! rider, click me with this view!

reached Lachen

our stay at Lachen

Shadow & Light

After settling in Lachen hotel, we went for a spin...

Riders united!
Raima has joined us in Lachen

~ Day #4 [November 8, 2016] ~
Destination: Gurudongmar, Sikkim
Route: Gurudongmar Road
Distance: 66 Km [Lachen - Gurudongmar Lake]

We started late as we were not aware of the Gurudongmar visit time, time was not mentioned in permission either.
We left Lachen hotel around 8 am, reached Gurudongmar by 11:30 am.
At Army check-post, our permission papers were verified and we were told, we were 30 minutes late and cannot visit Gurudongmar.

This is when my rider wife, Raima came into our rescue.
She was standing outside as me and Hassan were with officer showing papers. Knowing what the officer told us, she rushed inside and the officer was kind of impressed seeing a lady biker riding all the way from Kolkata to Gurudongmar with her motorcycle.
Officer smiled and said, okay, just return within 1 pm and let us know that all of you 3 are fine.

No problem; we left with smile

To deal authority, having lady biker has advantage sometimes...

at 13000 feet

as it was November, it was really cold there with this snow-covered stretch

it was my first time riding on snow/ice...
and yes, I fell; who knew

Action cam on my helmet was on, and that is why I was able to capture this epic moment

Raima in front of me with her Avenger 220

This stretch of road is smooth asphalt of 18 km before you actually climb to the lake

asphalt ends, off-road begins for the final ascend...

still climbing

first glimpse of Gurudongmar

Hassan arrived

there you go KTM!
Perfect background for you!

this is it! 17,100 feet... Gurudongmar!
it was really cold up there in November, wind was very chilly!

and yes, I was breathing fine,
no problem, no AMS, no Diamox
a smoker can ride high!

We were keeping us well-hydrated by drinking sufficient water.
This is what Raima learned during her past rides in high mountains. Stay well-hydrated and keep AMS away!

After spending 20-25 minutes at the lake, me and Hassan started descending;

Raima descended earlier as she thought staying at high altitude for long was not a good idea as she has been to high mountain passes before and saw what high altitude does to some people; AMS (acute mountain sickness) comes into mind.

Anyway, we were fine and got back to our Lachen hotel safe.

Few clicks on our way back...

curious locals were happy

to see us

Raima

happy Friends

oh, this guy is jfazer

stunning view!

whis is why you should visit North Sikkim
just for the view!!!

capture on the go..

November 9, 2016 : ~ We headed for Gangtok, spent a day there for our trip celebration.

MG Marg, Gangtok

November 10, 2016 : ~ Left Gangtok, headed towards Malda.

leaving Malda

November 11, 2016 : ~ Left Malda, reached home.

end-Odo

North Sikkim trip ended but I am willing to go there again just to ride in those majestic wilderness.

~ Keep Riding, Keep Exploring ~

**akshay** · 03-03-2017, 09:59 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Well done. The snow capped mountains make for breathtaking photography.

**jfazer** · 03-03-2017, 10:03 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Originally posted by akshay View Post

Well done. The snow capped mountains make for breathtaking photography.

Thanks! Up there, many places were good enough for picture perfect photography.

**raima.samui** · 03-03-2017, 10:34 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Remember, this lady biker knows & rides better than you guys!
You two were almost turned back by that Army at the entrance of the lake

.

Smoke less, ride more!

**jfazer** · 03-03-2017, 11:21 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Originally posted by raima.samui View Post

Remember, this lady biker knows & rides better than you guys!
You two were almost turned back by that Army at the entrance of the lake

.

Smoke less, ride more!

Sure, few fearless ladies are often right, especially if a rider like you

**krishna77** · 03-03-2017, 12:43 PM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Some awesome captures!

**jfazer** · 03-05-2017, 08:31 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Gurudongmar Trip [2016]

**masterminds** · 03-05-2017, 09:55 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Nice one, so all three of you ended up riding together ha [emoji2]

**jfazer** · 03-05-2017, 11:12 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Originally posted by masterminds View Post

Nice one, so all three of you ended up riding together ha [emoji2]

Yep, eventually

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Originally posted by krishna77 View Post

Some awesome captures!

Thank you!

**rajpal** · 03-06-2017, 06:25 AM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

STUNNING pictures...

Post some more if you got some...

**jfazer** · 03-22-2017, 10:30 PM

Re: Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

Originally posted by rajpal View Post

STUNNING pictures...

Post some more if you got some...

Thanks!

Will see about more photos..

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Up in thin Air_Gurudongmar

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