Wow Man!! what landscape!! was the first thought which came to my mind after seeing the first pic of your latest post. You keep travelling to more scenic places by the day. Kudos man

ah! one great tourer meets another. So you met Simon Gandolfi. His blog mentioned that he was near Siliguri area during those days

Pankaj, great going. I won't say I am enjoying your log but but there's a different feeling to it and I am yet to come across the word for that. Well, it is inspiring and there's a feel good factor to it.

Yes its chilling cold here...

well i always thought i belong here in the villages and forests rather than the concrete jungle I would always seek more and more such places Thanks


You better tell me what kind of feeling it is

Sunday, April 18, 2010





SILLIGURI to CHILAPATA




Today was not a big day for riding as I had to cover only 180kms. Waking up at 8.30 I started packing my bags and luggage. I was heading to some parts of North East India. Apparently the rains have already set in there. The fear of my equipment getting damaged due to water seepage, aroused the need of some additional protection for the luggage for precautionary reasons over and above the rain covers provided by the luggage manufacturers - Get off your ass. As I did not have plastic bags with me. So now, the task at hand was to look for plastic bags big enough to cover the luggage on a Sunday morning. I set off to the market looking for the plastic bags and found a ready made garment store that was open that early. I enquired from the store owner about where I could buy plastic bags. He very happily guided me to his garage and got me a couple of big plastic bags from there. I was sorted. Its yet another example of the Universe provides us what we need at the right time!




I came back to the hotel and packed my bags and was ready to leave by 12.30.


On the way riding was good as I was going on my favourite route via Sevak bridge, through the forest, and tea gardens on a warm sunny day. It was a pleasure to ride on such a beautiful day, I went easy. I was enjoying the ride on the beautiful roads, with very less traffic being a Sunday. On the Gurudwara junction I stopped by the Airforce base for a refreshing cup of hot tea.






I knew, the next 30 kilometres was going to be a fantastic ride through lush green forests with beautiful trees on both sides of the road amidst nature at its feral. I rode at a slow speed of 30km enjoying the beauty of this amazing place. I covered the distance and arrived in Chilapata by 4.00 in the evening.




Baraiks offered a place of stay to Shivaji who was also selling chanas in Mathura Tea estate for some reason he spent the night in a tent. Unfortunately, misfortune struck and Shivaji was kicked by an elephant that night. The elephant also killed another Nepali worker who was lovingly called Teen number. Somehow, the following morning people found Shivaji lying injured badly and admitted him to the hospital with multiple fractures and broken ribs. He was hospitalized for over two months but could not recover completely.






The kind contractors pooled in money and helped Shivaji open a tea and snack shop so he could be independent and make his living to support his family. He was a hardworking man and soon became popular. His pedas are very famous in Chilapata. His days of misery ended. Soon he became richer and bought land back in Bihar and also in Chilapata. Everything was going good for him.






As years passed Bua da grew up and worked in the wood logging industry. In this day and age where conservation in the global mantra some forest officers managed to convince him to help in conservation work of the forests. He was convinced and dedicated his services in conserving natural resources of Chilapata and surrounding areas. He stopped people from cutting trees and helped catching contractors of wild animal trade. He became a famous man.






Kalyan da, a forest officer asked Bua da to start a campsite. Whatever money bua da had he invested it all in building two bungalows hoping to get good returns from it. But unfortunately it did not do too well. Bua da was disheartened and sad. After about one years time, Kalyan da reffered Bua da to Raj from Help Tourism, describing all the good work Bua da had done to help conservation in the forest area.






Raj and Bua da together worked on the campsite. Help Tourism made its selfless contribution in helping develop the campsite. Within no time the place started doing well and tables turned for Bua da. He now had a flourishing business that did very well.

Intriguing story it is. yes indeed, life has its mysterious ways. Fortunes turn around in the blink of an eye. All the good luck for more such enriching experiences.

Interesting story

Very Intriguing story. The tables have surely turned!! How did the rich baraiks come to such a poor financial condition? Did u come to know anything about that?

[QUOTE=DEvIl$ LAir;411920]Very Intriguing story. The tables have surely turned!! How did the rich baraiks come to such a poor financial condition? Did u come to know anything about that?[/QUOTE

Rock and tourer I was intrigued myself when I heard the story.

Devil apparantly the change in government policies and political situations brought about the devastating turn around in the Baraik's lives.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010





Chilapata Forest
After lunch that afternoon I did off roading into the jungle it was a bit difficult due to the rains of last night. It was a task to control the bike on slippery muck. I needed to be a bit more technical about handling the bike, somehow my guide and I managed our ways through it emerging triumphant at the end. It was an absolute pleasure riding amongst the greens of the forest, listening to the chirping birds and calls of animals. Riding amidst nature at its wild was an awesome experience in the Chilapata forest.

Having stumbled upon this log a little late, kudos to your spirit of touring...
Fantastic logs and pics Pankaj...
Such is the variety and diversity of this beautiful country, one is bound to have such interesting experiences and what better way to feel the diversity by riding on a motorcycle...
Wishing you a safe ride...

Amazing forest & the life what this villager live.. Good going Pankaj..!!

Rhododendron Festival from 25th April to 14th May 2010.








Gurudongmar Lake, North Sikkim. 17150 feet asl

voww. been waiting for the update from a realllly long time Pankaj.. the pic looks tempting man..

great going pankaj---sikkim as always is mesmerizing all during the year to say the least

Great Going nice Clicks