OFF-BEAT PLACES IN INDIA –PATSANGA IN SIKKIM

 

Sikkim has always been a favourite destination for mountain lovers. It always seems that Sikkim is created by the Almighty with much care and affection. Every nook and corner of Sikkim has eternal beauty with mesmerizing sceneries.

My posting in Sikkim had been a boon as I could enjoy the hidden treasures of the state along with conventional tourist destinations. It had been my past time to search for the unexplored locations of the state and imagine me as modern Vasco Da Gama, who could reach the place where nobody had been.

Generally, the tourists or travelers were confined to North Sikkim for Yumthang and Gurudongmar, South Sikkim for Namchi and Rabangla, West Sikkim for Pelling and Kecheoperi and East Sikkim for Gangtok, Tsongo, Nathula, and Silk Route. But Sikkim is far more beautiful and virgin where general tourists did not have any reach. There were locations where only one shared vehicle ply in a day and there was little scope for converting to a day trip, despite the distance being much less.

I was lucky enough to visit a place called Patsanga or Patsinga (as locally pronounced) which is within 50 km from Gangtok but totally secluded from the mainstream destination. Nature had been bountiful with undulating terrain, rippling stream, the forest along with the mountain ranges, chirping of known and unknown birds, flowering bushes with butterflies and bees moving around. The population was so less that, one had to frantically search with binoculars to trace a human being.     

Incidentally, I visited the place for an official duty and was forced to spend a night in that place due to some mechanical problems of my vehicle. Initially, I was a little bit upset as my return schedule got disturbed and the next day was my weekly off. But the second day became a red-letter day for me as a true explorer to have discovered a new place which was not even mentioned in the tourist map of Sikkim.

 I had to spend the night in a so-called homestay of one of our channel partners who hailed from that village. Being tired on the previous night and in the absence of a mobile tower and proper electricity, I was forced to put myself in the bed at a time that was much earlier than my usual schedule. The active hours of people of mountains were generally from sunrise to sunset. But with the advent of electricity, there had been a lot of changes in their life schedule. But Patsanga was more or less an exception. It was such a remote village in terms of modernization that still the old lifestyle continued. Before I slept, I looked at the sky above me and found millions of stars glittering thus creating a heavenly atmosphere. At the same time, the fireflies in the bushes and trees around the house had also become the companions of the twinkling stars, creating an orchestra of lights.

Because of going to sleep ahead of my usual schedule, I woke up early in the morning with the sound of chirping of birds and a cup of hot tea served by the hostess. Being fresh, I wanted to have a stroll around the village in which my channel partner agreed and became my local guide. When we came out of the house, dense fog persisted, though the sun was much above and a gloomy situation prevailed. As we walked down the road, my guide showed me the veterinary hospital, primary health center, and a local primary school. But my objective was to see the rivulet, the sound of which could be heard throughout my stay. Within a few minutes, we reached the rivulet dancing down the mountain, banging on the rocks, creating bubbles. The name of the rivulet as heard was Tak-Chen-Chu. In Nepali Chu means river. But it was more of a spring than a river. The place was totally calm and quiet. Only the rippling sound of the river and chirping of birds could be heard. As we proceeded through the forest area, we reached a plain land of few acres which was earlier a football ground but then turned to be a grazing ground for cattle and small ruminants. By the time, we reached the elevation, we found that mist was fading away and we had a partial view of Mt Kunchendzonga and Rumtek Monastery at a distance.

My guide informed me that there was a waterfall at one and a half hour walking distance along the forest, Sumnihawari by name. Though the waterfall did not have any exclusive feature other than gushing water from a height of more than 200 feet, but nature was always beautiful. But, it was more of a trek through the lap of nature than walking through the forest.

We gradually came down from the hilltop and reached the main thoroughfare of the village. The main thoroughfare or motorable road crossed a bridge and led to another village called Bhusuk. As we walked down through the main road, a group of young girls beautifully dressed in colorful clothing and jewelry crossed us. I wanted to have a photograph of the girls, in their traditional dresses, to keep it as my memory. The girls immediately agreed for a click when I approached them. We came to know that they were on way to a marriage function where they would participate in folk dance.

As we reached the house of my channel partner, we found that the driver had repaired the vehicle and he was insisting to return to Gangtok. However, our host and hostess pressed us to have early lunch dropping the breakfast and then leave. I could not deny their invitation and had a taste of local cuisine including rice, lentil, Rai Shag (leafy vegetables), egg curry, and chutney prepared out of “Dalle Khursani” (a local variety of chili). Though it was a simple lunch, the touch of love and affection, made the cuisine tastier. After lunch, we started our journey to Gangtok.

The majority of the tourists, who love mountains and nature, have visited Sikkim. But I would like to request all to spend a day in Patsanga. It would not only be a pleasant journey but the village would be a showcase of a mixture of nature with the traditional Sikkimese lifestyle.

The drive from Gangtok to Patsanga is via Ranipool and Assam Lingzey for one and a half-hour or more depending upon the traffic on the highway till Ranipool. The road is more or less good barring a few kilometers at the end. The place can be visited on a day trip. It is a paradise for bird and butterfly watchers. One has to stay to visit the top and waterfall and to enjoy the nature round the clock. There are a few homestays with basic amenities but one should not expect high-end ambiance. There are a few tea and snack shops with basic infrastructure. One may not depend upon a public vehicle for return on the same day to enjoy the entire place.  

So, next time when you visit Sikkim, keep Patsanga in your bucket list to bring yourself in the midst of nature and its beauty.