A journey.. Kalimpong

Kalimpong as seen from Sindebong

In the previous blog I just gave you a hint about this amazing place of Kalimpong and I have had many complaining that it was too short and ended abruptly. Well the intention was to create more curiosity about this awesome travel destination that is one of its kind. Thanks to all who follow Escape Enchanted.

Teesta Bazaar

How to reach Kalimpong? The only way one can reach Kalimpong is by road as the closest airport is approximately 78 km away at Bagdogra and the railway station is New Jalpiguri approximately 71 km away. From both the airport and the railway station one would have to travel either by hired cab or shared jeep (suv) or bus, shared jeeps or bus is available from Siliguri (approx. 66 km). Another option or rather for the people who do come for the regular visit and happen to hit Darjeeling first it is again a road trip of approx. 49 km.

Kalimpong motorstand

The Journey! The journey to Kalimpong is a fascinating one no matter where you travelling from be it the airport or the railway station, as all travel is over NH31 thru Sevoke, Kalijhora and Teesta Bazar. If one is coming from Darjeeling it is thru Ghoom, Jorebungalow, Tukdah, Peshok and Teesta Bazar. Both are scenic and a treat in itself unless you travelling with many of the wannabes Schumacher. Here I would want to recommend to travel by bus not only for speed reason but you would be on a higher platform to enjoy the beauty of the journey more.

Once in Kalimpong the best thing to do is to just relax and enjoy the different cuisines that’s available be it from a street side vendor or the different restaurants, all of them are safe. Another most important thing to do is just galavant around aimlessly as in a day or two you would certainly be enjoying all of it immensely.

Kalimpong with her crowning glory

To know more, write to us at escapeenchanted@gmail.com

PC Birat Rai

Kalimpong a destination of further destinations

A view of Kalimpong

Though this journey should have come in earlier on Escape Enchanted, as this is a gateway to many getaways but then late better than never. Kalimpong a sub-division of Darjeeling District in West Bengal is a perfect travel destination in its own right and yes it is indeed a junction to some really cool getaways like Resi Khola, Lava & Lolegaon, Jelepa , Nathula Pass, Sillery Goan and many more.

Kalimpong at a height of 1250 metres plus overlooking the roaring Teesta on one side and the majestic Kangchenjunga and the Himalayan Range towering on the other. This town known mostly for its educational institutes like St. Augustine’s School, Dr. Graham’s Home, Rockvale Academy are just a few to name. Kalimpong for its altitude and location offers one of the best vacation destination for its perfect weather, which is never too hot nor is it chilling cold be it summer or winter. The weather at its coldest days does not go below 7 degrees centigrade and during the hottest summers it’s usually at 25 degrees centigrade at its peak, however the temperatures have risen as high as 35 degrees centigrade or above for a day or two (we are in the times of global warming) in a one off or two cases.

Well well well.. Welcome to the Journey!

To know more, write to us at escapeenchanted@gmail.com
PC Birat Rai

Kasol! Escape to Parvati Valley

Parvati River at Kasol

Summer time and it’s the hills we all want to make a trip to, for our vacation or just a getaway. At Escape Enchanted that’s what we do- get you locations for trips, cheap vacations or getaway destinations and enjoy nature, peace and fresh clean air. Just to get you ready for the destination be ready for a bumpy ride for sure and keep an open mind.

Old Kasol

Welcome to Kasol also known as mini Israel but then I have found it does have a touch of Russia as well as Italy and at a larger sense it is Himachal at the end of the day- What say bhaiji? Kasol I would rather say is a destination that is towards the beginning of the Parvati Valley from Bhuntar side and a perfect getaway for cheap vacations.

As I mentioned earlier that be ready for bumpy ride as the roads up to Bilaspur is bad due the heavy traffic of heavy vihicles the cement factory attracts and also after Bhuntar the roads are bad but then Kasol is worth the ride as it is just not a getaway but is the gateway to many getaways to name a few Tosh, Chalal, Rasol and Manikaran. Guess reason enough why Kasol is also known as backpackers’ paradise as well. I have also mentioned to keep an open mind for a very simple reason, as this is one place where you would find people smoking pot practically everywhere.

Rasta Colours of Kasol

Kasol is merely a small town by the bank of river Parvati on one side and the majestic hills and a snow capped mountain on the other side. If one takes a leisurely stroll on the main road one should be able to walk to and fro from one end to the other in about an hour or so. Yes the stroll is recommended to enjoy the view of the bakeries, bars, café’, curio shops and the one stop shops that can get you all your smoking gear and most importantly to enjoy the vibrant colours of this laid back town.

What you can do at Kasol? Many by now has figured out what best one can do! Well you can for sure enjoy natural beauty of both the river and the majestic hills around breathing clean air. Go for long walk and contemplate about anything at all. Best thing that you can do is eat here cause they not only come cheap but you get a huge variety of food, I would recommend to try Israeli or continental as for Indian and so called Chinese that we get in India you would get anywhere. My recommendation for grilled trout is siddharth’s café rest you would kinda get same standard, price might be different but not all that huge.

Snow Capped View from Kasol

How to reach Kasol? Kasol you reach by road only! Flights are few and far in between. Just for information sake closest airport is Bhuntar which is around 32 kms. Nearest railway station is Pathankot and that is around 275 kms. Other options are Chandigarh which is around 277 kms and Delhi that is around 535 kms. I have always driven to Kasol as I have travelled with my daughter when she was 5 months old and 22 months, as a matter of fact she started walking without any support in Kasol itself (actually it was running first till she fell and realised it’s better to go slow and took to walking). From Pathankot, Chandigargh and Delhi you can always book a cab and enjoy the drive or even try out the blah blah car option. Best option would always be to hop on to HRTC busses till Bhuntar and then to take a taxi from there on, no bus option for the Phathakot route. Here are prevailing bus options with timings and fare:

From	Bus type	Timings	Fare
Chandigarh	HRTC Ordinary	6:40 pm	363
Chandigarh	A/C	8:30 am & 8:40, 10: 00 pm	499
Chandigarh	Private Busses	10 pm to midnight	499 – 950
Delhi ISBT	HRTC Ordinary	6:40 am to 5:40 pm	527 – 542
Delhi ISBT	HRTC Semi-Delux	6:40 pm	598
Delhi ISBT	HRTC A/C Volvo	7:30 to 9:50 pm	900 – 1139
Delhi	Private Busses	4:30 to 7:00 pm	699 - 1299

Growing Wildly at Kasol

For more details write to us at: escapeenchanted@gmail.com

Summer Getaway- Reshi Khola, Rishi Khola

Once again Escape Enchanted brings you another travel destination not frequented regularly and off-course a perfect getaway and a cheap vacation to beat the heat. 

Before anything else must prepare you for the travel destination and that is no mobile network, limited electricity (sometimes non), no hustle bustle of city or town life, no shopping malls or market place. In abundance you would certainly get peace, nature, fresh unpolluted air, sweet natural mineral water and above all one location with both river and the hills.

Reshi Khola also known as Rishi Khola (if you doing a Google search) located in the sub-division of Kalimpong and the river itself is the border of Sikkim and West Bengal. Tranquil location where you only hear the sound of the river and the breeze. Perfect get away for nature watching with near by hills to explore and the river itself.

What you can do at Reshi Khola? Answer would be nothing (as I did most of the time). Well you can go for light trek around the near by hills or walk down the river bank. Laze around take a dip in the cool water of Reshi or for all you know you can try your hand at fishing. If you don't get lucky with fishing the local guys would be more than happy to share their catch (done with the help of a small genset- eco-friendly). Above all you can relax here and for me that is perfect vacation.

How do you get to Reshi Khola? Closest Railway station is New Jalpaiguri, Airport is Bagdogra and closest town is Kalimpong. Most convinient way to travel is to get to Kalimpong and take a shared jeep to Pedong and then hire a cab to Reshi Khola. Reshi Khola is at a distance of 104 km from Siliguri, 35 km from Kalimpong, 21 km from Algaragh and 14 km from Pedong.

 To know more, write to us at escapeenchanted@gmail.com

What Not to Do While Traveling in India

Friends, Bohemians, journeymen…lend me your eyes; I come to talk about the DO NOTs while traveling in India, not to list the Dos.

In simpler words for those uninitiated in the parlance of lunacy, let’s talk about what not to do while you are traveling in a place like India (by the way…what in the world do we mean by “a place like India”? I have no clue. Do you?).

If you look up any search engine, you’d find plenty of advice related to the same topic as we intend to lecture upon today. Those are like what our angelic mommies would tell us while sending us to the warfront…Don’t forget your passport…Don’t Skip Health Insurance…Don’t Attract Attention to Yourself…Don’t forget to book your Vaccinations….Don’t forget to pack a map, satellite navigation…and other such foolery that would probably be of as much help as a cracker is at the war zone. I say this because I know that if you are visiting this page, it surely means you are one of those who consider travel to be a lust that would lose its charm and appeal if any rhyme or reason is bequeathed to it. Free as a bird and open as the sky above, you’d like to travel and unravel the mystery of this world and the secret of your own self. Therefore, you’d definitely not forget what you absolutely need to quench your travel thirst. The rest can be taken care of.

I think this is enough of convoluted digressions for the day now. Let’s get to the point. What should you NOT DO while traveling in India? Let’s check out a few tips.

• Do NOT go by what your Lonely Planets and other travel pages might suggest…you’d miss out on the real stuff that India is made up of. Use those as the means, and not the end. Simply put, travel to the famous travel destinations but interact with the locals to find what lies beneath and around. Trust me on this…if you want to see the Taj…find out a bit more about the place and you’d come back as a more enriched person.
• Do NOT trust the touts and the sick and the poor…India is more honest, healthier, and richer than that. You don’t need to shell out money for things you do not need. There are international crime rackets working behind the palpable face of poverty and theft that somehow characterizes India till date. Ignore them and contribute to the cause of eradicating both poverty and sluggishness.  
• Do NOT miss out on staying with the locals, wherever you go, because that is the best way to experience India. You might want to check out travel ideas such as eco-tourism, community tourism, tea tourism, and so on to stay close to nature, explore India, and know us…Indians.
• Do NOT switch on your mobile phones, iPads, or other gadgets unless in case of emergency. Being unwired should be a pervading motivation while traveling in India.
• Do NOT stay away from the herbal stuff that the Sadhu might offer…you might just get a chance to experience the mystery of all creation!

There are numerous such other tip that we can share with you. Maybe some other day… 

Weekend Getaway: Bunkulung

Life at Bunkulung

If most of your answers to the following questions are “Yes,” then it’s time you visit Bunkulung:

• Are you looking for a weekend getaway?
• Are you looking for a cheap vacation?
• Do you enjoy nature?
• Would you rather prefer to listen to the sounds of the wind and the leaves rather than your mobile ringtone or TV?
• Do you want the pace of your life to slow down for some time so you can breathe the fresh air?
• Are you looking forward to visiting a place not crowded by noisy tourists?

If you are looking for a quick weekend getaway and a cheap travel destination, then Bunkulung could be a great choice. From Kolkata, you can leave on Friday, spend a couple of days at Bunkulung, and be back well in time to join office and face the Monday morning blues. 

Continue reading this article to know more about Bunkulung…an amazing weekend getaway at a cheap and affordable price.

Why visit Bunkulung?

Bunkulung View

To begin with, Bunkulung is a place that was not accessible till about a decade back and it is still a common thing amongst the locals of Mirik Block to tease someone backdated by calling the person “from Bunkulung”! 

Bunkulung is located near Singbulli. Both these places are still virgin and not yet messed up by throngs of tourists. Bunkulung is a small hamlet on a valley with the Balasun River, with majestic hills rising all around, nice terrace paddy fields on the slopes, and a perpetual sound of the flowing river and the music of the birds from the nearby forest. Along with nature, you would see how families have nourished their passion for flowers in cultivating flower gardens. They have kitchen gardens and eat out of their own harvest.

The most important thing that you would be able to do at Bunkulung is enjoy its silence and the sounds of nature. You can roam the forests and explore the quiet mountain trails to spot some deer, boars, langur, monkeys, birds, and, if you are lucky, a leopard as well as tigers! Another activity in the day is fishing in the traditional way or with the help of generator. Spend some lazy hours sipping beer or local liquor, bathing in the soft sun, and looking for a good catch from the river. If you still do not manage to catch a fish, do not worry…you can still take a dip in the river and come out fresh as a baby. In the evening, you can go shrimp hunting or just sit by the river and enjoy the local liquor or music.

If you want to enjoy a few days of calm amidst nature, enjoy fresh organic food, and realize how beautiful this world and its people are, then you must visit Bunkulung. In addition, we must mention that it is a paradise for people looking for cheap vacations and quick weekend getaways.

Bunkulung Homestay

 Where would you stay?

There is a Government Guest house available at Bunkulung. However, we would recommend homestay with the locals to enjoy and experience the local flavor. 

Homestay with meals would cost around Rs. 1000/- per person per night.

The best time to visit Bunkulung is either spring or autumn.

Where is Bunkulung located?

Address: P.O. Lower Soureni B.O -734214, P.S.Mirik, Dist.: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.  

Location: 48 kms from Siliguri, on NH 35, near Mirik, Dist.: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.

Nearest Airport Bagdogra (53 kms.)

Nearest railway station: New Jalpaiguri

To know more, write to us at escapeenchanted@gmail.com. 

Weekend Getaway: Tea Tourism at Singbulli Tea Estate

Singbulli Tea Tourism

Tea tourism? Singbulli Tea Estate? Both ideas are new to you? Great! That is what we, at Escape-Enchanted, strive to bring to you…new and cheap travel ideas. Being true to our commitment, this post brings a fresh weekend getaway idea that would make you, your family and friends, as well as your wallet pretty happy. Let’s check out the details!

What is tea tourism?

Tea tourism is a fairly new concept that allows you to experience a few days of absolute calm and peace at a sprawling tea garden, reliving the glorious moments of a tea planters life.  Up on the slopes of misty hills, you wake up to never-ending greenery and the refreshing smell of fresh tea leaves. Lazily, you climb out of the bed and walk up to the window to see the Himalayan range at a distance and a flood of colorful flowers at your doorstep.

Singbulli Tea Estate Visit

Break of dawn and a cup of priceless Darjeeling tea harvested from the gardens…you would sip what the royals in Birmingham Palace might be sipping. A light breakfast and then off to the garden for a tour. Take a stroll through the garden, talk to the garden workers and see how they deftly pluck the two leaves with a bud, and learn about their lives. You are also invited to take a look and learn about the tea processing in the factories where some of the best tea in the world are withered, rolled, dried, sorted, and packaged. If you want, someone from the factory might take you on a guided tour and explain each step of processing in detail. So next time you sip Darjeeling tea, you’d know exactly how it was made.

You can then rent a car or just walk around to see the local places of interests and lose yourself amidst virgin nature. Feel the soft cloud passing by your feet, smell the moss and the leaves, touch the plants and the flowers, and soothe your tired eyes with the balm of Mother Nature. Later you take a walk through the villages and nature trails, and get deeper insight into the lives of the people living in the mountains. In the evening, enjoy local dance and music specially performed for you as you drink a glass of local wine.  

Doesn't this sound like a perfect weekend getaway idea to rejuvenate and re-energize yourself? And this, my friend, is tea tourism.

Why should you visit Singbulli Tea Estate?

Nature Walk at Singbulli

Till date, tea tourism is a costly affair as people mostly prefer to stay in luxury bungalows built in the colonial times, typically the residence of British tea planters. The bungalows, like the general culture of the tea gardens, retain the antique aura of the colonial days. These, of course, come at a considerable price. However, at Singbulli, you can enjoy your cheap weekend getaway with the experience being the same.




What would you do? In Singbulli, you can:

• Relax amidst nature
• Roam the tea gardens
• Get some amazing shots of natural beauty
• Explore the tea factory
• Interact with the planters
• Know about the pleasures and pains of tea garden lives
• Enjoy the local liquor, culture, music, and food
• Go for walks along the mountain tracks
• Chill out and rejuvenate yourself
• Visit the nearby places of interest

Where would you stay? You can chose to stay with the villagers who offer home stays in their village homes along with meals. If you are looking for a budget option, this is a great way to go for it. Decent accommodation, fresh home-made meals, and of course…Darjeeling tea…would keep you healthy and happy. However, it is important to remember that staying in plantation estates is not like staying in a five star luxury hotel. You cannot compare the amenities one to one. Tea tours are meant to bring you closer to nature and the tea garden life while offering you a home stay. Home stay along with meals (breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner) might come for about Rs. 1000/- per person per day. Compared to other available options in tea tourism, isn’t this a bounty?

Stay at Singbulli

What are the nearby places of interest? While visiting Singbulli, you can also explore Mirik valley, Bunkulung, and Anjana Devi Shrine. You can visit Ambutia…which experienced one of the largest landslides in Asia. 

What do you need to carry? If you are visiting Singbulli in the winter season, then carry ample woolens to keep you warm in the Himalayan chills. Summers are pleasant. One thing that you must carry is your camera…it is a photographers’ paradise! 

Mirik and Bunkulung

Where is Singbulli located? 

Address: P.O. Phuguri -734218, P.S.Mirik, Dist.: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.  

Location: 45 kms from Siliguri, on NH 35, near Mirik, Dist.: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.

Nearest Airport Bagdogra (50 kms.)

Nearest railway station: New Jalpaiguri

Who would you contact? One of the greatest reasons for you to visit Singbulli is that it is still a virgin spot, unnoticed by the roving eyes of the professional tourism mongers. Therefore, if you are planning to visit Singbulli Tea Estate, then write to us at escapeenchanted@gmail.com. We will provide you the details you need and direct you to the contact persons at the site.