1Booking Started As Always

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Darjeeling! I hope you are all doing well. Please do accept my best wishes and regards.

The trekking season has started. The season will last for around four months. The best months however are March, April till mid May. You could book our different services. We offer trekking especially on the Singalila Range.

Please go through our site and book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We have a special package for students. You can simply comment to this post for more info or write to us at hotstimulatincafe1@yahoo.com.

Regs

Rumba K

BOOKINGS OPEN: FOR THE LONGEST AND BEST TREKKING SEASON

Dear Friends and Patrons,

Greetings from Darjeeling! With the opening up of the Autum and Winter Trekking seasons, the booking for the same are open. So hurry in and experience one of the best trekking experiences in the world. We provide specialized trekking facitilities for Singalila Range – Sandakphu and Phalut route. All bookings will be at ‘First Come and First Serve’ basis. Book now to avoid disappointment.

For details contact us at through email, mobile or text. Our contact address is given on the right panel of this site.

Cheers

Rumba K

Director

Momos for Karuna

By Karen Coates

I subscribe to A.Word.A.Day. Do you? There must be karmic or cosmic influence in each day’s selection because yesterday’s word — at the end of a volatile week, at the start of Easter weekend — was karuna. Karuna, an ancient Pali and Sanskrit word, a hallmark of Jainism, Buddhism and Tibetan culture. (Curiously, Karuna is also the name of a breakaway Tamil Tiger commander in Sri Lanka.) Most commonly, karuna means love and compassion; its definition encompasses the concept of enlightened wisdom, the wish for human suffering to end.

It got me thinking about momos, in particular these momos, which were made in Darjeeling’s Hot Stimulating Cafe, which sits like a little hippie house carved into the hillside. Walk straight through to the deck out back, and you get a prime view of the Himalayan foothills. Or you can sit inside and watch the making of momos, a favorite snack or meal in Tibet, Nepal and northern India.

These little dough-ball dumplings are stuffed with meat, fish or simply vegetables. Here at the Hot Stimulating Cafe, chopped ginger and onion are most important to the filling; then cabbage, carrot and soybean oil.

Meat momos must, must, must have more ginger and onion than meat, I am told.

And the contents of each momo determines its shape.

Clockwise, starting from the top, we have a fish momo, a meat momo and a veg momo, each pinched into a neat little pocket to be steamed or, alternatively, fried — a supremely yummy way to eat your momos.

Of course, who wouldn’t eat her momos with a cup of masala tea? Hot Stimulating tea ranked among the best in Darjeeling masalas — each cup with “less than a pinch” of ground cardamom, cinnamon, clove and black pepper.

As for momos, there is a mystery within. You know my problem with wheat, so Jerry did most of the momo indulging in Darjeeling. But at times I couldn’t resist. We found them steaming hot, or sizzling in oil, at many little Tibetan restaurants scattered across town. Perhaps it was the vibrant dipping sauce that won me over. Perhaps it was the intense warmth on such frigid, wintery days. I don’t know. But momos certainly seem to hold a secret ingredient.

PHOTO FEATURE: Trek from Sandakphu to Phalut

Trek from Sandakphu to Phalut: This is the longest leg of the Singalila trek (21km) but also by far the most scenic and rewarding one. Photo by Christina Groth-Biswas. Click on the image to enlarge.

Darjeeling Hills – Paradise for Trekking

Darjeeling internationally acclaimed as one of the best hill resorts is also a veritable paradise for trekkers and adventure seekers. Trekking in Darjeeling is an experience which no lover of nature should miss. It takes one to places where nature is yet in her premival majesty. It brings one face to face with the sublime grandeur of the Himalayas.

The region abounds in rhododendrons,magnolias,primulas,orchids and ferns of numerous varities. About six hundred different species of birds inhabit the emerald green forests on the slopes of the mountains. The following is a brief description of some of the most popular and most rewarding treks in the region.

(a) Darjeeling-Maneybhanjyang-Tonglu-Sandakphu and return by the same route-118 km (4 days)
(b) Darjeeling-Maneybhanjyang-Tonglu-Sandakphu-Phalut and return-160 km. (6 days)

This trek is perhaps one of the best and certainly the most popular of all the treks in Darjeeling for those having a limited time at their disposal. It offers the travellers an excellent view of the Kanchenjunga and the Everest group of mountain peaks in Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan.

It is advisable to start the trek early in the day and to cover ther distance from Darjeeling to Maneybhanjyang about 26 km. by jeep/buses. One can also go upto Sukhiapokhri, halfway from Darjeeling since transport to this point is easily available and from here to Maneybhanjyang either by jeep/buses or one can even trek from here to Maneybhanjyang(4 km). The drive from Darjeeling to Sukhiapokhri is about one hour and from there to Maneybhanjyang another half an hour.

Maneybhanjyang to Tonglu is a steep climb up to Meghma 7 km or 3.5 hrs. walk. There is a small tea house where tea and snacks are available at reasonable price(if necessary, accomodation is also available at Meghma Tea House). Meghma is a small hamlet with few houses & small Monastery & impressive Chorten(stupa). Meghma to Tonglu is anothere 2 kms. [Inset: Hot Stimulating Treks and Tours Rumba K. chatting with trekkers]

Tonglu or the local name Tumling is 3070 mt. high and is one of peaks of Singalila range, falls on the West of Darjeeling town. On a clear day one can get a fine view of the Nepalese valleys and of the plains of North Bengal with the snow fed Teesta on the east, the Koshi on the West and a number of smaller rivers between them. There is a Trekkers Hut at Tonglu.

The next day’s march from Tonglu to Gairibas 2621 mt. is downhill. The distance is 9 km and it is 2 hrs. walk. The route passes through the bamboo glades. Gairibas to Kalipokhri 3170 mt. is continuous climb through the rhododendron forest. Distance is 6 km and it takes 3 hrs. walk from Gairibas. Trekkers may stop here for a while for a tea break. There is a small pond at Kalipokhri which means ‘Blackpond’. The colour of the water is black and muddy and it never freezes. From Kalipokhri the road descends to Bikhaybhanjyang-valley of poison-(Aconites grow in abundance at this place). Bikhaybhanjyang to Sandakphu is a steep climb of 4 kms. and takes more than an hour to cover this trek. Accomodation is also available at Bikhaybhanjyang and Gairibas. There is a trekkers hut at Gairibas.

Sandakphu 3636 mtr. is 58 km. from Darjeeling and commands one of the most spectacular views. In the foreground is a great basin set in the midst of the hills, the slopes covered with rhododendrons and silver fir trees. In the background is continuous barrier of snowy mountains, the most prominent of which is Kanchenjunga-28156 ft. 8598 mts. towering up in gigantic height and breadth with its attendant peaks Kabru 7338 mts. 24,026 ft, Jano (Kumbhakarna) 7710 mts. 25,294 ft. and Pandim 6691 mts. 22,010 ft. clustering closely round it. Kabru is foreshortened and does not present the same graceful outline above the spectacle with its lofty peak standing up like a great icy horn. Far off to the west at a distance of 160 km. among a group of other snowy mountain rising from graceful peaks of Everest group can be seen,behind the crest of Mt. Makalu, which looks like a great armed chair of snow; and further to the west towards Nepal, there is a wonderful square mass of mountain looking like a wal of snow Chamlang 7317m-24006 ft. The contrast between Everest and Kanchenjunga is very marked. Kanchenjunga is remarkable for its imposing bulk and massive proportions while Everest soaring above a series of valleys and its ridges, is more graceful and majestic. The space between the two is occupied by snowy ranges. Three Sisters which cluster together if you look towards east beyond Kanchenjunga you will see Narsing and then the Dongkya and Chola ranges of the Tibetan frontier with Chumalhari lifting up to its heads in the rear. The whole snowy ranges of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal about 320 kms in length; is visible, but the panoroma is completely dominated by the Kanchenjunga and Everest group.

Darjeeling – Land Rover Nation

A Land Rover Series One Dash Board stripped to its basic frame. Land Rovers ply seemlessly to Sandakphu where the most modern of 4X4 fail.

Long and Short Treks at Dzongri and Goechala

We offer short and long trek at Khangchendzonga (Dzongri and Goechala Trek)

SHORT TREK AT KHANGCHENDZONGA (DZONGRI AND GOECHALA TREK)

DURATION: 5 NIGHT / 6 DAYS

DAY 1: Darjeeling to Yuksum (By Land Rover/Jeep)

DAY 2: Yuksum to Tshoka (18 Km)

DAY 3: Tshoka to Dzongri (17 km)

DAY 4: SIDE TRIP: Dzongrila and Rathong Valley (Halt at Dzongri)

DAY 5: Dzongri to Bakhim (19 km)

DAY 6: Bakhim to Yuksum and back to Darjeeling / Gangtok / Probable Destination

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LONG TREK AT KHANGCHENDZONGA (DZONGRI AND GOECHALA TREK)

DURATION:

DAY 1: Darjeeling / Bagdogra / Siliguri to Yuksum

DAY 2: Yuksum to Tshoka

DAY 3: Tshoka to Dzongri

DAY 4: SIDE TRIP: Dzongrila and Rathong Valley (Halt at Dzongri)

DAY 5: Dzongri to Thangsing

DAY 6: Thangsing to Goechala and back to Kokchering

DAY 7: Kokchering to Bakhim

DAY 8: Bakhim to Yuksum, back to Darjeeling / Gangtok

LAND ROVER SAFARI TO SINGALILA

You can also enjoy the Land Rover Safari to the Singalila Ridge. Land Rover are the world famous four wheel drive vehicles left behind by the British people after the British Raj. Still after more than 60 years these cars are running and you will be a person to travel in these vintage adventure cars. Land Rover Drive from Maney Bhanjyang to Sandakphu is for 5 hours. You have to be back on the same route because there is no jeepable route from Phalut onwards.

Trek to Sandakphu

SINGALILA TREK [SANDAKPHU, PHALUT]

It is said that trekking originated in India in Darjeeling, Darjeeling has one of the most spectacular treks to offer along with the beauty of the hills. The charms of the Himalaya along with its mysteries gradually unfold as trekkers transverse through the dense forests of rhododendron and verdant landscape, through the miles of green-carpeted meadows and sleepy hamlets lost in time. These trek is popularly known as “Singlalila Trek” and Sandakphu, Phalut Trek” and it is “will enable” trek to discover the sublime Himalayan interiors unmarred by mankind.

Singalila range is the main mountain range in Darjeeling (West Bengal, India). It runs through the border of India and Nepal and merges into the southern ridge of Mt. Kanchendzonga. Though most of the people, guide book, travel agents, say it as an easy trek as because most of the trek is done on the jeepable road. Indeed it was true till June 2000. But after 2001, onwards the Wildlife Division 1 (Department of Forest and Authority of the Singalila National Park), Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (Tourism Department) and local people had opened a new trekking route (about 80 percent on trek route) through the dense forest of Singalila National Park (SNP) to promote tourism and make this trek as an adventurous and beautiful in this range which became a boon to the nature lovers of the worlds. You will also enjoy the stunning views of the Mt. Everest (Nepal), Mt. Kanchenjunga (Sikkim, India), Mt. Lhotse (Nepal), Mt. Makalu (Nepal), Mt. Chomolari (Bhutan) and other mountains throughout the trek from these region. Most of the villages you will encounter on these trek will be Nepalese. Indeed at times you may believe that this trek would be more appropriate to say trekking in Nepal.