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Trek date during Dzongri & Goecha La Trek: 06th November 2016 (Sunday)
Trek distance: Around 7 Kms.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Highlights during the trek:
- Pretty Average Sachen camp-site.
- Famous Prek Chu River.
- Huge 4th bridge of KNP to Prek Chur River.
- Continuous steep ascent post 4th bridge till Bakhim.
- Forest Bungalow and Coffee shop at Bakhim.
- High Altitude Milk Coffee at Bakhim.
- Unexpected meet-up with Harsh Chaudhary (Bihari) & Arun Singh Rawat (Pahadi) at Bakhim.
- Tiresome hiking experience from 4th Bridge till Tsokha.
- Horses, Mules & Dzos all over the valley.
- Wide & Beautiful Tsokha camp-site.
- Trekkers Hut at Tsokha camp-site.
- Beautiful Tsokha Monastery on the banks of small lake.
- Breathtaking views of Mt. Pandim, Mt. Jopunu, Mt. Tenzing Khang, Mt. Lama & Lamuney from Tsokha camp-site.
- Scenic views of Yuksum & Hill station of Pelling from Tsokha camp-site.
- Golden Hour Beauty of Mountains from Tsokha camp-site.
- Briefing & Self-intro session at Trekkers Hut in Tsokha.
Challenges: Moderate day of trek with walk on narrow trails at Kangchenjunga National Park & Strenuous uphill hike post 4th Bridge till Tsokha.
Altitude Meter: Please find altitude details for the day below:
- Sachen camp-site comes around 2189 Mtr.
- Tsokha camp-site comes around 2900 Mtr.
- Tsokha Monastery comes around 2985 Mtr.
Day in brief:
It was 2nd day of trek and got up at 5:00 AM. Had morning formalities around 6:00 AM. Breakfast was ready at 7:30 AM. Trek crew informed us to have early breakfast so we can leave before IH group. Had breakfast and packed our rucksack.
Started around 8:30 AM from Sachen camp-site towards Tsokha after few group pics.
Initial stretch is easiest one with downhill which led us to 4th Bridge. Met few Germans, Australians on the way. I believe 4th bridge to Prek Chu is one of the highlights of this memorable journey cos of its hanging structure. Reached 4th bridge at 10:00 AM.
Took half an hour break at 4th bridge and started around 10:30 AM.
It was steep ascent all the way from this point. Took small break at 11:00 AM and started again at 11:15 AM. Took many small breaks en-route and reached Bakhim at 12:00 PM. Took one hour break.
About Bakhim: Bakhim is small pit-stop point en-route Tsokha which consists of Forest Bungalow and Coffee shop. It is also famous for it’s High Altitude Milk Coffee which cost 30 Rupees each.
Unexpected meet-up of my Facebook Inspirations
Meanwhile biggest surprise of the day is awaited for me at Bakhim. Met Harsh Chaudhary (Bihari) & Arun Singh Rawat (Pahadi) at Bakhim. Initially, i saw Arun Rawat but not sure whether he is or not cos i was not his friend in facebook. After sometime, Harsh came to me and introduced him. Wow! he didn’t posted anywhere that he will be at Sikkim during my trek dates. He told me he saw my Instagram post and thought we have chance to meet. Between these 2 Adventurous Souls cum Photographers are Amazing Himalayan freaks who inspired and motivated me to do more Himalayan Treks. I sent fb friend request to Harsh after seeing his photographs in The Himalayan Club around 11 months back. Amazing! Isn’t it? We destined to meet at Mountains 🙂 🙂 🙂
Had 2 High Altitude Milk Coffee’s at Bakhim. 30 Rupees each – Cheap! Isn’t it? Amazing taste 🙂
Started to Toskha from Bakhim around 1:00 PM after 1 hour break. Took couple of breaks all the way till Tsokha. It is continues steep ascent and reached Tsokha around 2:30 PM.
Had welcome drink and soup followed by Alu Parata which is nothing but our Day 2 lunch at Tsokha.
A visit to Tsokha Monastery
At 3:30 PM, we decided to explore beautiful Tsokha. I explored Tsokha solo-way and walked all the way to Monastery. Roamed in & around Tsokha and took some memorable pics. Reached camp-site again by 5:00 PM.
About Tsokha Monastery: Tsokha Monastery is one of the beautiful monasteries situated around Tsokha on the way to Dzongri & Goecha La.
Golden Beauties of KNP from Tsokha
Got to witness Golden Hour Beauties of mountains such as Mt. Pandim, Mt. Jopunu, Mt. Tenzing Khang, Mt. Lama & Lamuney. Clicked fabulous pics and moved to Trekkers Hut for dinner.
Golden Beauties from Tsokha – Mount Pandim
Golden Beauties from Tsokha – Mt. Jopunu, Mt. Tenzing Khang, Mt. Lama & Lamuney
Meanwhile Rhik & Benny joined us at Tsokha around 3:30 PM. I met Rhik and he had self-intro session of everyone at Trekkers Hut around 7:00 PM.
Had dinner & told Bye Bye for the day with Trek to Dzongri in store for 3rd day.
Camp-site:
Tsokha camp-site is 2nd camp-site during Dzongri & Goecha La Trek. It is one if its kind camp-site which is famous for scenic views of Yuksum & Hill station of Pelling. If one is lucky golden hour beauties of Mountains can be witnessed from this camp-site. One monastery also available in Tsokha along with few village houses & Trekkers Hut.
Temperature: Temperature is around 0 to 5 degree Celsius at night.
