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| On the road, Bagdogra local bus. |
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| Motorcycle diaries, braving the landslides. |
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| Border outpost, Rangpo, Sikkim. |
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| The Teesta river, Enroute to Gangtok. |
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| Dust the amps. Outside Oasis Cafe, Rangpo. |
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| 50 years of Sikkim, Rangpo, Sikkim |
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| Tashi Delek restaurant, Gangtok. |
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| Loading up at Bagdodra airport. |
-Brian Mendonca
Getting up at 3 a.m. is not my idea of a holiday but we did. Our flight was at 7.10 a.m. from Dabolim airport, Goa. This was going to be a long journey. Our target? Nathu La. On the Indo-China border.
It was Indigo airways all the way. We touched down at Bagdogra airport before time at 12.45 p.m. the same day after hopping on to a connecting flight from Hyderabad at 10.10 a.m.
David our unofficial tour guide provided a sleek Innova Crysta - one of the newest models. Our driver Ganesh - he had a four-headed statue of Ganesha on the dash - was equal to the task. He took the gradients slowly, sometimes whizzing past oncoming traffic, and hardly said a word - even when we offered him our precious Osmania biscuits from Hyderabad airport.
The road trip from Bagdogra to Gangtok was very scenic. We covered the distance of 149 kms. uphill in about 4 hours. We stayed on NH10. Despite the dire warnings, none of us were sick. The 'kids' - rather, teens, now (How time flies) - dozed in the back to catch up on some much needed sleep. Queenie and my sis Vanessa discussed their Christmas sweets, while I quizzed Ganesh about the sleek dashcam which was recording every word I said.
Throughout the journey we were hugging the Teesta river. We looked at her in her many moods, sometimes placid, sometimes in a rush. Many stretches were strewn with shared of white rock - a result of the recent landslides. I was glad to see intrepid bikers making their way a la Che up the hills.
Just inside Sikkim, at Rangpo, about 3 p.m. we stopped at Oasis Cafe to use the washroom. It seemed an oasis of peace with the Teesta twisting in the ravine below. Ganesh sipped nonchalantly on his coffee while I surveyed the hoarding of the Government of Sikkim marking 50 years of achievement.
After Rangpo the light began to fade rapidly. We spoke of the Delhi winters when it used to be dark by 5 p.m. We got into our spacious service apartment by 5.30 p.m. The trip from Goa has been successful. Gangtok here we come!
We celebrated with dinner at the Yak Bar and Restaurant at Hotel Tashi Delek on MG road, New Market. The menu? I opened with brandy with tea and herbs. We all passed the goblet around and had a drought since it was cold on the rooftop restaurant. All chorused, that it tasted like kada prepared during COVID times. Chicken Thukpa, and pork momos followed. I also ventured to order the Tibetan favourite - veg Shyafaley - which was well done.
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RS Apartments, Pani House Road, Gangtok, Sikkim (Near the Reliance Mart). Updated 22/10/25.
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