Phase III

We left for our third and last destination on the itinerary, Gangtok, after breakfast next morning. We reached Gangtok early evening. After some light going around we got back to the hotel.

Early next morning we left for the Tsongo Pass which lies at the border of India and China. The Indian Army has a regiment based at the place for obvious reasons and hence we could see barracks placed in strategic places around the side of the mountain. We also had to provide a photo id and a permission slip to enter the area which we most willingly obliged.

The drive to the place is long and arduous. As we went higher up we saw melted snow here and there. Apparently it had snowed in the area 3 days back. The path dangerous and slippery at places. We actually needed help getting our vehicle out of the snow a couple of times. 

Unfortunately for us, a light snow started falling and the Army declared it dangerous to go any further along the path. So, we stopped on the way to enjoy the beauty of the place and enjoy the light snow falling on our faces.  We din't feel like leaving the place but ultimately had to else the path would be blocked and we'd be stuck in the area till the Army could clear out the snow and the path could be accessible again.

I really did want to see the pass though and the nearby Jaswant Baba's temple. They say Jaswant was a soldier who kept the Chinese away for 3 days all by himself until reinforcement could come and take over. He did die in the battle but tradition has it that he still lives in the area and protects the area from any kind of infiltration. The Army has a shrine built for him there and take care of it very faithfully.

We came back to the hotel early evening and then decided to go have a look around the place. We walked down to the center of the city for lunch and then spent some time looking at the stores around.

We came back late in the evening and spent some time repacking our stuff since we had to leave the next day for Delhi.

We left for Bagdogra airport the next morning after breakfast and reached Delhi late in the evening.