re: Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary Day 2 (Mangan –> Singhik –> Mangan -> Singhik): ![Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary-img_2881.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1512275d1690254026t-kolkata-north-sikkim-drive-relive-golden-pages-my-diary-img_2881.jpg)
2016 - District administrative center for permit
In the previous trip, it took us only 30 mins to complete with the formalities of the permit, this time situation has changed. The office has open at 09:30, however the officers have not come. I and my wife alone have come to the office. We kept on walking in and out of the office when at 10:00 a clerk entered the office. Since we were traveling in our own car, we had to have a permit from the DM or ADM who came at around 11:00 am. It took another hour to convince him that I can drive on such terrains and make it to Gurudangmor. I showed him the past permit and shared the stories of my trip to Arunachal in my car. At last he kept our request and granted the permit to Gurudangmar and Yumthang valley. For Katao he said that it can be obtained by making on the spot request if possible. ![Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary-dsc_0620.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1512272d1690254026t-kolkata-north-sikkim-drive-relive-golden-pages-my-diary-dsc_0620.jpg)
2016 - Permit ![Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary-dsc_0621.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1512273d1690254026t-kolkata-north-sikkim-drive-relive-golden-pages-my-diary-dsc_0621.jpg)
2013 - Permit ![Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary-index_5_1.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1512274d1690254026t-kolkata-north-sikkim-drive-relive-golden-pages-my-diary-index_5_1.jpg)
2013 - Permit
Meanwhile a police officer received message that the roads are blocked in two places due to land slide. Being worried we looked at each other but we were desperate to move ahead to whatever location we can. After getting the permit we moved back to the hotel to pick-up my mom, uncle and aunt. Wasting no more time we started off but just beyond Singhik we encountered a long queue of vehicle. I parked the car in the queue and walked to the damage point. Few huge chunks of rocks have hindered the road. This is the only road which is used to transport food and essentials to other places of north Sikkim. Not only that the military support to the border areas is also transited through this route. The landslide which had occurred last night due to heavy rainfall has been a reason of concern for both Sikkim Police, BRO and Army. This time Sikkim police took up the responsibility to clear the roads and did not take any help of the army. As there was another landslide from Chungthang slide, so supporting help could not be received from other side. ![Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary-img_20160418_144917.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1512277d1690254026t-kolkata-north-sikkim-drive-relive-golden-pages-my-diary-img_20160418_144917.jpg)
2016 - The huge landslide.
A crane and some people with drilling machine were deployed to break the large rocks into bits and pieces so that the crane can lift and through it. There were a number of blasts but the job could not be completed that day. Soon rainfall started and by afternoon the job was stopped for the next day. Meanwhile we went to Mangan to use the waiting time to have lunch. As there were so many vehicles blocked there, we knew that the hotels will be packed up in Mangan. I called up my hotel and they also confirmed the same. The next place to looks for a hotel now was Singhik. In my earlier trip I have learned that there is a guest house in Singhik which is famous for the view of Kanchenjunga.
It was only 4-5 KM away from the affected place but then even that was also packed up. The owner was good and suggested us to stay in a spare room for the night because getting a hotel would be impossible now. He made all necessary arrangements for five of us to make our stay as much cozy as possible. A Bengali family was also walking to and fro as they have already made booking in Lachen and if they stay at Singhik they have to spend some extra bucks for the hotel as well as the car. This was pinching their pockets. After getting the information that the transit has started they left. The owner give us the good news that the big room can be given to us as they have left. ![Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary-img_20160418_172057.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1512279d1690254026t-kolkata-north-sikkim-drive-relive-golden-pages-my-diary-img_20160418_172057.jpg)
2016- Mobile snaps while roaming around the Singhik Tourist Lodge.
In the evening we had a conversation with a couple who was traveling on a bike from Siliguri. The guy was army officer who was traveling with his wife. They made me feel nostalgic and while chatting I shared my past experience with him.
We went to bed early to see the sunrise from the hotel because it had been raining the whole day so it was expected that the sky will be clear tomorrow.
The story was a little different during the bike trip. In the morning we had bought some plastic bags to pack our clothing and three pairs of gum boots. After permit we travelled the muddy terrain of Mangan towards Chungthang. My friend’s bike was sliding as the back was light where else the tail slide was less in my bike because I had a pillion. The gum boots was an ultimate utility for such roads as we could put down our feet to maintain balance without fear. By evening we had reached Lachung where some of our friends have already put up. They were travelling via packed tour. Luckily one of then was walking down the roads when we came across him. He asked us to stay at his hotel and we agreed to it. ![Kolkata to North Sikkim - Drive to relive the golden pages of my diary-dscn2891.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1512280d1690254026t-kolkata-north-sikkim-drive-relive-golden-pages-my-diary-dscn2891.jpg)
2013 - Starting for Lachung after filling petrol in Mangan. To be continued ... |