The VI CPC brought some good news and some good deals for the employees. So, we decide to explore the North-East unanimously during a tour of 20 days. Cutting the story short here are the details of the tour.
Duration : 18 Sep 09 to 03 Oct 09.
Group : Four families with children.
Mode :
New Delhi to NJP : By train Rajdhani Express.
NJP towards Sikkim and Back : Sumo etc
NJP to Guwahati : By train.
Guwahati to Shillong-Cherrapunjee and Back : By Sumo etc.
Guwahati to New Delhi : Indian Airlines
So, it was a complete package of all modes of travel. For most of the people it was the first experience of the mountains. Everybody was excited. The Reservations were made about 2 months prior on internet for trains and air. The hotels were tied up-mostly being guest houses etc from state/PWD /hydropower etc.We did a lot of study about the places and made an itinerary for each day in detail. Finally, we had to make some changes as we went through the tour.
Places of Visit. We intended (and we did
) to cover the following places:-
Gangtok (incl Nathu La)
Rumtek
Darjeeling
Mirik
Kalimpong
Siliguri (for Durga Ashtami)
Shillong
Cherrapunjee
Guwahati
It turned out to be a budget travel as we shared the SUVs for travelling around in the mountains. The luggage was heavy as we had to carry items for 20 days and woolens too.
So, all set to go and we reach at the New Delhi station in afternoon to board the train. My sister tells me that she has lost/forgotten her camera battery. The kids are looking at my face. I know what they want to say. Its about an hour to board the train.
Quick decision....
I take the camera, come out of station board metro to chandni chowk. Missed the first metro. Catch the next metro. Go to bhagirath palace and after some search buy the battery. Half an hour to go....
Start getting calls to leave the battery and return as announcement for the train has been made. Quickly reach the metro station. Again miss the first metro. 5 more mins wait. Board the next metro and after deboarding at New Delhi station, I run to the platform. I see everyone's face turned white (esp wife's) and looking around searching for me. Everyone trying to reach me on my mobile. I had stopped replying to their calls as soon as I had boarded the metro.
As I walk on the platform towards them, the train enters the platform from opposite side.... so, begins the journey to North East.