Road trip from Shillong to Darjeeling and Sikkim road trip by Ravi Rai in September 2015

Road trip from Shillong to Darjeeling and Gangtok in September 2015. Travelogue by Indian Roadie Ravi Rai. 

Day 1:
Started from Shillong to Siliguri. Distance 530 km. Reached Siliguri at 17:00 so decided to move on to Darjeeling. Reached hotel room in Darjeeling at 20:30.
Route: Shillong - Umnsing - Nongpoh - Guwahati - Rangia - Barama - Bongaigaon - Kokrajhar - Dakata - Alipurduar - Rohini Road - Kurseong - Ghoom. Condition of road. Excellent four lane till Bongaigaon. Speed 100+, Four lane under construction from Bongaigaon till Assam Border. Speed restricted at bridges, Two way road from border onwards till siliguri. Heavy traffic, speed 50 - 70 kmph. Siliguri to Darjeeling excellent toll road via Rohini Road. Hill driving craze with good roads.
Checked-in at the Club Mahindra Resort, Darjeeling.

Day 2:
Enjoyed in Darjeeling & suburbs to include toy train, market, monastery etc.

Day 3:
Zoo and some more scenic beauties.

Day 4:
Drive to Gangtok via Kalimpong. Road is so so in the starting and it becomes OK after 20 km. Scenic view including temple at Namchi and Tea estates. Road condition from Kalimpong is good till Rani Pool. and excellent Theron till Gangtok. Distance 86 km.
Checked-in at the Club Mahindra Resort, Gangtok.

Day 5:
Drive to Namchi Siddeshwar Dham, Sangdruptse, Temi tea garden. Distance 104 km one way. Village road from singtam onwards. However places are worth visiting.

Day 6: Drive to Nathula and Harbhajan Baba Mandir. Distance 60 km one way. Permissions required to go to Nathula. Vehicles above 1400 cc permitted now. Later it depends on the landslide and snow conditions. Worth driving on that route. Crazy and beautiful. Roads are excellent till Tsongo Lake. Thereafter landslide at few places. Otherwise speed of 40+.

Day 7:
Further local sightseeing.

Day 8: Return journey by the route, viz. Kalimpong - Siliguri - Shillong. Shopping spree by wifey at Siliguri Hongkong Market.

Temi Tea Garden, South Sikkim

Temi Tea Garden is the only Tea Estate in the state of Sikkim. The garden is 26 km from Namchi and can be visited on a day tour from Namchi. The garden is spread on a slope below Tendong along the highway leading to West Sikkim.

Temi, South Sikkim is 118 kms from Siliguri.

Temi Tea Garden was established in 1969. The total area of Temi Tea garden is approximately 435 acres. The garden employs about 450 people and produces 100 tonnes of orthodox tea annually. The garden produces some of the best tea in the world. The original tea saplings were brought from Darjeeling, and the produce of the garden are not very different from what one can expect from the gardens of Darjeeling hills. The garden offers beautiful natural views. The picturesque view of tea plucking can be seen here during the plucking season. The factory can be visited to have an interesting lesson on tea processing.

Temi tea is also a common souvenir for tourists visiting the state. Most of the tea produced in the garden is either consumed locally or purchased by tourists.

A night spent in a old British built bungalow situated just below the Temi Tea Garden Sikkim could be a bewildering experience of connecting the past to the present. A visit to the garden, enroute to the Tendong Hill, could be a rewarding experience.



Road map of Siliguri to Temi Tea Garden.