Elementary! My Dear Watson.

 As a child, I always fancied being Sherlock Holmes or ব্যোমকেশ বক্সী . I always imagined myself in the role of one. I easily portrayed myself in a coat, hat and pipe in one hand. I am rushing down the stairs, and as I blow a whistle, a coachman draws his coach and waits for me to jump in. As a kid, I also directed most of my fictitious letters ( as a part of academics) to 221B Baker Street. 

This year, when I was heading down to London, Baker Street was obviously on my bucket list. It was a summer evening. Trust me, it was hot in London. There was no chill. I took the subway and got off at Baker Street station. I walked for a couple of minutes only to find I was standing in front of 221B Baker Street. I needed to pinch myself. 

Good Lord! this is no dream. I am seriously in front of his house. The greatest detective ever.  After following a short queue, I climbed up the stairs. I wondered if the maestro could hear the squeaks and describe everything about me. The next moment I was standing at the drawing room of 221B Baker Street. 

It was surreal. 

Was I hallucinating? Maybe yes. I could hear voices and see people. Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes. Smoking pipes and chatting away. The violin was there in a corner. The windows were open. Summer it was. I peeped outside and looked at the window panes. Pretty blossoms adorned the room. Petunias they were. I looked at the building across the street. 

Was someone watching us from the building? I guess I was being paranoid, but how can I help it? The ambience called for a suspicious mind. I walked into the next room. It was Holmes's bedroom. The evening sun rays were on the bed. How did that feel? Well, I do not know, to be honest. I think I have never practiced being mindful to that extent; what I was doing at that point. I wanted to feel, see, hear, smell everything around. I wanted to take it all in. I was being there in all my capacity. 

Obviously, time was ticking and I had to rush out of the house. I was no longer the woman who had walked into 221B Baker Street a few minutes ago. Somewhere between the squeaking staircase and Holmes’s bedroom, I had become that little girl again- the one with the imaginary pipe, the oversized coat and hat, waiting for a coachman to arrive. 

Outside, Baker Street was busy as ever. People hurried past, cars moved, and London carried on with its ordinary evening. I stood there for a moment, looking back at 221B.

Sherlock Holmes is considered the most popular fictional human character. But is he really fictitious? Heavens No. Mr. Holmes really exists. Maybe he does not stay at 221B Baker Street but in the consciousness of his fans and readers.

তুঙ্গভদ্রার তীরে ( On the Bank Of The Tungabhadra)

The river Tungabhadra holds a special place in the hearts of the Bengalis. Though it is far from Bengal and most people have never seen the river ever, they feel very connected to it. This is because of the famous novel by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay "তুঙ্গভদ্রার তীরে ( On the Banks Of The Tungabhadra)". The story is a historical fiction that narrates stories and incidents from Vijaynagar. Hampi has been on my bucket list for long and I had a chance to visit it a few months back. I personally chose to recapitulate the novel before visiting the place and it worked like magic. It was dark in the night when we reached Hampi, and we headed off to visit Ram temple. In my mind, I was imagining myself as a princess who sneaked out at night to meet someone. The roads, the paths the pavements everything felt so ancient, and I felt that I have traveled back in time. Once we stood on the banks of Pompa Sarovar, I felt like a queen who had come to bestow an offering to Lord Shiva. The ambiance around felt ancient as if time had stopped and the ancient Vijaynagar prevails only. Once we boarded the coracle, our boatman pointed out that the hills around belonged to the Kishkinda dynasty. At once I recalled the reference from the Ramayana. Around the place, there are references from the Ramayana and Vijaynagar kingdoms where Lord Ram is worshiped besides Lord Shiva. 

To some this may be facts, to others, it might be fiction or myth. 

The Tungabhadra only knows the truth. 

Bishnupur- Not only City of Temples but also a gastronomical destination too

 Usually, when I head towards any destination I look for things that I can eat. Yes, a holiday is not only about going around but also filling up my tummy. We reached Bishnupur during the Pujas. Durga Puja is the time when you can cheat and eat every day. Trust me, you can. On the second day of our visit, we found a restaurant or pice hotel to be specific- Monalisa Hotel and Restaurant. It was Dashami. The place was crowded during lunchtime. We managed a 3seats for ourselves. Before we could order anything there were 3 plates in front of us. Rice, curry, dal, alu bhaja, postor bora. So, this is compulsory. The option that you will get is in the non-veg items. There are varieties of fish, chicken, egg, and mutton. You need to decide quickly and order. Trust me all of the items were delicious. And the postor bora is to die for. Most importantly all of these came at a pocket-friendly price too. 

We stayed at a hotel- Hotel Annapurna where we were offered a buffet breakfast. The usual part of a continental breakfast was nice as usual but the additional specialty was the sweetmeats that we had. Penra from Chatna, Monohara, Misti Doi, Murki, Mihindana- it was an array of sweets. Leaving aside luchi and bread we dived into these items every day. 

Last but not least on our way back we packed a bunch of these delicacies. 

Our 3 days trip was gastronomically satisfying :-) 

Kashmir - The paradise on earth

After planning for almost 20 years at last I made my first trip to Kashmir. This was a second visit for my parents but first visit for me. There are numerous blogs/vlogs pertaining to Kashmir tour plans. So, I am not thinking about making another. But there are a few tips I would like to share. Please keep in mind, prepaid SIM card doesn't work there. You have to take a post paid Sim card. Airtel, Jio and BSNL are pretty good. You will also not receive any OTPs, so plan all your payments etc. accordingly. Everything you buy or rent is charged high , so you need to brush up your bargaining skills. There are different types of scenic beauty throughout the year and unique in its own way. You can decide before hand which scenic beauty you would be interested in and plan your trip accordingly. If you are interested in witnessing snow fall then winter ( December, January, February) is the best season. For the Tulip 🌷 garden and flowers Mid March to Mid April is the season. If you are interested in Apple or Red Chinnar 🌲 then visit between October and November. And Kashmir being a hill station receives rainfall through out the year. So, you need to carry umbrella ☔, shades and winter clothes simultaneously. The scenic beauty of this place is one of its kind and mesmerizing 

Chandraketugarh

Chandraketugarh is approximately 2 hours drive from Kolkata. The place is located at Berachampa and site is maintained by Archeological Survey of India. You can see the "Dhibi" of Khana and Barahamihi. It's the best to follow Google Maps direction for reaching there. The drive through Kharibari is smooth and scenic at the same time. You can spend an hour or so, at the place. But there are no eateries at Berachampa , so you need to head back towards Kolkata for your lunch. Locating a restroom can be tricky too. But luckily there is one.  If you have interest in history  then this place can be definitely be a day gateway for you.  

NORTH SIKKIM TRIVIA

Sikkim is picturesque. And every picture is different. North Sikkim is a bit difficult trip than the others. The temperature drops really low in places of North Sikkim. It can be difficult for people who have breathing trouble or who have difficulty withstanding cold. So, do plan according to the season.

I would write a few tips on North Sikkim Trip.

1) Don't Hurry through the trip. You can't reach North Sikkim in a day from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri. You need to start from Gangtok, Mangan, or any place closer to North Sikkim.

2) Plan a 2 nights trip or preferably 3 nights trip for Lachung and Lachen. But if you want to skip Gurudongmar then a day or two at Lachung will be nice. 

3) The hotels are of varied range in this hamlets, but mainly basic types. Choose the moderate type of hotel preferably. You will need provisions of hot water i.e. geyser and an electric kettle. 

4) Powercuts are very common in those areas. Carry your power bank and get it charged regularly. Electronic gadgets like mobile phones and cameras tend to rapidly drain once you are at a high altitude.

5) There are no towns in North Sikkim, so carry all your medical necessities with you. There are high chances you will not find any shop there. 

6) Everything is overpriced and you need to accept that ( no use bargaining)

7) Very basic food is served in the hotels like bread and jam, momo, maggi or egg curry and rice. Trust me, that's actually all they have.

8) You will not find decent toilets on road. And disposing any kind of sanitary product will be difficult.  

9) You can have shared car facilties or private . Do not carry too much luggage one or two bags per person is fine. 

10) Decide beforehand what do you want to see, like snow or flowers or apples , you can't see all of them together. Once you know your interest, then you can decide the season. We visited in the last week of March and everything was snow covered.

11) Do not opt for very budget hotels or cars they may be bad enough to spoil your whole trip. 

12) Carry cash or opt for BHIM or something . Using card is not an option. carrying cash is the best.

North Sikkim Trip can be a Mini Adventure For You. Just keep in mind. you should choose the right partner and the right time. 

:-) 

You can Visit the link below for Gurudongmar Details 

https://thetraveltellerstales.blogspot.com/2021/04/gurudongmar-lake.html

Gurudongmar Lake

Ok, Let me be very honest, visiting North Sikkim and Gurudongmar Lake is difficult. You should have very sound health to do this. I will share with you some dos and don'ts for visiting the Lake. It is situated at a height of 17,800ft from sea level.  It is a 3 to 4 hours drive from Lachen. 

Here is a list of things you should definitely carry with you.

1) Woolens, thermals Windproof jackets, gloves, socks, and mufflers. How many layers you should be wearing is a matter of controversy. It definitely depends on your tolerance but you cannot go up there in your bare minimums. So, carry extra "winter wear" with you, and if you don't need them it's good and if you need them then it's great too. 

2)Umbrella - There can be sudden snowfall. Sunglasses- To protect your eyes from anything and everything except beauty. :-p

3) Camphor- If you are facing any breathing difficulty smell the camphor, it really helps.

4) Medicine like Coca-30 and Ondem-OD should be taken along.

5) One-time use plastic bottles are not allowed in North Sikkim, so take a flask along. ( and carry some hot water with you up to the lake)

6) If you are diagnosed with any sort of pulmonary disease you can carry your regular inhalers and oxygen Pump along.

7) Carry a Boroline along with you. Rubbing Boroline on your palms will save them from getting numb. 

8) Carry packets of popcorns with you or buy them locally at a slightly higher rate. Munching popcorn helps ( sorry don't know how    :-p)

What you May do.

1) You can have sips of Rum and Coke to keep yourself warm. ( Not Mandatory ;-))

2) Once you reach the place, wait for some time in the car, before you go out. Just let your body get accustomed to the temperature. 

3) You should reach there really early like 8 or 9 in the morning for good weather and beautiful shots. 

4) Have a light breakfast. Fasting or heavy eating may both cause problems.

What you should avoid doing.

1) Don't stay at that place for very long. 

2) Do not run around once you reach there.

3) Do not litter the place in any form.

This is one of the peaceful and serene places I have ever seen. You should definitely visit the place but with caution.  Which season will be suitable for you depends on your tolerance to cold. Oh, and if you have a cold allergy do not forget your anti-allergic. And trust me, this place is all the worth of so many efforts

P.S. You can't go to Gurudongmar Lake directly from Gangtok or any other place. Since you need to reach there very early, you have to be near the place.