[iwanttogoback]

2 or 3 AC is fine, but do sleep on an upper bunk if possible, just for a little privacy. as you are travelling with mr yash make him take the lower bunk!

[YETI]

You don't have to take the full 6-7 hour journey on the Toy Train, btw.

If you've just got off the overnight train from Calcutta, another lengthy train journey might be the last thing you feel like doing.

As jyoti da says, you can just get the 'Joy Ride' to Ghoom. It's about two hours all together, there and back and it's a great day out.

I'm going to do the full journey from Darjeeling back down to NJP next time.

[Judi]

No, of course you don't have to take the full train ride     but I wouldn't have missed it for the world!!!!!  

Actually, on reflection, perhaps we unwittingly did it the best way.  Because we were forced to take a jeep up, we had to swap our plans and take the train down, and it worked perfectly.  Spending a long, lazy day wandering (often at walking pace) through fabulous scenery, chatting to local people and just drinking in our surroundings was really a lovely thing to do, and a gentle way to say goodbye to the mountains.

A note of warning     As it was so cold when we left Darjeeling, I was wearing thermal underwear, furry hat, scarf, gloves, fleece, sweaters, warm socks etc. etc.  As we descended to the plains and the temperature rose disproportionately, I had to keep going off to the toilet to peel off yet another layer of clothes.  Ultimately I ended up carrying more than I was actually wearing  

[YETI]

Judi, on Jun 12 2007, 06:04 PM, said:

A note of warning

Here's another: don't buy a big bag of Lay's crisps in NJP before going up the hill to Darjeeling.

As the atmospheric pressure decreases, the bag inflates and ultimately explodes, showering you and your fellow passengers in crisps.

Did this happen to me? Yes, of course it did.
Did I remember this when I was going up to the Rohtang Pass? No.
Did it happen again? Yes. Oh yes.

[torryquine]

Dr Funkenstein, on Jun 12 2007, 01:57 PM, said:

Here's another: don't buy a big bag of Lay's crisps in NJP before going up the hill to Darjeeling.

As the atmospheric pressure decreases, the bag inflates and ultimately explodes, showering you and your fellow passengers in crisps.

Did this happen to me? Yes, of course it did.
Did I remember this when I was going up to the Rohtang Pass? No.
Did it happen again? Yes. Oh yes.

        
I'm tempted to try that now

[YETI]

It's pretty cool.

Just before it goes ka-boom, the bag swells up to a ludicrous size and this makes it ideal for heading around the Jeep like a football, I found.

In retrospect, it's possible that this may have contributed to it's inevitable explosion.

In between that and all the BRO signs saying things like 'Women: For God's Sake Don't Drive!' and what-have-you, it was a pretty entertaining journey.

The crisp-bomb on the way up to Rohtang went off in my bag. Sounded like a pistol shot and covered all my clothes in Pringle-like debris.

[malkers]

torryquine, on Jun 12 2007, 06:12 PM, said:

        
I'm tempted to try that now

My thoughts exactly, not that I need much excuse to go back to Darjeeling, must be great to buy a multipack and have bets on which one goes off first!

A question though.  How do the wholesalers deliver their crisps to the retailers in Darjeeling or similar places?  

[dzibead]

Dr Funkenstein, on Jun 12 2007, 03:09 PM, said:

Just before it goes ka-boom, the bag swells up to a ludicrous size and this makes it ideal for heading around the Jeep like a football, I found.  In retrospect, it's possible that this may have contributed to it's inevitable explosion.

I dare say that was a contributing factor.     I took a photo at Yumthang in Sikkim, elevation 12,000 feet, of my friend holding a puffed-up bag of Lay's potato chips.  It didn't explode, though - we ate 'em before it had the chance.

[Yashodhara]

We will probably fly to Bagdogra from Delhi and take the toy train on our way down to Kolkata just as Judi mentioned. Well, at least that is the plan at THIS point of time   . Thanks for the "Joy Ride" suggestion to Ghoom (Ghum?), that is something we will love to do. Err, ME on the UPPER bunk   ??? Hope Mr Y can assure a safe landing if I ever do dream of flying again   . Amazing, these exploding potato chips bags   , did not know Lay's were that good.

[YETI]

malkers, on Jun 13 2007, 03:44 AM, said:

A question though. How do the wholesalers deliver their crisps to the retailers in Darjeeling or similar places?

I honestly don't know.

Do you get bags of crisps in places like Ladakh? I can't remember - they'd be blowing up all over the place, surely.

[cyberhippie]

Yash you're quite a way along with your plans I see. Darjeeling was a nice place when I visited it years ago and I understand that some of the best Himalayan views are to be had in the Months of December-January is it doesn't snow or rain of course!

I would advise to book ahead if you want a decent room around New Year. Many hotels have parties and dances at this time!

The toy train is I'm sure a wonderful trip but be aware it can really throw a spanner in the works time wise. 6-7 hours can turn into 8-9 on the way up! So it's probably better to take the down train.

I expect time has changed things but I remember my first trip up into the Himalaya was at Darjeeling and Sikkim. The abrupt steepening of the road as we headed north really had me excited, here I was in the Himalaya.
All along the road there was the trail of the mountain railway crisscrossing the road, or appearing left then right at the sides of the road, Then disappearing, snaking it's way around the tumble of the green foothills.
The locals had fashioned small carts of wood, that matched the track gauge and hauled everything from fire wood to crates of Thumbs Up.
Our old ambassador gave up the chase on the way up and we arrived in the town in a shared jeep.

Plenty to see and do, good walks breakfast and pub.

I'm a bit of a snooker fan and my game of snooker at the Gymkhana Club was simply amazing, Oak paneled snooker room, ancient table and a referee who murmured "good Shot Sir".
This old club might not be open to the public any more but it's an amazing old building and well worth a visit.

The Tibetan Center just below the town was worth a look back in those days. Lots of yak wool jackets and knits made by old women always ready to burst into cackling laugh.

It's just a thought by why don't you (as you've mentioned it yourself) skip Shimla for a few days in Sikkim.

In January it's wide open where you can visit of course, Rajasthan also offer many places or indeed Madhya Pradesh.

Anyway have a good trip!

[cyberhippie]

Doc you must be getting the faulty crisp bags. The ones I buy in India have been mig welded shut!

Even two of the villages finest buffalo have trouble opening them!  

[ChrisJ]

cyberhippie, on Jun 14 2007, 12:10 PM, said:

I'm a bit of a snooker fan and my game of snooker at the Gymkhana Club was simply amazing, Oak paneled snooker room, ancient table and a referee who murmured "good Shot Sir".
This old club might not be open to the public any more but it's an amazing old building and well worth a visit.

Here is a picture of the snooker table in the Planters Club. Looks like no one has played there for a few years though!

Attached Files

•  Snooker.JPG   46.71K   13 downloads

[cyberhippie]

Yash I don't know if you've seen these already but just in case you haven't here's some rather good photos of Darjeeling and the Himalayan Mountain Railway

Just follow the links on the bottom if you want to browse the photos!

By the way AC class in these months can be cold, take a sweater just in case. You can always request they turn down the AC of course.

Nice pic ChrisJ. I can almost smell the tobacco from here.

[Judi]

Hey, thanks for these CH, they brought back lots of lovely memories!  Yash, if these pictures won't convince you, nothing will

[Yashodhara]

Thanks for all the useful info, cyber, planning the Darjeeling trip is becoming quite some fun! Especially now that we booked our flight tickets to India     .

So obviously we are considering Sikkim now, it certainly is more than tempting. But again we wonder about the weather, will it not be too cold and will there not be too much snow to walk around and enjoy the scenery? The guide books seem to suggest that Sikkim is best visited from March to May or from October to December, has anyone visited the place at any other time? We are not too worried about a colder mountain climate, but being snowed in heavily is not exactly what we wish to experience   .

And again thanks for all the trip reports you guys care to post here, there is nothing to beat any firsthand experience! If Sikkim and Shimla don't work out for us, I might get back with some Rajasthan questions   .

[Yashodhara]

Judi, on Jun 15 2007, 10:31 AM, said:

Yash, if these pictures won't convince you, nothing will

They do, Judi, they absolutely do!!!

[YETI]

I'd have a few days in Sikkim rather than Shimla, too. It's a much nicer place (imo) and has the benefit of being just over the valley from Darjeeling. Inner Line Permits are easily obtained in Darjeeling.

I doubt you'd get snowed in the Winter if you stayed in somewhere like Pelling - the road there is a fairly busy one and BRO tend to keep the roads to sensitive borders open year-round. If they manage to keep Khardung La open I'd imagine this road shouldn't be too much of a problem, but perhaps others that have been there at this time of year can confirm.

Sikkim's a beautiful place - click here for a few photos - much more akin to Nepal than India.