Nathu La Pass

Nathu La Pass

Ever got eager to visit East-India? Well, this post will be helpful to make you. Nathu La Pass is a mountain pass connecting Indian State Sikkim and People's Republic of China (PRC) situated 54 km. east of Gangtok. Nathu La is one of the three open trading border posts between China and India; the other two are Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh in Uttarakhand. Nathu La Pass was sealed by India after the 1962 Sino-Indian War but was re-opened in 2006 and now serves as one of the "most-visited" tourist places in Sikkim. Nathula Pass huddles at an altitude of 14,140 feet and ranks amongst the highest passes within reach by the tourists via road.

(a)

East India is mostly famous for beautiful tea-gardens, monasteries, massive landscapes and maximum forest cover in India. Here, Nathu La Pass is also known as Indo-China border which has a historic value as it is located on Old Silk Route (approx. 540 km. long). The road from Gangtok to this breath-taking place will give you a view to  amazing small lakes protected by mountains which are covered under the "white carpet". 

God's Blue Shore (b)

Well, this trip nearly brought me a stroke and I passed a "private resolution" that I will never underestimate the weather in North and East India whenever i visit there. To me, there were only two coldest places in India where i need a proper 3-coated woolen clothes i.e. Kedarnath and Drass (western Ladakh) until I was betrayed by -10 degree Celsius in Nathu La Pass. The image shown as (b) was taken from my mobile phone from the car in the chilling -10 degree Celsius, but nevertheless this snapshot is one of my most favourite shots I've ever taken.

(c)

When the heavens open up its light on these snow-clad mountain ranges, any of the tourists will be fascinated by the dark and light shade on the snow as if someone has stitched a black and white garment on the mountains. [Image (c)]. For me, this was creamy vanilla over the cookies.

En route one does not get tired of bumpy rides because here, the weather changes at a frequency of every hour. You do not know that in any hour there is a snowfall and in another hour there is a bright sunlight. Weather, here, is definitely unpredictable. And this very characteristic, will amaze the tourists and also they will get the best way to admire the nature and beauty hovering among these mountainous pass.

Indian War Memorial (d)

The War Memorial shown in image (d), was built in the memory of 267 martyrs who gave up their lives for the betterment of our tomorrow. The first Indian Army Jawan laid down his life here in 1958 and then followed the 1962 war with China and the 1967 Nathula skirmish. This memorial is open for everyone to pay the homage to the brave soldiers from different parts of the country. 

Panorama of the entire tourist place (e)

Nathu La Pass is mainly an Indo-China border, consisting of barbed wire and heavily armed guards from both the sides (India and China). There are also lot of facilities available like canteens, restrooms, exhibition center of military weapons, etc. Just behind the red-shed center is the wire that separates us from the China.  

From the border's view (f)

Overall, to conclude the post, I would like to put a quote written on the War Memorial, "When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave up our today." Let us all pray for the well-being of families of the martyrs and let us also honor them by preserving and protecting our natural environment.

Written & Edited by

Parth Patel

The Heart of Delhi’s Streets

The city of Delhi is very well known for its magnificent and beautiful architectural complexes whether be it from ancient-medieval times or from the British as well as from the modern era. Lutyen’s Delhi which forms an integral part of its administrative region is surrounded by many diplomatic, government, private, educational, commercial and business structures and complexes which are exemplary of modern building designs and infrastructural development in the capital amidst of all, Connaught Place is one of the favorite hangout places for the public where enjoyment is felt in form of great eateries (Keventers, Lip Smacking Haldirams!!!!), pubs, cafes and quick-serving restaurants like McDonalds and KFC!!!.. Famous as C.P among the Dilliwalas and people from the other parts of the country; Connaught Place, the Heart of Delhi…. is largely surrounded by an urban fashionista stores and party centers, but streets of the heart have a different story to tell.

As the sun sets and darkness rises, the lights of CP and its happening public makes the scenario alive and joyful with their chahal-pahal , the Heart of Delhi is absorbed in its magnificent grace and charm, but apart from them the street vendors sitting there, add beauty to the place and forms the icing on the cake. Without these street vendors C.P seems to be incomplete which makes them the Heart of Delhi’s Streets… Dilliwasis are very fond of shopping at Reebok, partying at My-Bar, enjoying Coffee at Starbucks, par raste se kharidaari karne aur bhaav-tol karne ka apna alag hi maza hai jo ke har dilliwale ki ek pehchaan hai!!!

During the chilly winters while roaming in CP, I interacted with few of the street vendors and was amazed to see their enthusiasm and humility there were certain lighter moments shared with them while interacting.

I met a guy Rajesh selling plastic bangles and other accessories and asked him for a photo of his products and his own portrait, he said “Bhaiya photo lelo, par kahi police ko to nahi dogey na? hum bahot seedhe saadhe admi hai!!” I giggled and replied “nahi nahi bhaiya... aisa kuch nahi hoga.” 

Further I met a Gujarati lady who sold the handicrafts, purses and handmade mobile covers; she explained me that her ancestors hailed from Surendranagar (a small town in Gujarat) and they had been selling these handicrafts at CP since decades. 

While roaming around I stopped at a poster vendor, who had lots of amazing posters of football players, Breaking Bad and Suits characters which actually tempted me to buy them… I asked for the photograph but he refused saying “Yaha pe photo khichna mana hai,” but I went to the back and secretly clicked his photo…  

I met a boy who was selling happiness in form of balloons to people in order to make his stomach happy and satisf ied. At last I interacted with a fruit vendor Sachin, with whom I tried to bargain and he replied “Arey! Doosri jagaho par to aur bhi mehnga milta hai, hum to fir bhi saste mai de rahe hai.” 

Finally, spotted an Ice-cream vendor waiting for his customers, not much could be sold due to the winters but Rozi roti kamane ke lie, mehnat to karni padegi hi na…

It was a great moment interacting with such people, the blend of big complexes along with the street vendors can teach a philosophical lesson that however you grow big in your life, never forget the little things which might add the beauty to your life and make it magnificent.

Awaiting reviews and comments.

Yash Sampat

Creating a Wanderers' List..

Namaste, Bonjour…

When your body is physically confined to its quarters but the mind escapes itself to the search for a new expedition, when the heart breaks the status quo to fill itself with a new experience, when the soul finds its solace in unfolding the hidden secrets of the globe and when mysterious spaces give you a homely feeling, you know that you are suffering from an incurable disease called Wanderlust…. :D :)

Well, we are here to spread our disease amongst the readers and the admirers; unsurprisingly, the quest for travelling has been mutated in our genes and to capture the earthly wonders is a side effect which we carry in ourselves and never-ending desire to explore the unexplored is an addictive effect of our incurable condition. We are the wanderers creating a wanderers’ list through imagination, expedition, creation and spreading the wanderfection (wandering-infection) … ;)

Yash Sampat and Parth Patel, the final year law students suffering from the bug to travel and photograph have been keen to share their thoughts to spread this constructive illness among the people through photo stories and their travel diaries.

Yash Sampat hails from Delhi, having a Gujarati background is add on to his travelling spree; being a hobbyist photographer who loves to capture the nature’s miraculous scenarios, he tries to express his passion which rather cannot be explained through a mere formation of words or sentences. His love for music and friends which never fades and his quest not to let his inner child subside make him a cheerful, dreamy and a lovable persona. His travel accounts include exploring Indian regions of Kerala, Gujarat, Some hill stations of North India, Kashmir, Ladakh etc.

Parth Patel, hailing from the Manchester of India (Ahmedabad) is a guy with mysterious traits. Being an excellent photographer and having literary vision in his writings and expressions he articulates his imagination through poetry. He expresses himself in a rhetorically colorful way through his guitar and his sketches. Mischievous by heart he is a person with good sense of humor, his pursuit to travel the world has took him to many places in India and abroad including Mauritius, Sri Lanka, USA, Singapore etc.

We both welcome the readers to get the taste of wanderlust and enjoy the chronic and never ending condition.. 

The Wandering Soul