When my boys were much younger, we would often take off to several places in the Himalayan foothills. One favourite destination was Sikkim, closely followed by Darjeeling in the state of North Bengal. I’m sharing some holiday pictures today. For a change, this post isn’t about plants only!!
The first two photos are from the picturesque Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim. From February to June, the valley is filled with flowers when thousands of rhododendrons bloom. But our trip was in October/04 and we got a clear view of the awe-inspiring snow-clad mountains. But brrr.. it was COLD!!!
The state of Sikkim hosted an international Rhododendron Festival from April to May this year. The valley has 43 square kms of rhododendron forests so one can imagine how beautiful it must be…. I hope to visit some day during the blooming season.
My husband…we’ve been married for twenty three years…standing near one of the many waterfalls along the way.
That’s me with my two boys in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
Darjeeling, a town known for tea, the toy train, and Mt. Kanchenjunga. It’s also referred to as the Queen Of The Hills.
At a park in Darjeeling on a rainy, wet, morning.
At the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute all dressed up in local Nepali traditional gear. The institute was set up in 1954 a year after Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary successfully climbed Mt. Everest. It was created to encourage mountaineering as an organized sport in India. Tenzing Norgay became the first director for field training at this institute.
This photo was taken at a picnic in January this year. The child on the left is a friend’s son. Time flies…my first-born (in blue) will turn 19 in August. The baby of the family ( in red) will be 16 in July.
Terra farmer 
Hi Kanak, It is so nice to see pics of you and your family. The scenery is just magnificent. Hard to believe your sons are 19 & 16! I hope you will have a nice weekend.
Mildred, thanks! A pleasure to show the many sights of India. Wish you and John a great weekend too!
Lovely photos of you and your family. I had gone to Sikkim in May2007. The rhododendron forest in North Sikkim was incredibly beautiful!
Padma….lucky you!!! I hope to make it next year!!
Wow!The pictures say it all. Revisting old memories is refreshing indeed! Hard to believe Nishant is turning 16 already:)
I recollect an article by you on Sikkim and Kalimpong in the Sentinel years ago.Too bad, we did’nt have blogs then!
Those are beautiful landscape photos and what a lovely treat to see some of your family aswell. 🙂 Rosie
Thanks Rosie!
Kanak, it’s me again. I have a blog friend in Ohio who is trying to find more info about a dragonfly he photographed in his yard. I told him about you and your blog and your fantastic photography. His link is
http://larry-burgus.blogspot.com/2010/06/dragon-fly-maybe.html
I said Larry was from Ohio – he is from Iowa. Sorry. Many blessings to you and your family.
I had time to go through your blog today. Your boys are very handsome – they do take after their parents. Have a nice Sunday!
Hey, Kanak that’s you! You look sporty with those pair of sunglasses. Your two cute boys are going to be taller than you soon but your macho husband will of course be the ‘bodyguard’ to protect you guys for a long long time he he…
My husband has a topi as well. It was given by the locals in Nepal. I have a Nepali friend who once lived in Darjeeling. No wonder he has been telling us to go visit his hometown. Now I know how beautiful is the place. I might take up his suggestion one day to visit his hometown together with his family 😀 Btw, topi in Malay is called topi also.
Oh, I have a few’kurtas which I bought in Nepal. Looking at your boys, I feel like wearing one tomorrow!
That khukuri is real? My husband was given one by a friend as souvenir. One day a thieve broke into our house and stole it. Funny right? I hope the thief is not going to use the khukuri to rob people!
Love these photos Kanak! I am sure your family and you have enjoyed it very much. They brought back lots of wonderful memories of Nepal for me also.
Steph, thanks for sharing your Nepal memories. The photo in the Nepali outfit was taken at the HMI tourist counter for dress-and-pose-and-pay so I don’t think the khukri was real…I really don’t remember. Too bad your khukri was stolen:(
You’ll love Darjeeling. If not the town, the outskirts. The landscape is beautiful. But many people who were born and brought up there complain about the haphazard growth (as in other towns and cities of India), the noise, and the pollution. But when we go there once in a blue moon, I find it quaint and charming. Once we went and stayed at a friend’s sister’s place in Kalimpong. It’s still one of our best holidays ever! So, have you chosen which kurta you’re going to wear?:-)
PS: I read your post again. I just realise that the photos were from your last trip. sorry. If you are going to be there later, do post the photos yeah 😀
Kanak, I’m very sorry I am so late in reading your post. But I’m glad I did because I get to see you and your beautiful family in the pictures. This is a great place to visit.