Images: Ban Jhakri Falls, Gangtok, Sikkim
Prints of all the images available. Request for prints. Some images can be seen at a higher resolution onpaintedstork facebook page.
Images from Gangtok, Sikkim: A Room with a View
I have been travelling a lot in the last fifteen days, which explains the absence of posts in the last few days. Before I head out again to Bharatpur tomorrow, some images from Sikkim.
On the first morning at Gangtok during my recent trip to Sikkim, I saw the view from my balcony and immediately went back to fetch the camera. I tweeted later in the day saying “Seen outside the window of Club Mahindra Royal Demazong is a landscape photographer’s dream come true.” The play of sun and clouds offered completely different perspectives from the same balcony during the three days of my stay. I wish I could post bigger images, but my blog template is limiting me doing so. You can see larger version of some of the images on paintedstork facebook page.
On the first day, I woke up later than I would like to, thanks to the tiring day-long journey that took most of the previous day. It was about 7.30am, but being the eastern part of the country, sunrise happens early and the light was already harsh. Sun rays were strong, but were just touching the tall trees on the ridges.
It was more cloudy on the second day when sun rays filtered through the clouds and fell on the slopes. Picture below is courtesy of Arun Nair.
On the third day, clouds had settled down on the hills and had brought a completely different character to the slopes. The scattering of fog along the slopes made the whole place appear mysteriously beautiful.
And finally, here is an image of a stupa, again shot from the balcony.
Prints of all the images available. Request for prints. Some images can be seen at a higher resolution onpaintedstork facebook page.
Changu Lake / Tsomgo Lake, Sikkim
Changu Lake was one of the places that I was eager to see during my recent trip to Sikkim. But when I got there, somehow I wasn’t charmed by it as I hoped for. It could be all the touristy construction and army bunkers around it or it could just be me. Indian Army has a considerable presence near Changu Lake, thanks to our friendly neighbours across the border who love our land so much that they get possessive about it.
My attempt to get good pictures of the lake failed miserably, but I did not give up completely on it. It did not help that I spent very little time next to the lake. What did help a bit is a magic formula that the mountain people in the Himalayas use for making anything and everything pretty. The fluttering prayer flags along the shore brought alive the lake that otherwise lacked luster.
A few pictures here, they definitely could’ve been better.
About Changu Lake
Changu Lake is located on the Gangtok-Nathula road at an altitude of 12,400 feet. Although it is only 40km from Gangtok, the mountain roads ensure that it is a whole day’s trip to visit the lake and get back to the town. Visit to the lake requires an inner line permit, which has to be obtained at Gangtok at least a day earlier. Most people normally combine the visit to Changu with Nathula, about 10km ahead on the same road.
There are basic tourist facilities next to the lake, where you can savour some momos and shop for souvenirs from Sikkim.