BEST TREKKING DESTINATION FOR BEGINNERS - BAJRE DARA TREK, SIKKIM.

 

BEST TREKKING DESTINATION FOR BEGINNERS - BAJRE DARA TREK, SIKKIM.

Your first trek will change your mindset, many treks will change your life.

As a beginner (young or elder), for mental preparedness should first have a clear idea about - WHAT IS TREKKING ? 

In short, TREKKING is a long distance and multi-day journey, most commonly done on foot, and involves challenging terrain and climate conditions that can often change many times over the trek. Trekking routes often go through more difficult and remote areas, making for more strenuous journey.

Let us first understand why anyone who is young or old should come out from the comfort of their home and begin to trek on the rugged mountain and forest trails where life is not at all as conducive as they have been into so far. Once you have decided to go for your first trek, then which one should be your first trekking destination as a beginner ?

In today's environment and the lifestyle that most of us experience and go through, trekking is the best option to rejuvenate oneself - both for a youth and for a senior citizen as well. Age is not at all a criteria to begin trekking.

From quiet moments of self reflection, invigorating sights and challenging yourself in nature, trekking provides a number of benefits - both physical and mental. To actually list out reasons to go for trekking seems absurd. There is always a joy in the activity of trekking, once you start it is almost like an addiction. You will not be addicted to trekking, but will be addicted to the way it makes you feel. In such a situation a listing of reasons is not really something you think of, you just go and do it. But first timers or beginners might require a bit of motivation and few very basic physical training to take that first step. 

BE WITH NATURE 

On a trek, you are in the lap of nature. Trekking is an unscripted experience filled with surprises, which may be both good or bad. In the fast moving world, we hardly have any time for appreciating the raw beauty of nature. Trekking will teach you to take things as they come and not crib on petty issues. 

Trekking really helps to clear your mind from the daily monotony of life and seek fresh horizons. City life usually works on set patterns that keeps every one bounded. Trekking can make you enjoy the simple joys of nature - lush greenery, various types of trees and plant, wild flowers growing on mountain slopes, gorgeous meadows, snow capped mountain peaks and suddenly you realise it's time to go back to nature !

HEALTH BENEFITS

There are numerous health benefits of trekking. Regularly going for treks helps in lowering blood pressure, and various studies have shown that it reduces the risk of diabetes and heart ailments. On a trek fitness comes for free. Our lungs get pumped up due to the constant workout and the clean air helps us in enhancing our breathing capacity and circulation of fluids in our body.

Trekking helps you to live in the present moment and improves our mood, lowers the level of anxiety and enhances our memory. The experience of trekking especially on less visited trails is extremely refreshing and mentally relaxing. It is on trek that one can lose as much as 5 kg weight on a 10 day trek. Trekking is the most underutilised antidepressant.

LIFE QUALITY 

Trekking life is not a fancy one, it's a real life. Life comes as it happens as we capture natural vistas, meet intriguing people and experience diverse cultures that very few know about. A trek teaches you to experience life as it is. Your approach towards life will totally change. You will learn how to lead a life in line with nature, thus bringing a major change in your thought process and mindset . 

One takes back fabulous memories and stories that will remain with you forever. Studies have shown that trekking helps immensely for generation of new and creative ideas. You get a chance to meet people from different backgrounds and build lasting relationships. Nature will teach you to open our heart and embrace experiences, cultures and relationships. Trekking makes you a humble person when you see the hardships on an expedition and how you got past it. It is a great way to strengthen your mental fitness. 

LISTING SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF TREKKING

1. Better physical fitness.

2. Great social experience.

3. Improved stamina.

4. Healthier heart.

5. Less stress.

6. Happier mood.

7. Spiritual connection.

8. Better life skills.

BAJRE DARA TREK - SIKKIM

As we have learnt that, experience of trekking especially on less visited trails is extremely refreshing and mentally relaxing mainly for first time trekkers. Bajre Dara in West Sikkim is one of such destination. Bajre Dara trek is a mysterious beauty that provides insight into the wonderful parts of nature. As a beginner, this trail is considered one of the best alternative if you want to explore the alluring mountains. At 3350 meters above sea level (11000 feet), the Bajre Dara is not hard but rewarding climb.

"Bajre Dara" - the name came from the enormous power of lightning strike (known as Baaz in Nepali and Bengali). This viewpoint cum camping ground is located in West Sikkim district at an altitude of 3350 meter above sea level. This location is full of burnt out Pine trees. These trees were hit by lightning during 1970s. Since then, the dead trees are standing like monuments in their own graveyard. When snow and mist create the appropriate background, the dead trees make a spooky environment all over the camping ground, a view worth experiencing. 

On a clear day, one will find a spectacular view of Mt. Kanchendjonga massif along with the Kasturi range. You can also see the Sangalaila range from this point. Bird eye view of Pelling city and Kacheperi lake, Yuksome town are another views to capture in your mind from Bajre Dara. 

Overall beauty of the place can easily beat Dzongri considering the level of hiking required to reach Dzongri. Bajre Dara can be accessed via a short three days two nights easy - moderate level trek from Meli or Lamathang village. Both the routes join together at Bhanjang and then proceed towards Bajre Dara through Door camp site. This trek traverses steep terrain covered in verdant vegetation and goes close to the Kanchendjonga range. 

To begin the Bajre Dara trek, you must first fly into Baghdogra International Airport, or via train reach Newjalpaiguri(NJP) or Siliguri junction railway station. Then hire a cab to Melli Aching Monastery via Jorthang, Pelling, Darap, Rimbi, and reach Melli Aching Monastery, among other places.

The ridge, which rises at an elevation of 11000 feet, provides a welcome break from the monotony of city life. The walk begins at Melliaching, a little hamlet 17 kilometers outside Pelling. From here, take the Pangreytar and Gorujurey trails to Bhanjyang. Camping at Bhanjyang will allow you to experience nature in it's purest form. 

The next day, trek to Bajre Dara, the rout's cardinal point. Here's where you will have the most fun on your adventure. The panoramic rout is truly life-changing  and a sight worth experiencing. Descend to Pangreytar through Gorujurey the next day, then hike back to Melliaching the next day. Return to NJP/Bagdogra or Pelling from this point. 

Now get-set for your first breathtaking and life changing trekking experience. 

ITINERARY

It is always advisable to go for your first trek with an experienced and licensed trekking agency or a guide. Myself has mentioned below an itinerary which an agency or a trek guide will normally suggest and follow :

DAY - 1 :

Reach NJP / Siliguri Railway station or Baghdogra airport at Siliguri , and drive to Melliaching via Melli check post, Pelling. Total distance is around 150 Km, which will take nearly 7 hours to reach the destination.

Representative of your trekking agent / guide may receive you at the Airport/Railway station. As you commence your journey, you will start experiencing the most beautiful valleys and mountains , as well as bamboo forests and cardamom plantations. It is important that you acquire sufficient amounts of fresh and pure air. Relax and inhale the fresh air as you wander through the mysterious mountains. Spend the night in a tent or a home-stay. 

DAY - 2 :

Melli Gompa or Pangrey tar to Bhanjyang, Distance to cover of about 8 Km via Goru-jurey, An elevation of 2200 meters.

The day-2 is the first day of your adventure. After having your breakfast, begin your trek from Melliaching Gompa to Bhanjyang. You have to trek about 10 km and takes about 5-6 hours to finish. You can tour the medieval monasteries of Pangreytar and Gorujurey. This experience is more than natural splendour, it is about religious tranquillity. If you come early, you may catch the glimse of last rays of a magnificent sun set. Spend the night in Bhanjyang base camp, which is surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and an ideal weather. 

DAY - 3 :

Bhanjyang to Bajre Dara, an altitude of 3355 meter, and have to cover about 8-9 Km.

This third day is going to be the happiest day of your life, and it represents the culmination of all you have trekked so far. This is the first day of your trek to Bajre Dara. The trek will take you through one of the most magnificent and romantic environments on the planet, with views of snow capped mountains , tropical rain forests, rhododendrons, and wildlife such as barking deer. Here you will get the chance to glimpse the apparently infinite ridge of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Take lots of snaps while you are here to remember your visit. For the night, pitch a tent and stay the night here.

DAY - 4 :

Bajre Dara to Khechoperi Lake via Bhanjyang, Lamathang. To cover about 14-15 Km, altitude 1850 meters. 

You should get up early on this day in order to get a glimpse of the sunrise. At any dawn on a mountain, you should not miss this breathtaking spectacle. Spend a few minutes to admire the surroundings and prepare for breakfast before continuing on. Bhanjyang and Lamathang villages will be visited on the way to Khechoperi Lake.

DAY - 5 :

The last day, Khechoperi Lake to Siliguri/ NJP, Or Baghdogra covering about 155 Km taking approx 7 hours drive. 

COST : 

If planning to go for this trek with a trekking agency , then the expense will be around INR 9000.00 to INR 11000.00 per person from airport / NJP to airport / NJP  back, all inclusive(as per their itinerary). These agencies also provide customised trips. 

PREPARATION :

Few basic physical preparation is required to make you fit and enjoy your first trek. 

Considering you not a regular trekker, who do not train throughout the year. Now, you have planned with your friends to go for a Himalayan trek or a mountain trek having a mix of easy to moderate terrain. For this, you need to prepare yourself physically & mentally for you to enjoy the trail and motivate you for planning your other future treks.

We all mostly know how we should prepare for our upcoming hikes / treks - going to the gym 3-4 times a week, doing cardio, jogging, walking between those sessions. But let's be realistic, most of you may not be hard core trekkers or fitness freaks and are mostly busy in your daily professional life and social obligations, with less time to spare for trek preparation. Or even retired senior citizens.

Myself would suggest a very simple routine that you should start at least 2-3 months before your trek, depending upon the level of difficulty of your trekking destination. If it is an easy trail, then 2 months of training is good, or else 3 months of preparation is enough for you for an easy to moderately difficult trek. 

Twice a week do full body strength training, during your training months. No separate upper body & lower body training days. The goal is to strengthen the overall body muscle groups, not any specific group. Each of these workout sessions should not be more than 45 minutes, that is just 90 minutes per week. Most of these exercises should be compound exercises involving multiple muscle groups per exercise, like - squats, push-ups, basic dead lifts, etc. This routine you can do at your home, only need a pair of dumbbells. Add to this twice or thrice a week light jogging covering 4-5 Km. Start with 2-3 Km initially then as you progress target to cover 5 Km in 40-45 minutes. The most important is to do daily breathing exercise , do deep breathing - slow inhalation and slow exhalation routine for min 15-20 minutes every day. This will enhance your lung capacity and thus help you a great at high altitude and long treks. To know more about preparation , read my blog titled "SIMPLE WAY TO TRAIN FOR YOUR UPCOMING TREKS" (post dated : 20th Sept. 2021).

TREKKING will teach you that -  you are capable of so much more than you ever imagined.

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