A Photo Log of Baranti, Purulia

If you have ever wanted to get away from Kolkata without going too far away , try Baranti for a refreshing change. Baranti is a small picturesque hamlet by a beautiful lake surrounded by hillocks and forests under Santuri police station in Purulia District.

We 8 rollers rolled to this place on early morning with our two beasts Tata Venture and Maruti Alto K10. It was an amazing experience of Sunlight, Highway, Dam, Hills and one awesomee rain!!

Below is the Photolog :

Day 6 - Solo Ride from Kolkata to Land of Thunder Dragon

Day 6

Yesterday when I was having dinner, I found a group of foreigners also having their dinner in the dining hall. One of them Steve was curious at me. They were the Geology students from Arizona State University. It appeared that Steve too worked for IBM for a couple of months and he is very amazed to see a software professional doing such a solo trip all alone from India. He asked me to join their trekking session on the next day to Taktsang Monestary as they will have a guide and all needed equipment with them. I did not gave a second thought to it and nodded. Just thanks the Almighty to give me such a opportunity. We were about to start from hotel around at 8 am in the morning. The bus will come to pick us up. Theie tour co ordinator assured me to wake me up in advance.

Next day on the day 6th, I was about to experience my first ever trekking experience on a mountain. It was really a challenge to me. We were provided fiber sticks, hydration packs. We were about to stop at the middle of the trek where a small cafeteria is built for the trekkers. Below is some snaps :



Steve at extreme right.

 The trek route was full of the horses and donkeys which were carriying the ration for the lamas and the cafeteria at the mountain top. The cattle could not resist their speed at the downhill, so we need to make space for them in the narrow trek road, that was a hell of experience!!

Taktsang Monestary is the place where you can witness the highest architectural wonders done by the ancients Bhutanese architects, the whole places is created just by cutting the stones and using the same stones to build the walls. It's a real marvel!!

We started climbing down towards the plain after spending 1 hour around at the top. Photography is prohibited in the Monetary, so could not tried to get out the camera as I did not want to spoil the resident's privacy. It took less time when we climbed back down. Bid good bye to the team and started again my solo journey towards the Drugyel Dzong. The Dzong was fully devastated in a forest fire, so there are only some walls were standing there. Met a person there who used to go to the Dzong before it was devastated, had a long chat with the old man, shared a cup of tea and chocolates with him. I left the Drugyel Dzong around at 1pm. Paro Dzong was yet to visit, so hurried up and reached to Paro Dzong within no time. But after Punakha and the Taktsang this one seemed dull, so decided to head for Phouentsholing on the day itself. It was not a wise decision to make, but I took it. It was 170 kms I had to cover only relying upon my headlight, my fog lamp were out two days ago already!! 

Reached Phuentsholing at around 9pm at the night and decided to stay at Jaigaon which is comparatively a cheaper place to stay rather than Psoling. Booked a room for 200 bucks with a proper garage so that my bike stays safe at night, freshened up and had my dinner. I was damn tired. I did not think if I would start for Siliguri on the next day or not. Will decide at the morning. Finished some call with my family and some friends who were tensed back in Kolkata for me and went to bed. That day I got a sound sleep.

Day 7/8 - Solo Ride from Kolkata to Land of Thunder Dragon

Day 7/8

Day 7 and 8 was not so eventful. I kept rolling and enjoying the beauty of nature to the fullest. Had a visit to Jaldapara Sanctuary, but the cost for staying there were out of my budget, so decided to carry on for Siliguri. That was good decision for me as well. Ended up in Dalkhola in seventh day. Again had the same room like when I started on the first day. and on the 8th day I reached Kolkata riding through Dumka.

My friends from my group The Roadrollers came to get me at Hindustan Dhaba on NH2. I am feeling like home there. It was a awesome feeling, just can't express in words. Enjoy the snaps in the meantime ::

Day 5 - Solo Ride from Kolkata to Land of Thunder Dragon

Day 5

06/11/2011

It's my 5th morning out on the journey. Still I found the sky overcast, and it was drizzling continuously. I planned to start before 8 am towards Haa valley. The near by places was kept for the next day. I was very eager to hit the Chela La the highest point in Bhutan. Yesterday when I entered Paro I was stoped just before entering to the city!! Why? The main road is closed during the landing/flying of aircraft as the runway starts just from beside the road. I was thinking if again I get to see such thing but I did not.

The route towards Haa was easy to point out. I took the road as directed and the beauty was like increasing in each kilometers. The green forests, the clear sky was welcomed me heartily. Soon the elevation started  and the vegetation was loosing it's greenary, and it was a warning that I am reaching the top. it almost took 2hrs till now, but I am not yet at the top, no snow no ice. As soon I think like it I saw some whitish things were covering my tank bag and helmet visor. What?? I am amazed, it was the snowfall just started fresh. Withing the mild snowfall I reached to the top whee it is written, Chele La, the highest point in Bhutan and I am relieved. it was all covered with snow. A Hyundai Santafe was there carrying some foreigners. It's temrature meter said it was T minus 4 degree. Somehow in excitement I could not feel anything. I took my camera out and started clicking whatever I can. Had some good photo of myself too!

Spending arnd 30 minutes it's time to move on. Haa is still some more kilometer away. After leaving the place the elevation started to fall drastically. Within 40 mins I was there in Haa Valley. Had some butt and fag break in between. After a stroll in the Haa city I did not found much interesting things. So carried on towards Paro with a different route not the one with which I came to Haa. Reached Paro in the afternoon around 4.30 pm and had my lunch cum evening snacks at the hotel where I stayed. :)
After that strolled around the city. The city is too small, it hardly took 40 mins to go all around the city. Befriended with some local boys who showed me the only internet cafe in the city. Had some time on FB and after a chat with my fellow friends I went back to hotel again.

Day 4 - Solo Ride from Kolkata to Land of Thunder Dragon

Day 4
05/11/2011
The day four. When I woke up for a min I cud not realized where am I. Then I realized I am far away from home in a foreign land. :P The clock showed me it’s 6.10 in the morning so it’s 6.40 in Bhutan. Hurry Up…
Within 30 mins I dressed up and packed my luggage, I was not sure if I will come back to Thimpu or head for Paro at the end of the day depending on the road condition and time. I had little snacks with a cup of tea and bid good bye to my fellow hotel owner, she told me to come back very soon and told she will be worried about my journey, so kind of her!!

Thimpu Landscape

The Ride

Today I am about to head for Punakha Valley. The valley was warmer than the other valleys in Bhutan. The road towards Punakha starts from the hill opposite of the city. From there I got a good view of total Thimpu valley, I scolded myself why in the previous night I didn’t come here, huh! After that I am about to cross the check post but saw no one who wish to stop me and check my papers so I revved and zoomed past the check post. The road was not so good but is manageable. Stopped here and there took some photos and within some time reached the fog-braced place called 108-Chortens. This place is known for the 108-Chortens(Stupas) like Buddhist monuments.

108 Chortens

I was frightened to take out my camera in between that fog. My riding jacket felt like wet. So covered my Lens and started clicking. There I met a older couple from Mumbai who were enjoying Bhutan in their honeymoon trip. Liked their spirit so had some chat with them and again hit the road after around 1 hour. Then I felt the height is decreasing as I came near the valley and after sometime reached the destination – Punakha. Had lot of photos of Punakha Dzong and near by areas and roads. The Dzong was too big too cover alone. I tried to reach every corner but after finishing two building I was damn tired, the steps to reach the top of the Dzong is too steep. When I was busy clicking shots of the place an official of DRDO, India came to that Dzong for a visit he was curious seeing my attire. Of course it was not his fault. Who expects a guy wearing riding jacket and knee guard inside a Dzong? We had a little chat and he gave me his number to contact for any trouble in Bhutan.

Punakha Dzong

Yo!! m so Happy!!

Then around 2 pm had my lunch and headed for Wangdue. But it started raining heavily and the temperature was dropping drastically while riding so I had to head back. I had a wish to stay at Thimpu but ended up at Paro that day being totally drenched. I stayed at the Hotel Tandin. The hotel owner gave me the double bed room for only Rs. 250/- she was too kind and again it was ‘she’ indeed. That evening was not good for me. Felt bit feverish so had my dinner bit early followed by a calpol and went to bed. Will decide tomorrow where to go!! Good Night..

Day 3 - Solo Ride from Kolkata to Land of Thunder Dragon

Day 3
04/11/2011

The alarm was set at 4.15am but before the alarm my bio-alarm woke me up. It was too cold and fog outside. I had my bath and geared up pretty soon and was ready to hit the road. I had a sheer fear for my steed; it spent the whole night outside under the cold. But it was my ZMA, with first hit the engine started roaring. The hotel owner and the gate keeper were at the door to bid me Goodbye. The road condition was good to maintain 65-70 though in hilly terrain, but the fog warned me not to be too excited. After 5 kms the first check post arrived where I had to show all the documents of me and my bike. They guided me that after some kms the road condition was bad due to the recent earthquake. I need to be more cautious while riding.

My first Sunrise on a foreign land

In the meantime the sun was on it’s way. Again after 2 kms of the check post I stopped to capture the beauty of the foreign Sunrise. Simply it was royal, there was no snow peak in front of me but the large stretch of fog embraced mountains, the small stream coming out of the mountains. In one word I felt like heaven. Stopped near at Gedu (45kms from Psoling), had a little breakfast with hot Maggie and Tea.

On the way to Thimpu

Enter Thimpu City

Stopped at many places and atlast reached Chuzom (in English ‘Confluence’), the meeting point of two rivers. From here the road divides to Paro, Thimpu and Haa. I headed for Thimpu. Around 12.30 I reached Thimpu. There are many taskes to do. Had to get the permits for the restricted areas like Haa / Punakha / Wangdue. So found a hotel nearby the market, dumped my luggage, parked my bike and headed for Immigration office by a Bhutanese Taxi (Maruti Wagoner). It took around 40 mins. Again there was a lady sitting at the desk helped me to get the permit as soon as possible. Then I rushed to the RSTA office crossing the river and got the vehicle permit extended for those places. Around 3.45 all paperwork was over and now I am free to roam around in Bhutan.
I was bit tired so went to some nearby places in Thimpu like Budhdha Point, Swiss Bakery.

Thimpu Clock Tower

The Swiss Bakery - The quality was awesome!!

The City was so much law enforced. But it was good.

Day 2 - Solo Ride from Kolkata to Land of Thunder Dragon

Day 2
03/11/2011

It was 4.30am in the morning, when I opened my eyes. I looked outside of the dhaba, it was total foggy, I could barely see things 4 fts away. I started packing up things and was ready to hit the road within 5.15am. After checking the tyre pressure I hit the road. The NH31 was butter smooth 4 lane highway except near Kisanganj, it merged to a single road. As the fog was getting away slowly I was able to maintain a speed of 80-85 all along the way. I planned to stop the day’s first break at Siliguri for breakfast. Around 7.30 I reached Siliguri and stopped at IOCL petrol pump near Orbit Mall, Siliguri. I filled up my empty stomach with biscuits, cashews and tea. I was quite relaxed that I will reach Phuentsholing within more 3 hours but did not know what actually was going to happen. Just when I finished my breakfast and fag break and just about to head inside the petrol pump I saw the rear tyre is punctured. Oh GOD!! How this can happen? I maintained 85-90 just before Siliguri and the tyre did not complained anything. To my utter luck I got a puncture repair shop just opposite the pump. I just gave a big thanks to ‘HIM’. It took around 1.5 hour to rmake my steed ready to roll. I was sure I will not make it to Phuentsholing before lunch time I was bit disappointed. So decided to take the Sevoke road as it is better to enjoy the ride than waiting in the queue in the lunchtime. It was already 9.15am. I started rolling again. The roads of Siliguri was bit congested at that point of time in the morning. Within a while I was out of the busy roads and hit the smooth open NH31 through Sevoke Bridge. The ride through this stretch was amazing, I maintained around 95-100kmph. The scenic views at both the sides, the open road and the cold breeze made it more attractive. It stopped me to unleash the photographer inside me after crossing every 8-10kms. Crossed Birpara, Jaldapara and from a place I turned towards Hasimara which leads to Phuentsholing. The condition of this road was like hell. It was my utter surprise how the road connecting two countries can be like this. Around 1.15 pm I reached Phuentsholing.

I thought I would have to wait for 45minutes as the RSTA office opens at 2.00 after lunch, but I almost forgot the BT Time is 30mins ahead, so I had to wait only for 15 mins. The permit process took only 10 mins to complete. I have submitted Rs. 128/- for my bike for duration of 11days. The lady there in the RSTA office was very helpful and was too curious to know about me. Hope she’s thinking I was a madcap riding all alone to see her country.
Within 2.30pm completing all the formalities I was ready to enter Bhutan legally. I decided to stay at Phuentsholing not in Jaigaon to test how it feels staying in a different land. I searched for sometime and found a good hotel in a reasonable rate – “Bhutan Hotel”. The parking here in Bhutan is a pain. I parked my bike in a distance of 500mtrs from hotel and carried all my luggage to my room at 3rd floor!!! Anyway I got freshened up and had my lunch from the room service and had a talk with my parents and better half. After a sound sleep till 6 in the evening I went outside to see the streets of Pheuntsholing and capture them in my lens.

Came back to hotel around at 8.30pm and ordered my dinner. After having my dinner cleared all the bills of the hotel as I was supposed to leave the hotel at the early morning around at 5.00. The whole Phuentsholing city went surprisingly quite as the time rolled. Had a fag and went to bed at around 10 with a wish to have a great day ahead.