Just About Everything

                                                   Sundarbans Reserve Forest Continued from my last post  Sundarbans Reserve Forest: the largest continuous mangrove forest in the world Day 2 : We checked out of our hotel at 8 in the morning and got into our launch for our 2 nd and last day at Sundarbans (yes, a very short trip:) Breakfast was prepared and served in the launch. Hot luchis (fried refined flour bread), aloo sabji (potato curry with gravy), and tea was the menu, and exactly what we needed to start the day with :) Our first stop was Sajnekhali and this is the place where a permit is obtained to get into the reserve forest area. Sajnekhali has watch towers which provides  a good view of the mangrove forest a. We saw monkeys and river terrapins during our stop here. With the permit done, our launch  ride continu...

                                   Sundarbans Reserve Forest West Bengal, India Finally went out for a short trip with the family after almost two years! What a relief to be able to start travelling  again:) We chose Sundarbans because of the short time it takes to reach Sundarbans from Kolkata. It was not my first visit but i like visiting Sundarbans anyway:). If you are in Kolkata, Sundarbans must be in your list of places to visit, especially if you like nature. It will take you approx. three hours by road from Kolkata to reach the closest point from where the launch journey to Sundarbans begins. Day 1 : We started around 9.30 am, and by the time we got  dropped off at Godkhali, it was almost 12.30 pm.  Godkhali is one of the points from where you can get into a launch that will take you into the reserve forest. You can also reach Sundarbans from Canning. For us, Godkh...

The mesmerising Sunrise viewed at Tiger Hill The travel bug in me continues to bite …it is raining and this weather so reminds me of Darjeeling. Perhaps the most crowded and most visited hill station in West Bengal …yet I so love it. There is something about Darjeeling. An hour’s flight to Bagdogra, or an overnight train from Kolkata to NJP, and then another 3 hours by road, takes you to Darjeeling. The best part about Darjeeling is you can chill in the city, it has so many places where you can eat out, listen to live music, and drink gallons of the oh so aromatic Darjeeling tea.Or, you can get out of the city, and visit the innumerable places in and around Darjeeling that offer you such picturesque surroundings amidst a tranquil and cool weather. Just writing about it makes me want to pack up and get there.  However I know I can’t ;( given the pandemic situation…but I can certainly imagine I am there…and that gives me some relief….I am sharing some pictures from my ...

Himalayan Monal After sighting the illusive  Cheer Pheasant , the group moved towards their next destination which was Chopta, at an altitude of 8000 ft, and 50 km from Makkumath. On the way to Chopta they crossed the scenic snow-covered Dugalbitta. The entire area (Chopta and Dugalbitta) falls under Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary. Himalayan Monal (male) Himalayan Monal (Female) They saw a whole lot of birds on the way to Dugalbitta. If you like bird watching then this region from Makkumath to Chopta must be in your list. I am sharing pictures of some of the birds that Soma sighted on the way to Dugalbitta from Makkumath. They were lucky to see the Himalayan Tahr as well. The most awaited sighting happened a little beyond Chopta, on the yellow grassy slopes, they saw the Himalayan Monals (both male and female), perhaps one of the most beautiful birds in India. It is from Chopta that the Tungnath trek begins. Tungnath is the highest of the ...