Varsey: The Land of Guras

North Bengal has become an elemental part of my guidebook whenever I think of exploring some new places in my vicinity, leaving the hassles of daily life. Already I had covered almost all the popular tourist destinations of North Bengal and Sikkim. For the past few years I am trying to hit the offbeat destinations of North Bengal and Sikkim. This is the first time I am going to portray my experience. Lets start out journey to the Land of Guras.

Rhododendron (Guras), a special type of flower mostly found in the mountains of Sikkim, some parts of Uttarakand and Himachal and even in some parts of Kashmir, is also the national flower of Nepal. If you are staying close to Bengal or Sikkim, the best way to get a glimpse of this is, make a trip to Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in Mid April.

Varsey or Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is in the Singalila Range of West Sikkim bordering Nepal to the West. Varsey can be reached from three points – Hilley, Dentam and Soreng. Hilley is the most popular and easiest among the three. Varsey is mainly famous among tourist because of the Rhododendrons which blooms in the month of March and April.

If you have been there in the middle of April, you will enthralled by the warmest welcome from the Sanctuary. You will walk over a red carpet of Rhododendron petals, surrounded by a dense forest which at that time gets dyed in red, white, pink and violet colours all around, Yes that’s right guess!! These are the Guras-The Rhododendrons. Better to say, what your eyes will see, your pens won’t be able to replicate that experience later. Words are too short to describe.

Wait boss!! Let me add some more cherries on the muffin. The place where you will stay is inside the sanctuary and Sleeping Buddha aka Mt Kanchenjunga will be in front of your vicinity. Staying in tent in a full moon night surrounded by Rhododendron forest gives you some different experience, which you will cherish throughout.

We spend most of the times of the day in chaos and hectic schedules where silence is an abstract word in our dictionary. But there I felt the significance of silence and its bondage with peace.

I have been there at the end of March, when flowers start blooming. Weather was very cloudy and temperature went below zero. But I was lucky enough to get all the experiences ranging from Rhododendron to Sleeping Buddha, from treks with smoky clouds to tent in a chilling night with shades of golden beam in the dark. Warm hospitality from Mr Pushoi from the Varsey Barrack will be another add-on in your trip.

Let’s start from New Jalpaiguri (NJP)!!

Day 1: Start early!  Try to reach NJP within 7-8 am. Okhrey is around 130 km from NJP and it takes almost 6hours to reach Okhrey from NJP. Always book your cab in advance. You can refer to the contacts given at the end. Give a halt at Jorthang, have your lunch and start again. Reach Okhrey by dusk. Okhrey is a small village inhabited mostly by the Sherpas. The main occupation of the local residents is farming. Enjoy your pleasant stay at Okhrey. This is mainly for acclimatization. Night halt will be in home stay. *

Day2: Wake up early in the morning and have a light breakfast. We need to start early. Try to leave Okhrey within 7am. You will reach Hilley by 8am.  Trek to Varsey starts from this village. Varsey is at a distance of 5km from Hilley.  It is prescribed not to carry heavy bags or trolley. Carry light rucksacks or backpacks.  Follow the zigzag trail that goes in the midst of a dense forest. Sometime you will have steep ups and some time road goes steep down. But mostly it will be cool. Better don’t think of it and feel the surroundings. Filled with bamboo and Rhodendrons mostly, added with your silent trek, this sanctuary can give you a view of some rare animal breeds-Red Pigeon, Panda, Beer. I saw a Red Pigeon only.

Try to reach Forest Barrack by 10am. Accommodation can be arranged in Forest Barrack or Guras Kunj. You can opt for any one of the two.  Have a cup of tea in the Land of Guras, keep your back pack and explore the sanctuary. There is a 2 km trek towards a watch tower inside the sanctuary. Try it! Explore the silence of the forest.  Return back and have delicious Nepali dishes in lunch. Post lunch explore other side of the jungle.

Dusk starts with a new beauty and intensifies with darkness. As Silence plays with darkness and the mere reflection from moon tries to paint in the dark, you will feel the beats of your clock. I will not try to express something which can’t be expressed in words. Try it!! Feel it!!

Have your dinner at 8pm and still you have time to explore this beauty. Night is with you and you are in a tent in the middle of a sanctuary with no electricity all around. Sit outside your tent and feel the lustre of this dark night. 

Take your time! Goodnight!

Day3: Wake up early in the morning and try to have a peep out of your tent for sunrise with Mt. Kanchenjunga in front of you. The snow covered peaks in front of you drenched in Sun light will be another complement for you in the Land of Guras.  By this time you must be absorbed in the beauty of Varsey. Now it’s time to adieu Varsey. Have your breakfast and return back to Hilley.

Notes:

1     BSNL is only service provider having at least minimal service. Other services are not at par and works occasionally.

2     Contact Mr. Pushoi from Forest Barrack for any booking or queries. He is a helpful person.

3     Carry the following items with you- Torch, energy bars if possible.

4     Try real Rhododendron juice which is spirit free (Not white one).*

5     All bookings need to be done in advance.

Accommodation:

Okrey:

  8Accommodation Type: Home Stay

  8Contact: Mr. P.D. Sherpa (9733220180)

  8Rates: Rs.800 to Rs.1000 per head per day including meal.

Varsey:

  8 Accommodation Type:  Forest Barrack (Staying in tent is recommended)

  8Contact: Mr. Pushoi (9733412807/9547219305)

  8 Rates: Tentà Rs. 700-800/- (per head per day including meal).

Vehicle:

8Mr. P.D. Sherpa (9733220180)   /     Kumar (8348148728)

    Rates: Normal charges Rs.4500-5000 for a cab of 8 people from NJP to Varsey.

Entry Fee to Varsey Rhododendrons Sanctuary: Rs.50 per head per day.

Total Trek: 5+2+2+1.5+1.5+5=17km (Approx.)

Nearest places to Visit: Gorkhey, Hee-Bermoik.

For any further query refer to my Email Id below.

Aniket Chakraborty

*acaniketh@gmail.com