A lazy walk in drowsy Ghum, Darjeeling

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Mithun 29 January, 2022

Once in a summer while I was been burning in scorching heat in city life, I decided to escape. Escape to a small town, very small town. It was nothing but “Ghum”, a small hilly locality in the” Darjeeling Himalayan hill region” of “West Bengal, India”, which is two stations before “Darjeeling”. Neither any adventure nor any passion of travel dragged me there. I went for a cold, cozy escape to rest my body from the glimpse regular tiring life. It was a wonderful dream when I used to see the pictures of “Ghum” station in my mountain friend’s sent postcard, google searching in between my daily routine. For your kind information I let you know, “Ghum” railway station of the “Darjeeling Himalayan Railway” is the highest railway station in “India”. It is situated at an altitude of 2,258 metres (7,407 ft). When I reached there after a three hours jeep journey from nearest airport “Bagdogra” it was a very chilled blow from uphill. On the way I saw the beauty of hill villages and their lives. The rustic cultures took my heart away. It was so beautiful countryside with the beauty of “Himalayan Range”. After I landed in “Ghum”, I felt like surrounding was bit wet, may be because of an early morning rain. The first work I did after I reach, I took a real fresh breath with pollution free air with full of cool oxygen. That small thing almost made my whole body relaxed in one moment. Then I put out my mind from the world of my fantasy and I headed to find any cozy hotel for a very comfort hill stay. I got a hotel, as I wanted exactly. After a refreshing hot shower, I put on my favourite long coat, which I hardly wear in city. I always loved the flavour of old Darjeeling district, it had a pure rich British essence all around because of the involvement from the past with England. So I started walk from my hotel towards the “Ghum Monastery”, the oldest monastery of that area. The weather was really drowsy, covered with mysterious fog, street was bit wet, the atmosphere was really quiet. The name of this town is quietly similar with the Bengali word “Ghum” means “Sleeping”. It seemed the town was in deep sleep from a long time. After visiting Ghum Monastery, and photographed some rare himalayan birds like whiskered Yuhina , Rufous Sibia and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush I was heading for Ghum Station. My long time desire was to sit long time in that station area, because in so many articles I read, that sitting there is a proper chilling way to enjoy Darjeeling weather. So I just wanted to do the same thing. I walked and walked and soon been tired because of the uphill road. It was a so nice view I could explain, the “Toy Train” was just reached the station with the black smoke as it’s long tail. The station was been full with scattered faces of different skins. It was exciting and delightful to see that in that lazy afternoon. I just came into the station and sat on a long bench. I was gazing at them, slowly they passed away with the train again, in front of me only a Rail Museum was fallen apart. I sat there may be for an hour with some soothing music in my ipod. I felt, the reason I came here for, didn’t do in vain. It was one of the most cozy and relaxed moment of my life that I will never forget. Evening came so gently and pushed me to go away to head my warm bed. So I left with my happy shadow. Next morning I went to “Tiger Hill”, is 5 km from Ghum and is located 1,100 feet (340 m) higher than Ghum to see the perfect sunrise of the mountain and the speechless view of “Kanchanjunga”, the third highest peak of the world. After I got back from there, I headed for the sitting again in that lazy station. It continued another 4 days, then I headed for another hill destination. Still now, when I get back to “Darjeeling”, I never forget to walk down to “Ghum Station” and sit there for a while. I suggest to all my travel friends, who are interested in wonderful hill areas of India , to come in “Ghum” sometime and to enjoy this wonderful cold station. You can stay in “Sterling Hotel”, which is not far from “Ghum”. You can access the whole Darjeeling Area from here. Because, it is 6 km from Darjeeling and 24 km from Kurseong via Sonada. It is also very close to “Tiger Hill”. Ride sometime the world famous historical “Toy Train” from the station. Try to enjoy “Ghum” in a lazy way, because it’s the best way.

TAGS: DarjeelingGhum
Mithun

AuthorMithun

Over the past 10 years I traveled more than 200 places in 27 countries and a pleasure to be able to share my travel experience and knowledge I have gathered during those days.

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