Silk Route Tour with Maimenchu lake 6 Days

(proposed route-NJP/Siliguri-Kalimpong-Pedong- Sillary gaon (New Darjeeling)-Reshi-Rhenok-Padamchen-Zuluk-Lungthang-Nathang-Kupup lake-Baba mandir- Maimenchu lake-Tsangoo lake-Gangtok-NJP/Siliguri)

Trade linkages between British India and Tibet through the passes of Sikkim dates back to the late 18th Century. It was the report written by john Edgar the Deputy commissioner in Darjeeling in 1873 that really captured the attention of the British India Goverment with regard to the great strategic and commercial potentials of this route in Sikkim. The Trade through Nathula had been the outcome of the reputed deliberations and discourses at highest administrative levels between the British India/Sikkim and Tibeto-Chinese Goverments.

The Later half of the 1890s, witnessed a fairly good trade of British India with Tibet through Sikkim passes as highlighted by the extract of the diary of the Political Officer for Sikkim. The diary extract of the 16th January 1898 states, "The trade for December are very good, amounting to Rs 3,41,290. This includes a consignment of Gold worth Rs. 16,800- the finest that has been sent in for some years."

The adventurous younghosband Mission launched from Sikkim with a military escort (1903-04) accomplished its task of reaching Lhasa thereby leading to 1904 Convention that firmed up the Anglo-Tibet trade.

This is plan for a jeep safari for a memorable trip to the mesmerizing corner of India – the ancient Silk Route, which used to connect Lhasa in Tibet via the Jelep La Pass to India and onwards to the rest of the world. In the Travel circuit, this territory is marked as East Sikkim and has been opened to tourists recently. Even now most of the route is restricted area due its international boundary with China (Tibet) and the route is controlled by the Indian Army named as - “Cloud Warriors”.

History: The trade was that of an open market. Most of the trade especially from Nathula was done on the basis of cash transactions where as the trade from Jelep La was mostly done on the basis of barter, even to the later days. The preferred currency for trade was the Indian currency but later on in the past 1950s the Chinese dollar called "dyang" (1 dyang=INR 3-4) gained prominence. It was a pure silver coin.

The trade exports of India then were that of ghee, sugar, tinned goods, hardware, motor parts, mechanical items, construction materials, editable oils, leather goods (especially shoes), western watches (Rolex-Black dials) etc. The Indian imports were that of raw wool, Chinese silk and Chinese dollar.

Trek Itinerary:

Day 01: NJP Railway Station. – Sillery gaon
Meet & Greet on arrival at NJP station and transfer to Sillery gaon New Darjeeling homestay – On arrival check-in to eco- village home stay and rest of the day at leisure. lunch and dinner at Sillery. Overnight at Sillery home stay.

Day 02: Reshi
After breakfast sight seeing to Ramitay view point , Teenchuley view point and transfer to Reshi. On arrival check-in to eco- village camp and rest of the day at leisure. lunch and dinner at Reshi. Overnight at Reshi home stay.

Day 03: Reshi- Zuluk
This morning after breakfast drive to Zuluk. On arrival check-in to your home stay & rest of the day is at leisure. lunch and dinner at Zuluk. Overnight at Zuluk home stay.

Perched on the rugged terrain of the lower Himalayas in East Sikkim, Zuluk is a hamlet close to The Indo China border, located at an altitude of 3000 meters(10000 ft), has a primitive appeal. There are about 60 families consisting of about 600 people living in Zuluk. They are largely immigrants from Nepal who came and settled here in the hope of a better future. They are honest, simple, hardworking and hospitable by nature. However, most of them are illiterate.

Day 04: Visit Nathang valley, Kupup, Jelepla pass, New and Old Baba Mandir and transfer to Maimen chu lake.
After breakfast start for Nathang valley, Kupup, haati lake, Jelepla pass, Old Baba Mandir, New Baba Mandir, and transfer to Maimenchu lake . (Depends on road condition).

Day 5: Maimenchu lake to Gangtok
After breakfast transfer to Gangtok after Tsomgo lake sight seeing.

Day 6: Gangtok to Bagdogra/Njp Railway stn
After breakfast transfer to Njp/Bagdogra.

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Photos of Silk Route Tour with Maimenchu lake 6 Days

Sikkim & Darjeeling Trips