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The
Sikkim Himalayas, the epitome of the world’s
mountains, encompass a wonderland, which for sheer
beauty and magnificence remains unbeaten elsewhere in
the globe. Lonely vales and dales, gapping chasms and
terrifying gorges, thrilling lakes and streams,
turquoise hued as mirrors, crystal clear, on which the
king of Mountains, crowned with eternal snows, casts
shadows long and lovely.
Sikkim is situated in the lap of the eastern Himalayas
below Mt.Khangchendzonga (8598m.3rd highest Mountain in
the world) to the north of Sikkim lies the vast area of
the great Tibetan plateau, to the west the kingdom of
Nepal, to the east the kingdom of Bhutan and the Chumbi
Valley of Tibet, while the neighboring State of West
Bengal stretches along its southern boundary. Sikkim is
the 22nd State of India.
THOLUNG MONASTERY TREK
Tholung Monastery was first built in the reign of
Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal in the early 18th century. It
contains rare and valuable scriptures and artifacts of
other monasteries that were brought here for safety
during the invasion of Sikkim by the Nepalese during
late 17th and early 19th century. A brass Chorten within
the monastery contains the ashes of one of the
incarnates of Lama Latsun Chembo, the patron saint of
Sikkim. All the relics are kept sealed in thirteen boxes
under the supervision of the government of Sikkim. Once
every three years in the month of April the relics are
shown to the public in the monastery complex. The last
display of the relics was held in April 91.
Approaching Tholung
Tholung at an altitude of
8,000 ft lies in the sparsely Lepcha populated Dzongu
area of North Sikkim and falls in the restricted area
for which a inner line permit is required by Indian
Nationals. To reach Tolung, one has to travel by road
upto Linzey. From Linzey to Tolung is a 20-km walk
and takes approximately five hours along the thundering
Tolung River through dense forests and cardamom groves.
The Trail
Precipitous cliffs surround
the easy track, from which plummet down waterfalls in
white plumes hundreds of feet below into the narrow
gorges to the valley floor. Birds tweet louder to make
themselves heard over the sound of the waterfalls and
the rivers. Perched precariously on these cliffs here
and there are the huts of the hardy Lepchas.
As one walks towards Tholung, the surrounding mountains
on the top of which ice clings tenaciously even during
the summer seem to close in. On reaching Tholung one can
understand why the Sikkimese chose this place to keep
the relics here out of the reach of the invading
Nepalese. Because of its vantage location it was easy to
guard hence this place was selected for relics. There is
a pilgrims hut. An easy walk of about an hour along the
Tholung River takes one to a religious spot - Devta
Pani.
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