Yumthang Valley

North Sikkim. Lachung. Just before you reach this spot one drives through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary. Sikkim is said to be having 35 species of Rhododendrons. This year, 2010, the state celebrated The International Rhododendron Festival. This valley was a mix of many reds, pinks, purples of Rodos. And the Firetail Sunbird was at its best ever.

Prayers in the sky

This is north Sikkim - Lachen. One of the first tributeries for Teesta flows through here. Somebody told me theres a book called something like A 100 PLACES TO VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE. I dont think Lachen features in this but I tell whoever has been here knows its just someplace else. The air is crisp. Most afternoons the wind whispers loudly. And the snow clad peaks glisten in the sun. How long will we see the snow with global warming. The last time I was there snow was sparse. Where earlier snowfall settled I noticed bare hills. Precipitation is increasingly rain which is washing down these very fragile mountains. "How many times can a man turn his head..."