Adventure Tour to Muguthang, North Sikkim

Exotic Holidays

ADVENTURE TOUR TO MUGUTHANG, NORTH SIKKIM Monalisha Dash, Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial), North Sikkim

rivulets join the river to make its few settlements of Army, ITBP volume many fold. As we moved and other para-military up towards Thangu, we organizations, no other human encountered steepest rise in settlement is seen. The complex altitude over the shortest distance. terrain allows only the trekkers to Along the river one can feel access the area. The landscape of diverse climatic zones, starting this area is devoid of big trees, from Tropical to Temperate to rather rich in medicinal herbs, Alpine ones. In and around juniper & rhododendron thickets Mangan, the Tropical Forests of and many more beautiful alpine Alnus, Terminellia, Michaelia, etc. flowering herbs. Early morning on lead us further to Temperate 10th September, the group with Forest (around Lachen) of basic amenities proceeded for North Sikkim is the largest and Quercus, Castronopsis, Abies, Muguthang. From Thangu there is beautiful district of Sikkim. The Tsuga, etc. a jeep-able road of approximately natural beauty of the place is vast 5 km stretch that culminates at and beyond any explanation. Kala Pather. On the left side of the North Sikkim is like a stupendous road the spectacular Chopta stairway leading from Western Valley is viewed. Here the river Border of the Tibetan Plateau gracefully meanders to beautify down to the low lying area of itself. From Kala Pather there is a Dikchu. Because of its location, it steep uphill climb of approximately is decorated with the salubrious three hours to reach Lugnak –La forest. Thus North Sikkim is (18183 feet). endowed with nature’s bounty. Ultimately just below and beyond th The drive, on 8 September 2008 the Lonak La we came across the from Mangan to Muguthang with a Alpine forest of Juniper, team constituting of myself, ACF Rhododendron, Saxifraga, (T) Mangan, Ms Katherine Susssuria, Rhuem and many Lepcha; RO(T) Lachen, Mr. more heavenly flowering plants. Norden Lepcha; BO (T) Lachen, Mr. Pradeep Subba; FG (T) Area beyond Thangu falls under Thangu, Mr. Sonam Lachenpa the rain shadow of the mighty The view of Lugnak-La and the DFO (T) ventured as a routine Himalayas, thus this plateau patrolling duty witnessed the adjacent mountains is simply region does not permit habitation magnificent and breath taking. mighty untamed River Teesta due to unfavourable physiographic cascading through mountains and and climatic conditions. Except valleys. Series of waterfalls,

Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department Exotic Holidays

While venturing the countryside area lying in-between the ITBP we met one Dokpa named Mr. habitation and Dokpas huts was Nedup Lachenpa. He helped us in meshed up with garbage thrown getting an insight about the here and there by ITBP people for lifestyle of Dokpas at Muguthang. years together. This matter was Presently nine families of Dokpas taken up with the Assistant are residing there. They are the Commandant (AC) of ITBP posted nomadic tribes. Mostly the head of at Muguthang. In response to the the family stays in Muguthang Forest Department’s observation while the children study in regarding garbage accumulation Gangtok and other urban areas. at Muguthang, AC promptly took Yaks are the fundamental part of action and next day i.e. on 11th of their lives. The benefits of September2008, one Eco-clean products like hard cheese Drive were taken up. (churpi), meat and butter gives them some earnings. Yak dung is used as fuel for cooking food and fodder and also heating their homes. They also cultivate potatoes and locally called ‘Rai The steep downhill view of Saag’ for self consumption during Muguthang valley from the pass the summer times. They then makes speechless. A cautious store the potatoes inside pits dug move can only make an on the ground to consume during adventurer successful in crossing winters. When there is scarcity of this. The fear of losing balance grass due to snowfall the nettles and rolling down to unrecoverable that grow there are cut, collected The non- degradable and gorge gives the thrill. But after and dried during the summer to degradable were segregated. The successful descend one can feel a feed the yaks by mixing it with degradable were put inside the pit sense of confidence in himself. flour during the winters. and covered for natural Further as someone proceeds decomposition. The non- amongst the picturesque serenity, There is an ITBP force deputed at degradable were put together and with the vibrancy of the boundless Muguthang to safeguard the asked to transport it back to urban spread of the valley and the lake, International boundary. After area for recycling. one may feel one of the most reaching Muguthang on 10th of compelling sites of his lifetime. September 2008, around 14:00 On 11th of September 2008, after hrs we took a round around the successful completion of Eco- Muguthang is a small hamlet on ITBP camp. The premise was well Clean Drive with the help of ITBP, the bank of River Naku Chhu. maintained but we observed that the patrolling group headed back to Thangu crossing through Lugnak-La again. This venture gave us an insight to the awesome topographical as well as biological diversity that makes North Sikkim a treasurer of natural wealth of flora and fauna.

Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department Exotic Holidays

Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department