Auli - Our very own Switzerland By Ankush /PushPraj

As a Uttaranchal Expert at TravelPort this huge responsibility of escorting the Rotary Club group to Auli, which was very important to my organization. It was a adventure trip for some of the elite people of Mumbai .

I’m really thankful to TravelPort and its management for giving me this great opportunity& believed in me in completing the given task. Auli which is known as Switzerland of India is famous for its skiing & trekking activities.

After receiving the group from Delhi airport we all proceeded to the railway station for our journey to Haridwar. It was 4:00 am in the morning when we reached Haridwar, which was half the distance covered then. After having some early morning refreshments, especially “Cutting Chai”, we started our second league of our journey to Joshimath, which was around 270 kms ( 9-10hrs ). We passed through some beautiful landscapes at Rishikesh ( famous for its White Water Rafting also one of the holiest river in India the Ganges ), Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and a number of small villages where life is in a different pace all together. Finally we reached Joshimath, which is one of the stop over in the Chardham Yatra.
Ropeway or Cable Car is the only mode of commuting to Auli.

It is Asia’s 2nd largest ropeway & takes around 25 mins ( one way ) to cover the distance of 4 kms & takes you from an height of 1990 mts to 3100 mts , while you are mesmerized by the picturesque mountains covered with snow. Mom Nature was so happy with us that we were greeted with a snowfall as soon as we landed the place. It was freezing cold, wherein the day temperature was around 7 degrees & in the nights it used to be sub-zero. The one day trek which was the part of the tour was a great experience too, the difficulty level of the trek being moderate to hard, where some sections were as steep as 50 Degrees and it looked as if a thick white wall of ice is staring right back at you. Cutting through the snow made our walking difficult due to the overnight snowfall. The very sight of the mighty Nanda Devi peak in the distance was an jaw-dropping experience. It stood tall & was unperturbed from the rest of its counterparts. The 5 days which we spent in the heart of the Garwhal mountains were full of beauty & bliss at the same time wondering that a place like this would exist in India. When the time came to bid-adue to this wonderful place we thought wish we stay back for much more time ---it was a aura of Auli getting into us in such a short span - A tribute to this amazing destination .

Highlights :
1.If visiting Auli spend one day trekking rather than coolong your heels at the hotel .
2.Best Time to visit : DEC to March to attempt skiing
3.Treacherous but scenic drive all the way .
4.The best place to stay : CliffTop club ,Auli
5. Not to be missed : Joshimath to clifftop auli by cable car

Ankush Guptay adn Pushparaj ,Uttarnchal and Himacahal experts @ TravelPort

North East - Hidden treasure of India - Malaika /Sandy

Pick of lots ,thats how it got decided that we (Malaika and Sandy ) were travelling to North east of India .TravelPort ,our company was sending us as part of a team to explore this new exotic destination .Over excitement followed by after thoughts made us wonder what it would be like to go to a underdeveloped ,in- news- for- wrong- reason- place ,that too ,two city lasses like us .
God ! How wrong we were for we discovered a new heaven on earth (cliched but that is yet the best way to describe our new discovery )
We were lucky to be exploring this hidden - unspoilt - virgin -gem of a destination ,fit for a evolved traveller .(well atleast till we start filling up the place with tourists ).We thought of writing this journal to share our journey highlights .

North East of India is the land of Blue Mountains, Green Valley, Red River, wild life, and colourful people, a blend of all these makes it the most beautiful Eco-Tourism destination in south Asia

Click here For Slide Show - North east


The train journey upto siliguri was a typical indian one - best not described - cos we chose the wrong class to travel in .It was a releif to get to siliguri from where we proceeded to Pelling ,our first stopover .


Pelling: 24/02/08----26/02/08
Pelling is a beautiful hill-station, nestled between the snow-covered peaks of Sikkim. Located at a distance of 10kms from Geyzing, Pelling is renowned for being the nearest site to Mt. Kanchenjunga. The scenic beauty of Pelling cannot be circumscribed in words and really requires a proximate look to feel the quietude. Elevated to the height of 6,800 ft, Pelling is the best place to get a close view of the entire mountain range
Places to visit :Darap Valley, Rimbi waterfalls, the holy Khecheopalri Lake and Pemayangtse Monestry.
The Good: Accommodation/ Sight seeing/ pleasant Climate
The Bad: No Restaurants around so person is compelled to eat his meals at the hotel he is put up in.
The ugly :None at all
Gangtok: 26/02/08-----28-02-08
Gangtok is nestled in lush greenery at 5800 ft, it is a blend of Traditional and modern culture where you will find youngsters in trendy dresses while elderly matrons clad in bakus.
On the way to Gangtok we proceeded to Rinchinpong, it is a picturesque village with Panoramic view of Kan-chen-dzonga range, the next day we visited Tsomgo lake which is 38km from Gangtok and is at 12500 ft, this lake is frozen throughout the year and comes alive during May to August where beautiful flowers blooms on its bank and on the adjoining Hill slopes, from Gangtok
The Good: Accomodation/ Good place to shop
Bad: Sometimes you dont feel welcomed.
Ugly: Not Applicable

Lachung: 28/02/08----29-02-08
Lachung is a divine abode sited in the northern district of Sikkim. Perched at an elevation of 8,800 ft, Lachung is an ideal place to spent beautiful moments in solitude. The way to Lachung passes through quaint villages, scenic spots, and waterfalls. In recent times, Lachung has been made available to the tourists in an organized manner. It would not be embroidered to say that Lachung is actually a Shangri-La on the earth.
We went to Lachung on the way to Lachung we visited Singhik view point, Seven sisters waterfall & most beautiful Bhima waterfall. Lanchung is a diven adode, sited in the Northern District of Sikkim at 8800ft; we felt it is the most ideal place to spend beautiful moments in solitude. Lanchung means “Small Mountains”. In Lachung we saw Monastry, Handicraft center; we had a Bonfire at Lanchung. Next day we proceeded to Yumthang Valley which is also known as Valley of Flowers, Yumthang Valley is a grazing pasture for Yaks and yetis. During the summer the area blooms with the most beautiful flowers, from Yumthang Valley
Good: beautiful Senic Place.
Bad: No basic infrastructure facility available/ Food.
Ugly: Not Applicable.
We proceeded to NJP to take train back to mumbai. After living in a place like mumbai where one leads a very busy life. We think our visit to Sikkim has brought us so close to Mother Nature. It is indeed the most beautiful place on Earth.


Thank You TravelPort ! Thank You Neptune travel ! .....Thank god for this wonderful place