Suruk seller walk five hours to sell vegetables

Suruk-Samthar, Kalimpong: Think twice before bargaining with the vegetable-seller at the bi-weekly haat in Kalimpong, especially if he is from Suruk village.

The villagers of Suruk-Samthar go through enormous pain and hardship to get their fare to the Kalimpong haat every Wednesday and Saturday. With loads on their back, they walk for about five hours through hills and vales, to reach the town, 79km away.

“We prefer to walk than take a jeep ride because we cannot afford to pay the fare of Rs 90. In any case, it takes the same time to reach Kalimpong by car,” said Dhan Bahadur, a villager. Bahadur is right because a car ride through most of the unmetalled road is backbreaking, as The Telegraph discovered.

A 30km stretch starting from a little beyond Kafer towards Suruk is treacherous with the last 5km from Samthar positively dangerous.

Things could get much better for the villagers if an alternative road via Pala near Relli was completed. “The DGHC is building the road which, when completed, would cut travel time by more than half,” said Sudesh Pradhan, a tour operator.

However, till the DGHC road is built, residents of Suruk will continue to be in the dark age, literally, with electricity yet to reach the village, not to talk about drinking water. “The village has only one dispensary, run by Christian sisters. During emergencies, we have to take the patients to town and they invariably die on the way,” said Pasang Lepcha, a volunteer-teacher at the middle school in Shantinagar, as the village square is called.

The Samthar-Suruk path was cut out of the hills two years ago. “Every household here contributed money to cut the road. I gave Rs 1,000,” said 76-year-old Lal Bahadur Bhujel. Even at his age, Bhujel treks to Kalimpong, albeit not as frequently as he once used to do. “The last time I went to Kalimpong was about a month-and-half ago. It took me nearly seven hours,” he said. His 72-year-old wife, Laxmi, however, has not gone to the hill town for more than 10 years now. “I am old. My legs don’t hold,” she said with a smile.

Source: The Telegraph

Kurseong

A somewhat lesser known destination in the tourist map of India is Kurseong. Travellers to the perennial favourite Darjeeling often miss this place on their way with a cursory glance. But this dreamy world of the white orchid, kurson-rip in Lepcha, has more to it.

Nestled in the lower regions of the Himalayas at an altitude of 1,458 mt (4,864 ft), between Darjeeling and Siliguri, Kurseong is a place that makes a separate impression altogether.

It is a town of schools, with several institutions more than a century old providing education to students from across the country and from abroad.

The heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, recognised by Unesco, has its headquarters in Kurseong.

One of the most striking sights in the town for a tourist is the colourful toy train which runs on the level of the main streets.

It was once considered fashionable for the rich and the famous of Calcutta to have a summer residence at Kurseong. The big names that have been associated with Kurseong include Rabindranath Tagore, Sister Nivedita, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Mark Twain.

The mild, healthy climate in Kurseong and the tranquil surroundings attract many looking for a relaxing holiday.

Eagle’s Crag, which is a short walk from the railway station, has a tourist complex. It is the vantage point for viewing the mountains and the valley. From the garden in the complex, Kanchenjunga can be seen along with other peaks of the Himalayan range. In the distance, the hills flatten out to form the extensive plains of north Bengal.

Tea bushes are ubiquitous around the town. Kurseong is surrounded by many tea gardens that produce the finest Darjeeling tea. Tea from the town’s outskirts can be found at exclusive stores abroad and even at the Nasa space station.

A climb to the Dowhill area is a must. The forest museum, deer park and the water reservoir, surrounded by moss-covered conifers are major tourist attractions.

There are several trekking trails around Kurseong — from the short walk along St Mary’s Grotto to more strenuous climbs. There are also day-long treks from Kurseong to Mirik via Namsu and Balasun River and eco-treks past cinchona plantations and Sherpa villages.

You can also ramble on roads like Aranya Sarani that lead to the vast open meadows of Chimney at 7,000 ft. The place derives its name from a long chimney standing there which is reminiscent of the days when there was a bungalow there. The route also leads to Tiger Hill, which offers magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga. Tourists assemble here every morning to view the sunrise.

Just outside Kurseong and on the way to Darjeeling is Woodcot. Established and managed by Father Abraham, who is originally from Canada, this innovative eco-friendly farm works towards supporting local villages through a dairy project, compost plant, ingenious solar water heating projects, biogas units for cooking and mushroom cultivation.

There is also a school for children, a production facility for jholas and muras by the blind, organic vegetable farming and other innovative practices.

The tourist activities around Kurseong include angling in the Balasun river and picnic along its bank near the remnants of an hydel power project, set up by the British. The Kettle valley, just outside the town, is another beautiful picnic spot.

Going

The nearest airport is Bagdogra, 60 km from Kurseong. There is railway station, on the New Jalpaiguri- Darjeeling narrow gauge line. The New Jalpaiguri station is 57 km from the town. Taxis and buses are available from Siliguri

Staying

WBTDC Tourist Lodge on Hill Cart Road, Cochrane Place on Pankhabari Road and Amarjeet Hotel on Hill Cart Road are some of the options

By AMRISH SAIGAL

Source: The Telegraph