The Secrets of Kanchenjunga
This Wednesday post: a 200-year-old kothi, a rainbow village, a hotel shaped like a bubble and a sloth on a mission
It’s one thing to admire the Kanchenjunga from a safe distance with a cup of tea and a camera in hand and quite another, to climb it.
These dramatic wonders of nature give rise to a good bit of folklore, myths and even, said creatures that we’ve never set eyes on - call it true, call it the lack of oxygen up there but Kanchenjunga, one of the tallest peaks in India (at 8,586m) is as dramatic as it gets.
Mountaineers say it’s three times tougher to climb than the Everest. There have been several mysterious disappearances and deaths - what happened to Tulshuk Lingpa, a Tibetan monk who led twelve others on the mountain in 1963 to find a split in reality?
The government has banned expeditions to the Kanchenjunga, which is just as well, for who would want to run into the Dzö-nga, a mountain deity who resembles the elusive yeti and presumably, doesn’t take kindly to unannounced visitors?
Read about the mysteries of Kanchenjunga here
What's happening at Tripoto this week:
Did you know that khansamas (royal cooks) in Rajasthan would use a technique called khad cooking wherein pits were dug into the sand to cook game meat? You can learn such culinary secrets at a 200-year-old Mandawa Kothi without having to dig a pit. A stay here will have a chef teach you how to perfect the Gatte ki Sabzi, Laal Maas and other Rajasthani delicacies to dazzle others with your cooking skills. Watch how ‘Tie and Dye’ fabrics are created, take a wobbly camel ride and explore the heritage of Mandawa, all while you soak in the luxury of this ancient kothi.
Make excuses at work and book this mindful retreat here
Recommended reads this week:
Here’s one for the cool people who use the ‘gram. Kampung Gelami which translates to the ‘rainbow village’ in Indonesia stands awash in all colours of the rainbow. Once, a slum with a dirty river and filthy streets, it now draws in camera-toting tourists in scores. All thanks to a 54-year-old school teacher.
We’ve found a better bat cave for you than the one Bruce Wayne came across in Batman. The Siju caves in Meghalaya are the third longest in India and are a great option for anyone looking for a challenging adventure. Walk a wobbly rope bridge from the summit of one hill to another to reach the cave. Navigate the cave’s maze-like passages, admire its limestone formations and say howdy to the cave’s residents, the bats.
Many risk the chance of ever feeling their fingers again, just to get a glimpse of the stunning northern lights in Iceland. There’s another way in which you can still retain the use of your fingers. The Bubble Hotel, as the name suggests, is a bubble that offers a stay and bed in warm, temperature-controlled settings. They’re transparent but they promise you, that they’re far away from the others. But it’s all worth it to watch those lights dance across the sky all night long.
For all you couch potatoes (that includes me), here’s an inspiring story of a man who set out to discover India on his Royal Enfield. He covered a distance of 15,200 km, roughed it out on the way, met wonderful people and did not buy a single bottle of mineral water. All this, for his love of nature.
Destination of the week: Damro
Spirit yourself away to the village of Damro nestled in the untamed beauty of Arunachal Pradesh. With rolling green meadows and thatched bamboo houses, this village spells out simple living. The village is famous for the longest bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, made out of ropes and bamboo. The 1000 ft bridge gives cause for wobbly knees as it sways over the River Yamne but the soothing view of the river is well worth it. That is until the ‘Mithun’, a domesticated version of the Indian bison, gets on the bridge at the same time as you.
Read about this beautiful village here
Just like you, this newsletter is also trying to wander as far as possible. If you’re a regular reader, share it with a friend!
Today’s newsletter was sponsored by this sloth who’s making a relatively quick escape from the sloth center. Godspeed to you, mister.
That's all for this week. I'll see you next Wednesday.
– Neeti Chopra