Chilling Out in Style at Jilling

We all want to escape from our daily pre-programmed life every once in a while. Genetically human beings are wanderers and instinctively we crave something new, something different. For most people a small vacation is enough to rejuvenate their soul. If you love mountains, wilderness, isolation, tranquility then I suggest you spend a few days at Jilling, where you can have it all.

The Jilling Estate is essentially a privately owned forest in Kumaon region of the Himalayas. The entire 120 acres of land is devoid of any human settlement apart from a few well decorated cottages, which are built in secluded locations. For many of us it is not possible to camp in the wilderness and experience nature's dangerous beauty firsthand. Jilling home-stays are designed to give you exactly the feeling of being one with nature without compromising luxury and comfort.

When I read about Jilling and the Lall family in a travel magazine, I was intrigued and without wasting any time contacted Nandini Lall. She is the daughter of Steve Lall,  the landlord of Jilling Estate. As on 2017 the rates are 3000/- per day per person including dining and guided tours of the estate.

Phoktey Dara ; A Peep in the Lord's Bedroom

Kanchenjungha comes from two Sanskrit words, Kanchan which is another name for the Hindu God of creation and destruction, Lord Shiva and Jangha meaning thigh. The entire Kanchenjungha or Kanchendzongha range looks like Lord shiva is sleeping and the main peak forming his raised thigh. No wonder when Buddhism spread and took hold in this part of the land Kanchendzongha became the sleeping Buddha. The more popular theory is that Kanchendzonga comes from 5 Tibetan words 'gangs' (snow), ' chen' (great), 'zgod' (treasure) and 'nga' (five).   In any case towering 8586 metres above sea level, the 3rd highest peak of the world is one of the most beautiful snow covered massif in the Himalayas. The sheer size of the mountain , precipitous peaks dwarfing everything​ around it, brings a sense of awe to the beholder.

Kanchendzongha/Kanchenjungha

Phoktey Dara is a hilltop situated near the intersection of three borders, Sikkim, West Bengal and Nepal, and it offers spectacular views of not only the Kanchenjungha range but also several Chinese peaks and Giants of Nepal, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuputse and Dhaulagiri. But to behold this heavenly site a good bit of hard work and sweat is required.

How to get There :

Phoktey Dara is a total 3 day trek from the village of Uttarey in West Sikkim. One can reach Uttarey in a single day from New Jalpaiguri Railway station or Bagdogra Airport.
You can  opt to reserve your own transport if you have a 6-10 person group or budget is not a constraint for you. Otherwise shared jeeps are available but you have to break several times.

Phoktey Dara

Satkosia ; A Hidden Gem on The Bank of Mahanadi

The diversity of flora and fauna that we Indians are blessed with is facing devastation. Pollution, poaching, deforestation, urbanisation, large-scale hydro-electric projects all of these factors and more are catalysing this cataclysmic phenomenon. The most alarming part is the lack of awareness of our people and our utter ignorance. Tourism can help raise awareness if done in a eco-friendly manner. When in the wilderness we must tune ourselves in such a way that we do not leave any lasting impact on that place. A wilderness explorer must be a silent observer.
Satkosia Tiger Reserve boasts a diverse gorge eco-system with deciduous plants. It is situated at the bank of river Mahanadi, the largest river in the state of Orissa. A great place for wildlife enthusiasts to spend a few days in.

Tikarpara Nature Camp

BOOKING:

Booking and entry permit is done officially through the website of Orissa eco-tourism.
https://www.ecotourodisha.com/index.php
 Please check the current rates from the site. At the time of our booking it was around 2500-4000 Rs. for 2 persons (Including food and lodging) depending on the location. But the online transaction takes a whopping 10% of the total amount as transaction fees. Another thing to note is that the payment portal DOES NOT accept RUPAY cards ( even though that is not mentioned in the website).
Alternatively you can try your luck by spot booking , that would spare you the transaction charges, but I would not advise that. You can stay at one place for maximum of 2 days at a stretch.

Here are a few contact numbers:
DFO Office Satkosia: +918763102681
Shamim Chauhan (Site Manager Satkosia) : +8658023333