The Old Monastery and the ambiance : Borong, South Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya, India - IV
The meadow and the Cherry Blossoms...
Description:
It was a bit cloudy day. The ambiance seemed to me a perfect place for peace, and tranquility. Hardly 8-10 tourists were roaming silently. Beyond the gate there is a open meadows with few oaks, cherries, and other trees. The road ends in front of an old monastery with a courtyard. At the back of this monastery, few steps down, there is another small temple, that seemed to me very very old and almost deserted...and I think this one is the oldest construction. The frescoes on the wall are mostly damaged but they reflect some of the oldest Buddhist mythologies. Some symbolic presentations were there reflecting traditional wisdom and faith. The ambiance surrounding this temple was truly magical for those who seek tranquility, and peace of mind. I spent hours there amidst nature and silence. Cold breeze and mist were covering the place so often, transforming our body, mind and soul into full of happiness and peace. I'm sure everybody will turn spiritual once they spend some time here.
My Experience:
Borong, a remote and peaceful hamlet with abundance of unspoiled nature, under subdivision of Rabangla, in south Sikkim, is situated 17 kms from the tourist town of Rabangla (Ravangla). Being 120 kms away from Siliguri in North Bengal, India, Rabangla is situated at an elevation of 8000 ft with its famous Maenam wildlife santuary (35 square kilometres) for Great Himalayan Bears, Red Pandas, and Birds. The literal meaning of 'Maenam-La' is "Treasure house of medicines". Maenam is also famous for a 12km trekking from Rabangla to Maenam top at 3140m, for its spectacular lookout point. We had a wonderful trekking experience this time, through this forest for a stretch of 18 kms (up and down). It seemed to me truly a paradise for nature lovers.
Borong is a place where you will hear only the sounds of your foot steps apart from the singing of birds of varied species, especially during dawn. River Rangit flows downhill through the gorge. People there, are so simple, warm, and honest...distinctly different from urban complexities and consumerisms. Being one of the oldest hubs of Buddhist culture, Borong hosts the oldest monastery in Sikkim, built in 1730, is known as Old Ralong Monastery (probably known as Borong Monastery). A new monastery, called Ralong Monastery, was built later, only 3 kms away from the old one. Both the monasteries are the treasure house of architectures, frescos, artifacts, and religious herritage. Many of the Buddhist Monks seemed to me as the epitome of holiness.
Borong is a model village for organic cultivation where everything is organic...including tea and alcohol. It has recently gained fame due to increasing popularity of village tourism and eco-tourism activities. Every small house of the villagers has a bit of land cultivating organic tea, vegetables, fruits and a variety of plant spices, especially cardamom and turmeric. Tastes and flavors of foods, vegetables are mouth-watering. Drinking- water is straight from the natural springs. It is strictly a plastic and smoking free zone. In a clear day you will find majestic Mt Kanchenjungha (28,170 ft, third highest mountain in the world), Mt. Pandim (21,952 ft), Mt. Narsing (19,029 ft) and Black Kabru. [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountains_by_elevation].
In the month of March-April you will have a spectacular display of Rhododendrons everywhere here, and in the late October, awesome Cherry blossoms all around.
We stayed in 'Wild Flower Retreat', a wonderful resort in Borong. The hospitality, food and lodging was simply amazing there. It was my immense pleasure to relax with a cup of coffee and viewing the great mountaiin peaks right in front from the resort courtyard. We had a wonderful experience of an unique way of making 'Organic Paper' from a special kind of plant cultivated in the village, originally discovered in this region of Himalayan forests. The product of this small scale industry, within the premises of 'Wild Flower Retreat', reminded me the Papyrus of Ancient Egypt.
Borong is a place, I'm sure, with all its grandeur, beauty and uniqueness will call you again and again...anytime a year...if you want to escape from your burdened and stressful life, and acquire some knowledge and wisdome, you never had before. Once you go there...will feel the pulse...and energy you build-upfrom inside...an 'Elixer' having a power of its own, much superior than any tonic prepared in human laboratories...!!!
The Old Monastery and the ambiance : Borong, South Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya, India - IV
The meadow and the Cherry Blossoms...
Description:
It was a bit cloudy day. The ambiance seemed to me a perfect place for peace, and tranquility. Hardly 8-10 tourists were roaming silently. Beyond the gate there is a open meadows with few oaks, cherries, and other trees. The road ends in front of an old monastery with a courtyard. At the back of this monastery, few steps down, there is another small temple, that seemed to me very very old and almost deserted...and I think this one is the oldest construction. The frescoes on the wall are mostly damaged but they reflect some of the oldest Buddhist mythologies. Some symbolic presentations were there reflecting traditional wisdom and faith. The ambiance surrounding this temple was truly magical for those who seek tranquility, and peace of mind. I spent hours there amidst nature and silence. Cold breeze and mist were covering the place so often, transforming our body, mind and soul into full of happiness and peace. I'm sure everybody will turn spiritual once they spend some time here.
My Experience:
Borong, a remote and peaceful hamlet with abundance of unspoiled nature, under subdivision of Rabangla, in south Sikkim, is situated 17 kms from the tourist town of Rabangla (Ravangla). Being 120 kms away from Siliguri in North Bengal, India, Rabangla is situated at an elevation of 8000 ft with its famous Maenam wildlife santuary (35 square kilometres) for Great Himalayan Bears, Red Pandas, and Birds. The literal meaning of 'Maenam-La' is "Treasure house of medicines". Maenam is also famous for a 12km trekking from Rabangla to Maenam top at 3140m, for its spectacular lookout point. We had a wonderful trekking experience this time, through this forest for a stretch of 18 kms (up and down). It seemed to me truly a paradise for nature lovers.
Borong is a place where you will hear only the sounds of your foot steps apart from the singing of birds of varied species, especially during dawn. River Rangit flows downhill through the gorge. People there, are so simple, warm, and honest...distinctly different from urban complexities and consumerisms. Being one of the oldest hubs of Buddhist culture, Borong hosts the oldest monastery in Sikkim, built in 1730, is known as Old Ralong Monastery (probably known as Borong Monastery). A new monastery, called Ralong Monastery, was built later, only 3 kms away from the old one. Both the monasteries are the treasure house of architectures, frescos, artifacts, and religious herritage. Many of the Buddhist Monks seemed to me as the epitome of holiness.
Borong is a model village for organic cultivation where everything is organic...including tea and alcohol. It has recently gained fame due to increasing popularity of village tourism and eco-tourism activities. Every small house of the villagers has a bit of land cultivating organic tea, vegetables, fruits and a variety of plant spices, especially cardamom and turmeric. Tastes and flavors of foods, vegetables are mouth-watering. Drinking- water is straight from the natural springs. It is strictly a plastic and smoking free zone. In a clear day you will find majestic Mt Kanchenjungha (28,170 ft, third highest mountain in the world), Mt. Pandim (21,952 ft), Mt. Narsing (19,029 ft) and Black Kabru. [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountains_by_elevation].
In the month of March-April you will have a spectacular display of Rhododendrons everywhere here, and in the late October, awesome Cherry blossoms all around.
We stayed in 'Wild Flower Retreat', a wonderful resort in Borong. The hospitality, food and lodging was simply amazing there. It was my immense pleasure to relax with a cup of coffee and viewing the great mountaiin peaks right in front from the resort courtyard. We had a wonderful experience of an unique way of making 'Organic Paper' from a special kind of plant cultivated in the village, originally discovered in this region of Himalayan forests. The product of this small scale industry, within the premises of 'Wild Flower Retreat', reminded me the Papyrus of Ancient Egypt.
Borong is a place, I'm sure, with all its grandeur, beauty and uniqueness will call you again and again...anytime a year...if you want to escape from your burdened and stressful life, and acquire some knowledge and wisdome, you never had before. Once you go there...will feel the pulse...and energy you build-upfrom inside...an 'Elixer' having a power of its own, much superior than any tonic prepared in human laboratories...!!!