{"id":3269,"date":"2020-04-13T14:40:13","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T14:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/?p=3269"},"modified":"2024-02-15T21:51:17","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T21:51:17","slug":"namchi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/13\/namchi\/","title":{"rendered":"Namchi \u2013 Sacred mountains, countless blessings and exotic drinks for the start of new decade"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3269\" class=\"elementor elementor-3269\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-43f42090 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"43f42090\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3fbf9739\" data-id=\"3fbf9739\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ca2a5e elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"5ca2a5e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-f0b7872 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-calendar-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 3, 2020\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-fcf06e9 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-calendar-check\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDay 130\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-b7f90aa elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-compass\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNamchi, India\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-5c90350 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-suitcase\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t15340 Km\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4bb4d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b4bb4d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"leadin\">As our adventures in India\u2019s Sikkim continued, our next destination was Namchi. The name Namchi means \u201csky high\u201d in Sikkimese and we were, indeed, still in the mountains and surrounded by some of the world\u2019s highest peaks. We got to celebrate the change of the decade in this wonderful place. We also learned that Sikkimese people really love to build statues of gods on mountain tops. At these sacred places we got so many blessings and made so many wishes, that the new decade can\u2019t be anything but awesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150208-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Views on the way from Gangtok to Namchi\" class=\"wp-image-3244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150208-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150208-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150208-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150208.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Views on the way from Gangtok to Namchi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150206-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"We traveled by sumo, as usual. It was a wonder that that cute, chocolate munching baby did not puke on Seri on the curvy mountain roads\" class=\"wp-image-3243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150206-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150206-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150206-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150206.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>We traveled by sumo, as usual. It was a wonder that that cute, chocolate munching baby did not puke on Seri on the curvy mountain roads<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Little town feel in between the mountain tops<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150213-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Namchi\" class=\"wp-image-3245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150213-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150213-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150213-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150213.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Namchi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though Namchi is the biggest city of South-Sikkim, with 38 000 inhabitants, to us it felt more like a little, cozy town. In Namchi\u2019s center there is a small pedestrian area with a few shops and restaurants and a tiny \u201ccentral park\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150226-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Namchi\u2019s pedestrian area\" class=\"wp-image-3246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150226-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150226-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150226-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150226.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Namchi\u2019s pedestrian area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Seri kept on munching momos every day as promised. He found his favorite momos in a small corner shop called Char Dham Fast Foods. Johanna was feeling almost healthy again and had her appetite back. She found her treat of choice in a little caf\u00e9 called Kava Caf\u00e9 in the form of a chocolate lava cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1013\" height=\"1800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150236.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150236.jpg 1013w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150236-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150236-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150236-576x1024.jpg 576w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\" \/><figcaption>Seri keeping his promise to eat momos every day while we are in Sikkim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150239-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Owner of a barber shop in Namchi and Seri getting his hair cut\" class=\"wp-image-3249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150239-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150239-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150239-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150239.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Owner of a barber shop in Namchi and Seri getting his hair cut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The city is surrounded by mountains, the most prominent of them being the world\u2019s third highest peak, Mt. Kanchenjunga. On some of the surrounding mountain tops stand huge religious statues overlooking the city. These are the most important tourist attractions around here.&nbsp;<br><br>As far as we know, the city doesn\u2019t have any public transportation, meaning that one must walk (or skate) or to hire a taxi to get around. While we were in Namchi, they were just building a cable car from the city to one of the tops with the statue, but it wasn\u2019t finished yet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The wonderful Bumtar Villa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The absolute highlight of our stay in Namchi was our accommodation, Bumtar Villa. When we arrived, we were first greeted by a pack of dogs. The family has altogether nine dogs and they all were friendly and cute. The family\u2019s son is a vet student who had saved all these dogs and brought them home, and luckily his parents agreed to let them all live with the family. This already tells a lot about how lovely our hosts were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191230_151118-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"Afternoon tea with the doggies\" class=\"wp-image-3242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191230_151118-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191230_151118-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191230_151118-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191230_151118.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Afternoon tea with the doggies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We lived in the family\u2019s huge wooden house but had our own room with a private bathroom. The house was surrounded by a beautiful garden with fruit trees and some small green houses. The weather was warmer than in Gangtok and our days there were sunny, but still it wasn\u2019t the fruit season yet. Except for guavas, which were delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150229-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Bumtar Villa\" class=\"wp-image-3247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150229-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150229-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150229-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150229.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Bumtar Villa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Inside the house it was cold, like apparently in every house in Northern India. But every evening our host Tamang lit a fire in the fireplace for us, which was lovely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every morning there was a breakfast waiting for us when we woke up. Also, the meals prepared by the family were delicious. On New Year\u2019s Eve the family prepared us lovely snacks and we got to taste some delicious homemade drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The last day of 2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The giant Shiva and the Char Dhams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150294-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The Char Dhams of Namchi\" class=\"wp-image-3255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150294-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150294-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150294-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150294.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The Char Dhams of Namchi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We started the last year of the decade by visiting Char Dham, a huge pilgrimage site on top of a mountain. We walked the whole way up and down from Namchi and it was a nice hike, partly following the road, partly going on some long stairs through the nature. On the way we could also admire some great views to the Kanchenjunga and other surrounding peaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150255-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Views along the way\" class=\"wp-image-3250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150255-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150255-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150255-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150255.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Views along the way<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150307-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150307-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150307-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150307-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150307.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150313-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"These huge Christmas flowers were blooming everywhere around Sikkim\" class=\"wp-image-3258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150313-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150313-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150313-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150313.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>These huge Christmas flowers were blooming everywhere around Sikkim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The centerpiece of the place is a giant Shiva Statue, sitting on top of the main temple of the site. It\u2019s surrounded by numerous smaller temples and most importantly, the replicas of the four Char Dhams that are scattered around India. Char Dham means \u201cFour abodes\u201d and in Hinduism it\u2019s believed that visiting all of them helps one to achieve Moksha, or salvation of the re-birth cycle. In the temples we got so many blessings that the new year (or decade) must be a good one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150275-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The four Char Dhams among other temples and statues\" class=\"wp-image-3253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150275-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150275-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150275-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150275.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The four Char Dhams among other temples and statues<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150260-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"This lady gave us the first blessings of the day\" class=\"wp-image-3251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150260-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150260-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150260-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150260.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>This lady gave us the first blessings of the day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150292-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Confident that the new year will be a good one!\" class=\"wp-image-3254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150292-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150292-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150292-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150292.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Confident that the new year will be a good one!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Many Indian tourists had also arrived at the site to get some good luck for the next year. For some of them we seemed to be as big of an attraction as the statues and temples. Therefore, we got into conversations and posed in pictures a lot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1013\" height=\"1800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150302.jpg\" alt=\"New Year\u2019s lunch by Char Dham\" class=\"wp-image-3256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150302.jpg 1013w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150302-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150302-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150302-576x1024.jpg 576w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\" \/><figcaption>New Year\u2019s lunch by Char Dham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New Year\u2019s celebrations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On our way to the Char Dham we saw a party venue where there was going to be a big New Year\u2019s party in the evening. We considered about going there but as it was far from our place and as we are clearly getting old, we decided to skip it. Good so, because we had the coziest evening and the most delicious food and drinks at the Bumtar Villa.<br><br>We started the evening just the two of us and our host Tamang by the fireplace. Tamang and his wife had prepared us different delicious local snacks. To go with the snacks, we got to taste homemade guava and rhododendron wines. We had never drunk something like that before, but both wines were really yummy. We also had bought a bottle of red wine that was produced in Sikkim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150332-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"New Year\u2019s snacks and the wonderful Guava wine\" class=\"wp-image-3259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150332-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150332-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150332-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150332.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>New Year\u2019s snacks and the wonderful Guava wine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Later in the evening a couple from Kolkata arrived at the homestay and joined us by the fire. Even though we didn\u2019t always agree on everything, we had interesting conversations with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150338-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Tamang in the middle and the couple from Kolkata on the right side\" class=\"wp-image-3260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150338-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150338-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150338-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150338.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Tamang in the middle and the couple from Kolkata on the right side<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tamang has promised us a dinner free of charge to celebrate the New Year (so nice of him!). We assumed, that the snacks were the dinner because cooking them must have been a lot of work and there were plenty. But at some point of the evening we were told to sit at the table and a big dinner was served. We were already full of the snacks but tried to eat as much as we could. If this is an omen for the next decade, we will have lots of delicious food and get really fat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1013\" height=\"1800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150339.jpg\" alt=\"New Year\u2019s dinner\" class=\"wp-image-3261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150339.jpg 1013w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150339-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150339-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150339-576x1024.jpg 576w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\" \/><figcaption>New Year\u2019s dinner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In North-India people go to sleep early and we have also adapted this lifestyle. Therefore, it was difficult for us to stay up until midnight (lol). We made it, anyhow, and went all out together to look at the fireworks. We heard that fireworks are nowadays mostly banned in India, but we could still see some down in the valley. Bumtar Villa\u2019s garden, located on a slope of a hill, was the perfect place to watch the firework show and to welcome the new decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The first day of 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Wish Fulfilling Mountain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of going into bed early, we woke up to the first day of 2020 feeling fresh and decided to visit the other mountain top with a statue, Samdruptse. According to some sources, this is the world\u2019s tallest statue. This, anyhow, is not true \u2013 instead it is the world\u2019s tallest statue of Guru Rinpoche, who is the patron saint of Sikkim. The name of Samdruptse means \u201cWish Fulfilling Mountain\u201d, so a perfect place to visit on the first stay of the year. While turning the giant prayer wheels at the site we made good wishes for the new year. The hill is also believed to be a dormant volcano and only good prayers can keep it from not erupting. So of course, we wished for that, too. The golden statue itself was impressive, even though it was just under renovation. And the views from the top were naturally amazing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150341-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Samdruptse\" class=\"wp-image-3262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150341-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150341-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150341-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150341.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Samdruptse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150366-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"In the last weeks we have learned that Buddhist demons look really cool\" class=\"wp-image-3263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150366-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150366-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150366-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150366.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>In the last weeks we have learned that Buddhist demons look really cool<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As we had walked the whole way to the top yesterday, we decided to hire a taxi this time. The taxi driver agreed to have a stop with us at the Rock Garden on the way back down. The Rock Garden is located on a mountain slope, so walking around there meant going down a lot and the same way back up. At this time of the year there were not many plants to see and the whole place seemed quite abandoned, but the views were even better than from Samdruptse. We also could see the ropeway. This time even Seri didn\u2019t have the urge to ride with it though, as it is quite expensive considering that you can\u2019t basically get anywhere with it, because the part that leads to the city is not finished yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150385-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Rock Garden\" class=\"wp-image-3264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150385-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150385-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150385-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150385.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Views from the Rock Garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150388-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The ropeway\" class=\"wp-image-3265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150388-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150388-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150388-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150388.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The ropeway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tongba by the fireplace \u2013 our last evening in Namchi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the things we wanted to do in Sikkim was to drink Tongba. Tamang promised to help us out with that and on our last evening he had prepared us two huge mugs of Tongba. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150407-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Tongba by the fireplace\" class=\"wp-image-3266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150407-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150407-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150407-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150407.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Tongba by the fireplace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tongba, also known as Chang, is a traditional drink made from fermented millet. You put the millet to the mug, pour hot water over it, let it rest for a while and then drink it with a bamboo straw. When the mug is empty, you can fill it again. Every time the alcohol content grows higher and you can also make it stronger by letting it rest longer. While enjoying our Tongbas, Tamang explained us how it\u2019s made. If we ever managed to make it at home, we are sure this endless alcohol beverage would be a big hit among our friends. After Tamang had filled our cups three times and we were already relatively tipsy, we told him it was enough. We had to get up early the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150414-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Mmm.. Tongba was tasting good, a bit sour and alcoholic\" class=\"wp-image-3267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150414-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150414-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150414-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150414.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Mmm.. Tongba was tasting good, a bit sour and alcoholic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Towards Pelling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before leaving Sikkim and continuing our way towards East, we wanted to see one more place in the state. We had many options but ended up choosing Pelling in West-Sikkim. Tamang was kind enough to wake up early and to give us a lift to the shared taxi stand at seven in the morning. We hopped on a sumo and were on our way towards new adventures\u2026.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5437ad1 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-3685 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5437ad1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1ddd82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-3676 elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"c1ddd82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Post Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/06\/gangtok\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-left\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">Gangtok \u2013 Sikkim\u2019s capital in the Himalayas<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/15\/pelling\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">Pelling \u2013 More monasteries, mountains and giant Buddha statues<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03d8cb2 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-3682 elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"03d8cb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related stories<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07408ef elementor-grid-tablet-3 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class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-3191 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-india tag-cable-car tag-christmas tag-darjeeling tag-india tag-indien tag-intia tag-north-india tag-north-east-india tag-overland-to-asia tag-tea tag-tea-plantation tag-west-bengal\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/02\/darjeeling-christmas\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-3163\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/02\/darjeeling-christmas\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tDarjeeling \u2013 Christmas surprises, Buddhist monasteries and local tea\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-3230 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-india tag-from-darjeeling-to-gangtok tag-gangtok tag-how-to-get-to tag-india tag-indien tag-inner-line-permit tag-intia tag-monastery tag-overland-to-asia tag-rumtek tag-sikkim\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" 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Himalayas\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-3297 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-india tag-chenrenzig tag-geyzing tag-goibibo tag-how-to-get-to tag-india tag-indien tag-intia tag-overland-to-asia tag-oyo tag-oyo-hotels tag-pelling tag-pemayangtse tag-sikkim tag-sky-walk\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/15\/pelling\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-3284\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/15\/pelling\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tPelling \u2013 More monasteries, mountains and giant Buddha statues\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[308,307,218,249,219,306,309,467,299,86],"class_list":["post-3269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india","tag-char-dham","tag-homestay","tag-india","tag-indien","tag-intia","tag-namchi","tag-new-year","tag-overland-to-asia","tag-sikkim","tag-things-to-do"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Namchi \u2013 Sacred mountains, countless blessings and exotic drinks for the start of new decade<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As our adventures in India\u2019s Sikkim continued, our next destination was Namchi. 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