You might have heard of the phrase – “the best trips are the ones that are unplanned”. Well, my Zuluk trip in the East Sikkim in 2018 was not really planned as well, and it was one of the best trips I ever had. 

Zuluk, also called Dzuluk, is a dainty hamlet perched at a height of about 10000 ft above sea level in the cradle of the Eastern Himalayas in Sikkim. I do not know how to explain the picture-perfect landscape and the feelings that exploded in me when I witnessed breathtaking views of the unspoiled valleys, pristine mountains, and hills carpeted with colourful flowers. But let me at least start from the beginning.

It was the first week of October, and our group of 12 started our journey from the capital city of Sikkim, Gangtok. I was immensely excited about our trip, and I could tell that others were too. We booked two vehicles, and our Inner Line Permits were made by one of the drivers who was going with us. 

We wanted to visit Tsomgo Lake while returning from Zuluk, so we took the main highway (NH10) to Rangpo East Sikkim and headed towards Rongli and onto Zuluk. It took us some hours to reach a mesmerizing valley below the famous Zuluk Silk Route from Rangpo.

We were all tired after travelling for more than 4 hours. We had already booked our stay in a beautiful traditional homestay in the Nimachen Valley called Eco Hut, so we took some rest and freshened ourselves. On our way to Zuluk, we also stopped at some spots to take pictures and drink tea. The homestay had a traditional kitchen and a dining room with a medium-sized lawn in the front and spacious parking areas. The rooms, though not traditional, were beautiful and clean. 

There were a few benches and tables made of bamboo and wood in the garden with shades made of bamboo and hay that looked like umbrellas. As we sat there soaking our souls in the picturesque views and praising the wonders of nature, the host family brought us hot and delicious lunch.

Homestays in Sikkim really feel like you are staying in a home away from home. They took care of all our needs. After a heavy lunch of rice and many local foods of Sikkim like nakima (Tupistra nutans), wild fern with cottage cheese, homemade ghee, fresh farm meat, and more, we wandered around the farms and the village nearby.

Although we had not yet reached the famous Silk Route of Zuluk, I knew it would be out-of-the-world beautiful by just looking at the place we had halted. The valleys below Zuluk Valley were blessed with bewitching views, deep gorges, dense forests, and you could see the views of the Eastern Himalayas on the horizon.

We stayed in the homestay for the night. The host family had arranged for a lovely bonfire, good music, and had set up a barbeque for us. We wanted to cook some dishes ourselves, so they also provided us with a stove and all the ingredients that we had asked for. 

After a peaceful night’s sleep, we woke up early to see the sunrise view from Zuluk Valley. We were about to head out at dawn when our homestay host insisted that we didn’t leave without having breakfast. You see, they care. After enjoying some light breakfast, we hurried towards the valley.

About an hour or so, we reached the starting point of the beautiful Zuluk Valley road. We halted at a viewpoint. You won’t believe what we saw. The early morning sunrise slowly started painting the sky golden; it was a sight to behold. We were glad that we had started early and reached the valley on time to witness such beauty.

After passing the Old Silk Route, we came across a vast space with low slope rocky hills and clean and smooth roads. It was as if the place was preparing itself for the winter. The leaves of the trees had not yet fallen completely, and the flowers had not dried yet. Those low slope hills were covered with a carpet of flowers as if an artist had painted them. With zero pollution and litter, it felt as if the air was crisper.

There was a tiny village with a playground amidst these valleys, and the yaks and horses were seen grazing on the fields. Beautiful tiny stone houses, children playing around, and cottage cheese left drying in the sun were some of the common sights around. We also stopped to take pictures when we saw a motionless clear lake shaped like an elephant on our way towards Tsomgo.

After a while, we reached Baba Mandir and explored the area. We filled our bellies at an army canteen near the Mandir. In Tsomgo, we could see the mountains guarding the second smallest state in India – Sikkim. If I could, I wanted to pause the time and soak my soul and feast my eyes with the wonders of nature for some more time, but we had to head back.

As we headed towards Gangtok, we carried unforgettable memories of our trip from Zuluk. The trip lasted for only 2 days, but the memory still feels fresh in my mind and will last forever. If I get a chance to visit the place again, I will definitely go.