It was just the end of Durga Puja in October when my friends and I decided to go for the Goechala trek. The weather had just started to get a little cold.There’s a place in Sikkim called Yuksom. I’ll tell you everything that happened on our journey from Yuksom to Goechala.We were six friends. We took a night train from Sealdah to NJP, and around 8 in the morning, we reached our destination. From NJP, we hired a car to go to Yuksom, which cost us ₹6500. The distance from NJP to Yuksom is about 141 kilometers, and it took us around 6 hours to reach there.We decided to stay the night in Yuksom. Our trekking would start the next day. In the morning, we had to submit photocopies of all our identity documents at the government office. So, without staying up too late, we went to sleep early.Good morning! After having a cup of tea, we got ready for the trek. Along with us were 4 porters who would carry our cooking items and tents up the mountains. We also had two horses with us.
Let me mention first — the height of Goechala from Yuksom is approximately 16,207 feet. The first day’s trek might feel quite challenging, but along the way, we’ll get to witness some truly beautiful natural views. So, let’s begin our journey —
Day 1. Sachen
After having breakfast, we started our journey from Yuksom around 10 in the morning.
Today we have to cover around 8 kilometers. Our first destination is Sachen. All of us started the journey together, each carrying a bag on our back. At first, it felt a bit difficult, but as we kept climbing higher, the cool weather made our bodies feel more comfortable. On the way, we crossed four hanging bridges and saw many small waterfalls, As I kept walking, I was amazed by the greenery all around. I felt that without coming on this trek, I might never have known how beautiful the world truly is. Today’s journey was a bit difficult. The porters were traveling with us. They had prepared lunch for us in advance. The lunch included bread, bananas, and boiled eggs. By the time we reached Sachen, it was already evening. Our tent was set up on the slope of a hill, and a little below, the porters were preparing dinner for us. The place didnot feel very comfortable — it was cold, dark, and quiet night.
I suddenly felt very lonely. After having dinner, I went to sleep. Tomorrow morning, our journey will begin again.
Day 2. Sachen -Bakhim-Tshoka
Good morning! Today, we’ll be trekking from Sachen to Bakhim and then to Tshoka — a journey of around 8 kilometers. The porter told us that today’s road would be quite steep, but we’d get to see even more beautiful views of nature along the way.I walked ahead through the Kanchenjunga National Park. Since it had rained lightly last night, the path had become very difficult to walk on. The trail was slippery, and my feet kept slipping again and again. We had to cross a bridge on the way from Sachen to Tshoka. The bridge was quite big — about 130 feet long. It was the longest route of the entire journey. I reached Tshoka. Tshoka is about 2,985 meters.
It was evening by the time we arrived. Fog had covered everything around, and it was very cold. That night, we stayed in a trekker’s hut. After having dinner, I went to sleep, ready for the next morning’s journey.
Day 3. Tshoka-Deorali-Zongri
Good morning! I started my journey from Tshoka towards Deorali and then to Dzongri. The morning was very foggy and cold — the temperature must have been around 4°C. It seems that it rains almost every night here, so the path always stays wet. After walking for a long time, we reached Phedang. We stopped there for lunch. From Phedang, the road splits into two — one leading to Kokchurang and the other to Dzongri. I will go towards Dzongri. I reached Deorali Top. From here, Dzongri is only about 2.5 kilometers away. It was foggy all around — I could hardly see anything. Evening was approaching, and it was getting very cold with strong winds blowing everywhere. I kept moving forward. Then I started descending downhill. My flashlight was on, and everyone was with me. After walking for quite a while, we finally saw the lights of the Dzongri camp. I was very hungry, so I quickly had my dinner. It was even colder here , probably around 2 degrees. Good night, my friend. We’ll talk tomorrow.
Day 4. Zongri-Kokchurang-Thansing Valley
The distance from Dzongri to Thansing Valley is about 9 kilometers. This morning, I saw Kanchenjunga from Dzongri — what an incredible and breathtaking view, Today we have a long way to go. It was very cold in the morning — around 3 degrees. The view all around was stunning, with a clear blue sky and the sun slowly rising, yet the cold remained. On this 9-kilometer route, there are several ups and downs. Along the path, a stream flows gently beside us. After walking a long way, I reached Kokchurang. A small river called Pakhchu flows beside Kokchurang. The water was icy cold — just perfect for refreshing yourself after the long walk. After lunch, we started our journey again toward Thansing. There was still a long way to go. Finally, I reached Thansing in the evening. From here, the journey to Goechala begins early in the morning. Many trekkers start around 1 a.m. to reach on time, but I decided to go a little later. temperature is now -2°C. The night sky looked amazing. Countless stars were visible, sparkling brightly. In the distance, Mount Pandim was shining — what a breathtaking sight! Such a huge mountain, completely covered in snow. Good Night
