Gangtok Pelling Darjeeling - A Sikkim Love Story

Start the day fresh with breakfast and set off for Tsomgo Lake by 8 in the morning. The two to three hour drive brings you up to 3,750 meters where this sacred and strikingly beautiful lake waits. In summer the water bursts into a collision of colours that is genuinely breathtaking, while winter transforms it into a frozen, sparkling white landscape. The rugged terrain and the towering mountains framing the lake make it one of the most naturally romantic backdrops you will find anywhere. Get your camera out and make the most of it. Just beside the lake is Baba Harbhajan Mandir, a shrine built in memory of 22 year old Sepoy Baba Harbhajan Singh, a young soldier whose story continues to move everyone who visits. The water here is believed to carry healing properties and locals hold firmly to the belief that his soul still watches over and protects the army personnel stationed nearby. Head back to the hotel by evening and let the rest of the night be yours to enjoy. Take a walk around if you feel like it or simply sit down to a warm and satisfying dinner together. There is also an optional Nathu La Pass tour available at an additional cost, which can be arranged after the Baba Mandir visit. Once an ancient silk route between India and China, it offers extraordinary views of Tibet and the surrounding mountain ranges that are well worth the extra effort.

After a hearty breakfast, check out and begin the scenic drive towards Pelling, stopping en route at Namchi - one of Sikkim's most spiritually significant towns. The first stop is the Char Dham Complex at Solophok Hill, a magnificent replica of all four Hindu dhams - Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram - set within a beautifully landscaped hilltop campus. The scale and serenity of this place make it one of the most unique attractions in all of Sikkim. Just a short distance away stands the towering Samdruptse Statue, a 45-metre idol of Guru Padmasambhava - believed to be the largest such statue in the world - overlooking the valleys below with a commanding presence that is hard to forget. Spend time here, soak in the views and the spiritual energy, and then continue your drive to Pelling. Check in to the hotel, freshen up and enjoy a quiet evening with views of the Kanchenjunga range glowing in the last light of the day. Dinner and overnight stay at Pelling.

Get ready for a day that keeps giving from start to finish. After breakfast, head out to explore Pelling at its very best. The first stop is Darap Valley, a small hamlet with a beauty that is hard to match and a young local community that is warm, aware and genuinely welcoming. Next is Rimbi Falls, close to Darap Valley and widely regarded as one of Pelling's finest attractions. The waters here create a lovely recreational spot for swimming and fishing that both locals and visitors enjoy thoroughly. Sewaro Rock Garden follows, offering stunning views of the skies above along with cafeterias and swimming pools that make it a great place to linger. From there, visit the Kanchenjunga Waterfalls, a perennial and incredibly popular spot, followed by the sacred Khecheopalri Lake, a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists that carries a rare sense of calm. Keep clicking pictures through all of this because these are the memories you will come back to for years. Head back to the hotel for lunch and a short rest before heading out again. The afternoon takes you to the Rabdentse Ruins, what remains of Sikkim's former capital after the Nepalese invasion in the 18th century, a deeply historical and quietly moving site. After that, visit Pema Yangtse Monastery, one of the oldest and most respected monasteries in Sikkim, dating back to 1705 and carrying a spiritual peace that is immediately felt. Round off the day at the Helipad Ground where the views of Pelling, Kangchenjunga and the surrounding ranges are simply stunning. Head back to the hotel after a full and wonderful day, have dinner and get a solid rest because tomorrow the journey moves on to Darjeeling.

Day five is a travel day and a welcome chance to simply be with each other. Have breakfast, double check your bags and set off for Darjeeling, roughly 73 kilometres from Pelling and about three to four hours away. Use the drive well. Talk, laugh, look out at the passing hills together and enjoy the kind of unhurried time that everyday life rarely allows. You will be at the hotel before you know it. Check in, pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee, sit back and let the charm of Darjeeling begin to settle around you. Enjoy a comfortable overnight stay.

The alarm goes off early today and it is absolutely worth it. Leave for Tiger Hill at 4 in the morning and watch the sun rise over the Kanchenjunga ranges in one of the most spectacular displays of colour you will ever witness. Sharing that moment with the person you love makes it all the more special. Do not leave without capturing it. On the way back, stop at Ghoom Monastery, home to a magnificent 15 feet statue of Lord Buddha, and the Batasia Loop, a beautiful spiral train track surrounded by gardens and eateries that is a joy to walk around. Return to the hotel for breakfast and then head out again for more. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, established in 1954 to bring dignity and recognition to the sport of mountain climbing, is a fascinating visit. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, closed on Thursdays, is home to the rare red panda and snow leopard among many other species. Continue to Tenzing Rock, where amateur and professional climbers each have their own side to explore, then Chitrey Tea Garden where fresh tea is brewed right from the plants growing in the backyard. End the day at the Japanese Temple and the Peace Pagoda, two structures that stand close together and are often visited as one. Built under the guidance of Japanese monk Nichidatsu Fujii, both carry a deep and grounding sense of peace and history. Head back to the hotel when the day winds down, relax for a while and if the mood strikes, take a stroll down Mall Road or Chowrasta. Enjoy a delicious dinner and let this wonderful day end on a warm and contented note.

Pack up your bags along with every beautiful memory from these seven days and check out of the hotel for the last time. The drive to NJP Railway Station or Bagdogra Airport will likely bring back flashes of everything you experienced together on this trip. Let them come and hold onto every one of them. This honeymoon was just the beginning of a lifetime of adventures together, and we genuinely wish that your marriage only grows richer, deeper and more beautiful with every passing year.