“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – Jack Kerouac

What we used to do as a child when we were too annoyed, too scared, too angry or too sad?

We ran towards our comfort zone. The comfort zone could be our mother, our little room or some thing that give us peace, embrace us.

North Bengal has become that comfort zone for me. In our journey towards the kingdom of greenery and all things serene and pristine, I realized North Bengal has enchanted me. It was my fourth time in a row there and I fell in love all over again! This time, it was Rishop.

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

When you are travelling in a group, you get to be a part of many stories. While on a trip, people often set themselves free. The stories they carry with them can easily be read. The places you visit, the people you meet, the sights you see all tell stories if you wish to listen.

We were a group of people from every age group with same enthusiasm. The adventurous spree led us to an immaculate forest, Neora Vally, where silence had its own language. I witnessed the readiness of an old man to conquer the forest. I witnessed the happiness of a couple enjoying every step of their uphill journey. I met a man who offered me warmth when I was shivering in cold, by taking me to the fireplace in an army camp. I listened to the story of a Jawan who works in a remote area like this day and night miles away from friends and family.

They all became a part of my story.

“Travel far enough, you meet yourself” -David Mitchell

At night, standing alone in the balcony I looked around; what did I see?

I saw the darkness like never before. It was like a giant lap waiting to engulf you. There were only some tiny dots I could see. Those were the inhabited places of that hill. But they were looking so small! How small human beings are in this vast universe!

That night was dedicated to stories, horror stories in particular. Cold wind, hot cup of coffee, chicken pakora and stories- what else do you need to make your holiday special! Curling up in blankets, with eyes popping out, we shared our personal encounters with paranormal energy. Actually, we love to get scared when we are surrounded by people. But the truth is we only fear the unknown.

After dinner, when everyone went to bed, I thought to stand alone in the balcony again. I could listen to my own heartbeat. How can a place be that silent! There was no chirping of the cricket either. After a long time, I saw the vast night sky full of stars. It felt like I was standing alone at the end of the earth. Sometimes you need to find out the opportunities to catch up with yourself. Sometimes, we need to put ourselves at the top of our priority list.

“The most beautiful in the world is, of course, the world itself.” -Wallace Stevens

The fact is, there are some places in North Bengal which are absolutely unexplored and thankfully not yet been commercialized. There is no such famous architecture, temple or museum or park where tourists mainly give a visit. If someone asks me, what’s there to see in Rishop, I would simply tell, Rishop itself. The Nature here is like a riddle. Nature may surprise you in the most unexpected ways. There is a place named ‘Tiffindara’, which is the highest sunset point of Rishop and its surroundings. If luck favours, you may witness the 360 view of the magnificent Kanchanjungha.

As they say, good things don’t last long. Eventually, it was time for heading back to home. I so wanted to cease the day, cease the time. I wanted to stay there, roam in the villages, sing songs running around the trees… the filmy side of me was about to crawl in, just then the mind said, ‘shut up’!

So, if you want to take a break from the monotony, Rishop, the little village in Kalimpong is highly recommended. But beware; you might get enchanted by its serenity like me!