Darjeeling in the monsoon
Describe Darjeeling in the monsoon in three words! It is rain, rain and rain!!!
Yet the thick fog that limits your visibility to just several meters, allows you to explore the lands rich variety of flora. I cannot say I am a master of plants but certain plant species evoke strong memories and associations. Like "sisnu" the nettle plan with which I got my first real beating! Incredibly this same nettle plant can be made into a broth-like delicious local dish. Then there is "iskus" or squash of which the tuberous root, the spiky fruit as well as the tender tendrils are eaten as vegetables. The "baas" or the bamboo, is the most versatile of the lot; not only are the tender bamboo shoots a delicacy of their own but also the bamboo cane is used to make every conceivable furniture, utility item and even houses and animal shelters. Finally there is the "dhupi" of the birch. which enhances the skyline with its lovely triangular shape, and the thick branches with needle leaves come handy during decoration in every local wedding and festival.
Then there are times when the fog and mist just clear-up.The rain stops. And ever so briefly you catch a glimpse of the mountains and the hills that were hidden so far. The skies transform into the deepest ethereal blue letting your being soar into the heavens above.
While I would love you to visit Darjeeling in the monsoon, may be the least I can do is inspire you with picture descriptions of the paragraphs above.
Yet the thick fog that limits your visibility to just several meters, allows you to explore the lands rich variety of flora. I cannot say I am a master of plants but certain plant species evoke strong memories and associations. Like "sisnu" the nettle plan with which I got my first real beating! Incredibly this same nettle plant can be made into a broth-like delicious local dish. Then there is "iskus" or squash of which the tuberous root, the spiky fruit as well as the tender tendrils are eaten as vegetables. The "baas" or the bamboo, is the most versatile of the lot; not only are the tender bamboo shoots a delicacy of their own but also the bamboo cane is used to make every conceivable furniture, utility item and even houses and animal shelters. Finally there is the "dhupi" of the birch. which enhances the skyline with its lovely triangular shape, and the thick branches with needle leaves come handy during decoration in every local wedding and festival.
Then there are times when the fog and mist just clear-up.The rain stops. And ever so briefly you catch a glimpse of the mountains and the hills that were hidden so far. The skies transform into the deepest ethereal blue letting your being soar into the heavens above.
While I would love you to visit Darjeeling in the monsoon, may be the least I can do is inspire you with picture descriptions of the paragraphs above.
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| Baas or bamboo |
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| Sisnu ghari: or nettle bush |
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| iskus ko munta or squash tendril |
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| Dhupi or Birch |
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| Catching the mountain view in the monsoon. Darjeeling town in the foreground. |
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| Darjeeling panorama. Kanchenjungha mountain in the distant background. |
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| Darjeeling toy-train in the rain |
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| Sonada railway station, Darjeeling in the monsoon |
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| Darjeeling passenger rope-way once the clouds lifted up |
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