Elections over, tourist season picks up ANAND OBEROI

GANGTOK, 21 May: This year’s “tourist season” kicked off in earnest after 16 May with the completion of the election process across the country. The number of tourists coming into Sikkim has suddenly exploded with the private bus stand here at Deorali sometimes not being able to handle the pressure of incoming traffic and vehicles having to be diverted to the byepass.

The tourists visiting Sikkim at present are mostly “drop-in” tourists who prefer not to book their hotels or plan their travel in advance. Meanwhile, hotels in and around the capital are also catering to package bookings for budget tourists who are now storming low-end lodges, some even travelling with their rations and kitchen staff.

The traffic in Gangtok has also stepped into tourist season mode with most of the local taxis doing “point” sightseeing leaving the everyday Gangtok commuter waiting a little longer for share cabs.

Tourists say that most vacationers have fixed this time of the year for the holidays since it is the end of the elections while the intolerable heat wave in other parts of the country is also getting tourists for Sikkim.

With maximum temperature expected to go up by 2 to 3 degree Celsius in another 3 days as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Sikkim should expect even more visitors over the weekend. The IMD has also issued a statement that heat wave conditions would prevail at a few places over Gangetic West Bengal and at isolated places over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and southwest Madhya Pradesh.

“This is a soothing experience since the rest of the country is steaming. We are here on a week-long holiday before we return to Maharashtra,” explains a tourist who is here with his friends for the first time.

MG Marg in the capital is also swarming with tourists trying to capture the appropriate photograph of their visit.

For thousands of tourists fleeing the heat wave for the mountain rain and sunshine, Sikkim makes for a fine holiday destination provided it also offers a pleasant experience sans the overcharging and heckling.

fotoCaption: Popular tourist spots like the Bakthang Falls at Burtuk above Gangtok are receiving sightseers by the packed jeepfulls...