Rahu Ney Caves – best short trek from Biksthang, Sikkim

Considering our interest in walking, the hotel manager at Bliss Resort, Bikisthang,West Sikkim, suggested us a trek from the Biksthang to the holy cave of Rahu Ney. That was our best short trek in Pelling.

Why Rahu Ney is best short trek

The trek first climbs up through a dense bamboo forest, then climbs down through maize farms and then further winds down through a village Tsochen / Chuchen , leading to Rahu ney caves and then again climbing up to the resort at Bikisthang.

Changing altitude and terrain gives awesome views. Trek is fairly easy to do with kids and the cave is a good experience.

Significance of Rahu Ney caves

It is a sacred Cave where Guru Padmasambhava is known to have meditated in the 8th Century.

Views from Rahu Ney

My fear of Leeches

It was our third day in Biksthang, Pelling and eighth in Sikkim. It rained quite good a day before, rendering our trekking plan unsure. But Dorjee (hotel manager) assured us that weather would start clearing.

As it had rained, I was apprehensive of leeches, which for sure would come out from beneath dried leaves.

More dangerous would be those which will follow Newton’s gravitational law, falling from those big trees and landing straight on us. They are really nasty. These are nastier than the one leeching you from ground.

And we had to trek with my son who was Five yrs then ! If he got “Leeched” he will not move a single step even if I apply all of my “साम, दाम, दंड, भेद”. Dorjee and others assured us that there will not be any leeches falling from trees as it has rained just a day or two.

The first thing we did was to tuck our trousers in our socks.A young boy named Furden accompanied us as our guide.

Entering the forest aka Leech Zone

Trek started right behind the hotel. We climbed some steep stairs and found ourselves in a thick forest. Gyurmee, the resort owner had told us that if we kept on walking, there would be less “leech” attack.

The path was carpeted with dried leaves. Leaches remain hidden beneath these leaves and when it rains they come out. And they were there, many of them!

We did not stop much anywhere for photographs else leeches will get hold of us. We had to keep an eye continuously on the little boy’s feet for any leech attack. As soon as we spotted any on his shoes, we would stop, remove leech and move ahead.

In this process, we got leeches on our shoes and sometimes up to our socks, but it could not reach to our skin as our thick cargos were inside the socks to protect us.

The Comedy of ” Fear of Leeches”

Still two leeches somehow reached my feet. One time Manish and another time I myself, duly spotted it on time and simply pulled it out. That was enough to cause little oozing of blood and continuous itching.

Now and then, either I was bending to itch or lifting my foot up to itch. If I was not doing that, I was bending down to remove Rachit’s leech or lifting him up so Manish could pull it out.

In the mean time I was continuously doing left-right, left-right to save myself from another leech attack.

This endless functionality of all my limbs must have made me look funny. Rachit was laughing and laughing. He said “Mamma you are doing it like Mr. Bean”. For a moment this comment broke my mind’s continuous engagement with leeches.

Good God! These beasts were attacking only from the ground. What would it had been like if they started falling from trees as well? Even the thought of it, made me shiver.

Reaching a ridge

Somehow we crossed that dense, leech-infected forests and were now walking on a flattened but narrow top of an elongated hill chain. So it was like a long pebbled, rocked road flanked on both sides by deep valleys.

Big mountains again flanked these valleys. On our right ride were the mountains of Namchi- another small city of Sikkim that we could easily locate.

A big test for our ‘sense of direction’

Then Furdeen pointed towards left side mountains trying to explain us that there behind that hill was Baichung Bhutia’s village.

Once again we were standing there trying to figure out behind which mountain. After failing for second time in just six days, we gave up and moved on.

Hanging in the valley

A little further we found a rock protruding out of the road into the valley. It would definitely be safe from Leech and so we settled down there. So we were practically sitting on a rock protruding in the deep valley.

Lost in the thoughts, I thought it to certainly become our best short trek in Pelling. Thoughts rose from the valleys, riding on the wind and jumped onto the clouds. These will certainly materialize by evening!

Crossing the maize farms

Soon we resumed trekking, climbing up for a while and then climbing down through step farms. The farming was mainly of ginger and maize.

Rachit and Furden were leading us. Having experienced the varying landscape of dense forest, ridge walk, deep valleys, terraced farms and then a cave is definitely enough to put this trek as best short trek in Pelling.

Reaching Rahu Ney caves

Furden took us to a priest who was having his lunch. He finished his lunch quickly and took us to the cave.

The priest invited Manish inside and after performing prayers asked Manish to give paisa (coin). My beloved husband took the request literally and looked for a coin in all his pockets, finally found a five Rs coin, handed it over to the priest and came outside.

He heard priest speaking something loudly that he could not decipher, but for sure he was not blessing him. He asked Furdeen what the priest was speaking (cribbing)? Furdeen a shy boy said it was nothing.

Sometimes Manish is really very cute! Or ignorant! Or innocent! Or not-so-street-smart! Well! It depends on my mood at that time!!

From there, we further descended down, crossing terraced farms on hills and finally found ourselves on a tar-road.

End of this short and pretty trek

A Tar-road! There was no way to keep Rachit going on a tar road. He could walk entire day but not more than few minutes on tar. It had been around four-five hours since we started to trek and now it was a climb up of some 3-4 km. Luckily a bus arrived which was going to Mangalbarey. We boarded the bus and reached Bliss around two pm.

Having finished this beautiful short trek, I was lazing in the lounge. Manish congratulated me that among us only I had the unique experience of leech sting? I wished, may God enrich his experience too!

How to reach Biksthang in Sikkim

Biksthang lies between Jorethang and Legship and is a better option than to stay in Pelling.

• Air:  It is situated at a distance of 124 km from Bagdogra airport. Take a taxi to take you to Biksthang.
• Rail: The nearest railhead is the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. You can take a taxi or shared cab from there.
• Road: Biksthang is well connected by motorable roads. You can drive from Siliguri through Teesta to reach Melli. Then take a turn towards Jorethang and instead of going towards Darjeeling, drive further to reach Biksthang. You can also reach here via Gangtok, which is at a distance of 119 km.

Things to do in Biksthang, Sikkim

• Besides Rahuney trek, you can do some other treks like Lhuentse Gompa and village walk in Magalbarey.
• There are many small and big walks to go for in forest. Take a local person as a guide for all of your walks.
• Bird watching is an added delight here as Biksthang is nestled in dense forest area.
• Viewing the snow peaks of Mt Kachendzonga while sipping tea and coffee. Biksthang gives better view of snow peaks than Pelling.
• Rriver rafting is also possible.

Best Time to Visit Biksthang 

Biksthang can be visited at any time of the year. If you want the best views of Mt. Kanchenjungha, then October to February is a good time. For Birdwatching, Spring and Summer is better.

To read more such adventures in Himachal with young kids, click here.

Want to read about the top attractions of West Sikkim, Click here

Series Navigation

<< Initiation into Birding @Bliss Resort, Biksthang, SikkimBuddhism: Fluttering Flags and the Floating Blessings >>