Hotel Alice Villa

wedding of my clan-limboos

by mantru

Limbus, in general, marry within their own community. Boys are at liberty to choose a girl and girls are equally free to decide whether to spend life with the boy in question or not . Cross-cousin marriage is not allowed in Limbu culture. Marriage between a man and the widow of his elder brother can take place if they mutually agree. Marriage between a man and a woman outside family relations and having different thars (clans) is also possible either by arrangement or by mutual consent of the boy and the girl in question. It is conventionally said that the customs and traditions of Limbus were established in the distant past by Sawa Yethang (council of eight kings/leaders). The marriages are mostly arranged by parents or result when a boy elopes with a girl. Asking for a girl's hand, that is the most important ceremony. In that system, the girl can ask for anything and an unlimited amount of gold, silver, etc. This confirms to the girl's family that the boy is financially secure enough to keep their daughter happy. Few days after the wedding, the boy's family members have to visit the girl's house with a piglet and some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks depending upon the financial standard of his house. The key ceremonies of a Limbu wedding take place in the groom's house rather than that of the bride's because girl has to stay with her husband. There are two special dances in this ceremony, one is called dhan nach (wheat harvested rice dance) and Chyabrung. Dhan nach is characterized by men and women dancing in a slow circle, whereas Chyabrung consist of complex footwork that goes with the beat of the drums. Anyone can join the dance and they can go for long hours. Dhan naach also celebrates the harvest season in addition to being a feature of social occasions including weddings.

for adventure lovers.....

by mantru

we have the himalayan mountaineering institute.........
The Tenzing Norgay Himalayan Mountaineering Institute trains mountaineers. It has a small museum as well.

After the successful ascent of Mount Everest on 29th May 1953 , by Late Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary , the mountaineeringin India got impetus.Consequently the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established on 4th November 1954 by personal initiative of Late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru the first Prime Minister of India and Dr.B.C.Roy the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, which was then the hub center of all mountaineering activities in India.
Late Maj N.D. Jayal was the first Principal whereas Late Tenzing Norgay was the Director of Field Training of the institute.
The institute is located at an altitude of 6,800 feet above sea level.

adventure courses are also provided........

Adventure Course (15 Days)
Duration of Course is 15 days. The object of the course is to stimulate a spirit a spirit of adventure or reveal and develop the sturdier qualities of character, both physical and mental, to instil a sense of comradeship, discipline, selflessness, service to the community, self-reliance, physical fitness and the ability to think and live adventurously. The course includes :

a) Rock Climbing
b) Trekking and Camping
c) Survival in jungle
d) Solo Camping
e) Canoeing and Watermanship
f) Obstacle Course
g) Cross Country Running
h) Map Reading

There are separate courses for boys, girls, adults and Visually Handicapped Persons (VHP).
The trainees are taken of treks to a number of places of tourist interests which include Tiger Hill, Sandakphu, Phalut, Mirik, Singla etc.

day visit to kalimpong

by mantru

Kalimpong is a hill station (a hill town) nestled in the Shiwalik Hills (or Lower Himalaya) in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at 27.06° N 88.47° E at an average elevation of 1,247 m (4,100 feet). The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, a part of the district of Darjeeling. Kalimpong has become an important tourist destination . Kalimpong is also famous for its flower market, especially the wide array of orchids.

Quintessential Hill station

by viki_r

"Climate and Geography"

The air is fresh on the Way to Darjeeling and the climate toggles between sunny and Cloudy and Rainy ..
With a beckoning for the mountains on both sides and the cool tea plantations of Darjeeling . The Journey winds its way to a higher altitude, backed by a wonderful Himalayan panorama.
Located at an altitude of 6982 ft abv sea level..
Summer Temp 17-24 Deg Cel and (there would be slight variation in this .i.e +/-)
Winter Temp 5 -7 Def Cel

"Food & Culture ."

Some of the worlds best tea products are available here..
Main cultivation here is Tea.

The food is typical Tibetan and we munch into soup noodles 'thukpa' and steamed dumplings 'momos'. The only thing i have a problem with is the 'yak butter tea', which is interesting to say the least.
And the culture adapted here is Nepali and Tibetain ..
Theire Styles are good and beautiful
And the people here are of much helping and generous nature and are very innocent ..