Glimpse of Life Beyond the Lenses: Ranipa’s Sikkim Trip Review with Thrillophilia
"It was just after dawn, and the world was still waking up. The first rays of sunlight kissed the snowy peaks of the Kanchenjunga, painting them gold against the lavender sky. The sun rose from in between the peaks and the moment was surreal. Ranipa stood there in silence, her camera in hand but momentarily forgotten, as she absorbed the beauty before her. The gentle breeze carried the sound of distant prayer bells and the fresh scent of pine trees. Beside her, her partner quietly whispered, 'This is it, isn’t it? This is why we came.'"
In that moment, all the months of planning with Thrillophilia, the restless nights of anticipation, and the excitement that had built up over time made sense. They were here, in the heart of the Himalayas, where nature stood still in its full grandeur, and the world seemed to expand in endless beauty.
A Dream in Motion
Months before that morning at Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, the journey had started as a casual conversation. Ranipa, a rising video blogger with a keen eye for storytelling, was looking for her next great content idea.
Her partner, always the calm and thoughtful one, suggested, “Why not the Northeast? Sikkim and Darjeeling- they’re raw, untouched, and so full of stories.”
That idea instantly resonated with her. The quiet corners of India’s Northeast had been calling to her for a while. And for her partner, it was a chance to slow down, breathe, and soak in the serenity that city life often lacked.
But this wasn’t just another trip for content. It was a journey for them both. A way to reconnect, to find meaning beyond the lens of a camera, and to be reminded of the world’s peaceful wonders.
They booked a tour package with Thrillophilia. Gangtok, Ravangla, Pelling and then Darjeeling- it would be a circuit of stunning landscapes in these remote, peaceful corners of India.
Lost in the Mystical Waters of Tsomgo Lake
Fast forward to a foggy morning in Sikkim.
The road to Tsomgo Lake was narrow and winding, cutting through the mountains and thick clouds. The chill in the air was sharp, but Ranipa was loving every bit of it.
When they finally reached the lake, it was as if the entire world had fallen silent. Tsomgo Lake appeared, nestled between the towering mountains, its waters reflecting the surroundings like a giant mirror.
Ranipa took a deep breath and smiled at her partner. "This is surreal," she said. She set up her camera, capturing timelapses of the ethereal landscape.
“Look at that,” her partner pointed to a ray of light piercing through the clouds, like a spotlight on the lake’s surface. “Nature just knows how to put on a show, doesn’t it?”
Conversations amidst Serenity
Later in Ravangla, it wasn’t the towering Shakyamuni Buddha that appealed to them as much as it was the silence that surrounded. They arrived at the Buddha Park in the late afternoon when the light was soft, casting gentle shadows across the gardens.
A monk passing by noticed the camera in her hands and stopped to chat. He spoke little English, but through smiles and simple words, they communicated. “Camera captures moments,” he said, gesturing to the sky, “but here, you don’t need a camera. Keep it aside and capture it in your heart. That will stay with you forever.”
That brief exchange stayed with her long after they left. She filmed, of course, but she also took moments to just be- to stand quietly with her partner, to hold his hand, to listen to the wind sweeping through the prayer flags. She remind herself that sometimes, the best stories aren’t told through words or images but through experiences that become part of your soul.
Whispers of History
In Pelling, it was the stories hidden in the old stones and the ruins of Rabdentse that fascinated them both. They wandered through the ancient capital of Sikkim, feeling the weight of history all around.
Ranipa filmed as she often did, but this time, her narrative was slower, more reflective. “You can feel it here,” she said softly to the camera. “These ruins- they’re remnants of a forgotten kingdom, and yet, they’re still alive with stories.”
Her partner, standing nearby, added, “It makes you think about how small we are, doesn’t it? All these empires, and yet here we are- just two common people passing through.”
The Golden Dawn
Their final destination, Darjeeling, was everything they had hoped it would be- and more. That golden morning at Tiger Hill, with the sun slowly rising over the Kanchenjunga, felt like a culmination of everything they had experienced.
As they stood there, silently watching the peaks change color in the morning light, it wasn’t just a beautiful view. It was a symbol of their journey together- of the highs and lows, the quiet moments and the grand celebrations, the laughter and the shared silences.
“This trip,” Ranipa said, turning to her partner, “has been so much more than I imagined.”
“It’s the kind of journey that stays with you for the rest of your life,” he replied, “the kind that you don’t need to record, because it’s already etched in your heart.”
And for the first time in a long while, Ranipa put down her camera and just watched the distant lights flicker far away on the laps of the hills.
By the time they returned, they were different people. Not in any grand, obvious way, but in small, meaningful ways.
They had seen a part of India that was less touched by modernity, more in tune with nature and carried the ancient rhythms of the earth and sky. They had connected with people whose lives were quieter, simpler, but rich with wisdom and history.
Read more: Thrillophilia Sikkim Reviews