The Beauty of the Present
Ashmit’s journey took him to a small, serene state called Sikkim in the middle of Northeast India. Sikkim was famous for its breathtaking mountain landscape, vibrant culture, and calm atmosphere. He had heard a lot about it, and something inside him was telling him that this was where he would find the peace he was looking for.
He reached Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and immediately felt a change in the air. The high mountains wrapped in mist, the cool breeze, and the scent of pine trees made him feel a strange but comforting peace. The city was moving at a slow pace, allowing him to appreciate the little things—the rustling leaves, the gurgling rivers, and the distant call of prayer wheels spinning in the wind.
After spending some time exploring Gangtok, Ashmit decided to go even deeper into Sikkim. His first stop was Lachung, a charming hill village surrounded by waterfalls and apple orchards. The people there lived simple, contented lives, and their warmth made him feel at home. He was mesmerized by the beauty of the valley, but it was the Yumthang Valley that truly left him speechless.
Often called the Valley of Flowers, this valley was a paradise of vibrant rhododendrons as far as the eye could see. The air smelled sweet, and a gentle breeze brought the scent of blooming flowers. For the first time in a long time, Ashmit felt truly present – completely immersed in the beauty of the world around him.
The locals of Lachung told him about a place even higher in the mountains – Zero Point (Yumsamdong). Curious, Ashmit decided to go there. As he drove through the winding roads, the landscape began to change. Lush greenery was replaced by snowy terrain, and before he knew it, he was surrounded by a snow-clad wonderland.
Zero Point, where the roads end and the Himalayas stretch endlessly into the sky, felt like the edge of the world. The silence was deep, broken only by the occasional gust of wind. Standing there, filling his lungs with the cool mountain air, Ashmit felt incredibly small but utterly peaceful.
From Lachung, he continued his journey to Lachen, another quaint village nestled in the mountains. Unlike the bustling streets of Gangtok, Lachen was quiet and untouched, with traditional wooden houses and prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.
The peace of the place gave Ashmit time to think. He thought about how much he was running away – from his past, from his emotions, from himself. But here, in the heart of Sikkim, he realised that healing wasn’t about running away. It was about making peace with all the things that once seemed unbearable.
As the days passed, Ashmit found himself embracing the simplicity of life in the mountains. He spoke to villagers who had spent their entire lives there, hearing their stories of resilience and contentment. They had faced hardships – harsh winters, isolation, loss – but they never let those things define them. Instead, they accepted life as it came, embracing both joy and sadness equally.
For his final stop there, Ashmit decided to visit Tsomgo Lake, a glacial lake located in the mountains about 40 kilometres from Gangtok. The journey to the lake was as mesmerising as the destination – winding roads passed through high peaks, and the landscape kept changing between lush greenery and rocky, snow-capped slopes. When he finally arrived, Ashmit was awestruck. The lake, surrounded by steep mountains, reflected the clear blue sky like a perfect mirror. The silence was absolute, broken only by the occasional shriek of a yak or the whisper of the wind.
The locals told him stories about the lake’s sacred significance, how its waters are believed to change colour with the seasons, and how it is deeply connected to Sikkim’s spiritual heritage. Ashmit sat by the water’s edge, watching the gentle waves dance on the surface. He realised that life, just like the lake, is constantly changing – sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent, but always moving forward. He now understood that healing is not about erasing the past or avoiding pain. It’s about accepting life’s ups and downs, just as the lake had accepted the changing seasons.
When it was time to leave, Ashmit felt a deep sense of gratitude. Sikkim hadn’t just given him beautiful scenery – it had given him a new sense of clarity, acceptance and inner peace. He wasn’t the same person he was at the start of his journey, and for the first time in a long time, he felt ready for whatever came next.
This is only a glimpse of the journey—discover the complete story within the pages of the book.
“Because every story has the power to change something.” — A. Bansal