Jhalong-Bindu Part-2
We are spending some quality time here looking at the Jaldhaka river. The land on the other side of the river belongs to Bhutan. The nature of the land or topography on both sides of the river is the same. Hill slopes are covered with forest. We are enjoying the beauty of the nature in the sunny winter day. There is a lady with a bucket in hand approaching towards us. There are some live fishes inside the bucket. These fishes are freshly caught from the river. She has most likely thought us as probable customers of the fishes. But we have limited ourselves upto only viewing the fishes and we are happy with that.
Freshly caught fishes from the river Jaldhaka
After taking some snaps, we are now back inside the car. We are continuing our journey towards Bindu.
We have now reached Bindu. Bindu is a small picturesque hill village situated on the bank of the Jaldhaka river. It is the last village of West Bengal as well as the last village on the Indian side bordering Bhutan. Bindu is a confluence of three streams. One of the streams is originated from the Kupup lake in East Sikkim. These combined streams have formed the Jaldhaka river.
There is a dam built on the river. Our car has stopped some distance away from the dam. The road actually ends here. But people can walk further up and also on the dam which works as a bridge too. We can see the lock-gates of the dam. Some gates are partially open and water is running down fast. Releasing water from a dam always creates a great view and this is no exception. So this dam controls the flow of the Jaldhaka river and so it controls the Jaldhaka Hydel project.
The river bed is full of rocks. So is the thin Bindu valley. Seeing a big black rock beside the river, I am feeling the temptation to step on that rock.
The rocky riverbed of Jaldhaka
I am now sitting on that big black rock. The flowing water is striking the rocks and creating white foam. I am savoring the beautiful view and as well as enjoying the appealing sound of the river. In front of me at some distance away down the river there is a man standing inside the river. He is standing there with the support of a big rock. He is catching fish there. I am wondering how the man has reached on that rock while the current is so strong.
A man catching fish inside the river
I am still sitting on that big black rock and wishing to lay on my back on this rock to relax for some time. But there are other people present in the vicinity and hence I have discarded that plan. Now Argha and Soumya both have come on this rock. Soumendu is standing on the road. He is taking pictures of the surroundings.
There is a border outpost present here. Border security personnels are guarding this outpost. They are keeping their eyes on us. One security personnel has come near us. He is talking to Soumendu now. He is looking at the pictures that Soumendu has captured.
We have now come back on the road near Soumendu. I am curious about the discussion that took place between the security personnel and Soumendu. What I have come to know that taking photograph of the dam is prohibited. So he was looking at the pictures to find out which photos captured the dam in the background and if found then delete them.
We are now looking at the surrounding places. There are some houses present between the road and the river. All the houses are decorated with many flower plants. Hasanur is saying that few days back a woman from a tourist group plucked some flowers and some altercation took place. I remember during my hostel days we used to do gardening and we created a beautiful garden full with different kind of flowers. Some women from nearby places used to trespass and pluck flowers from our garden during early morning. It was heartbreaking for us.
When Soumendu was capturing photos of this place he somewhere stepped on some dog poo. He is now trying to clean that shoe by the flowing river water. His woodland shoe is very hungry and so he has not got much success with his effort.
We are now going inside the car. Its time for our return journey.
Next part: Samsing
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