Singtam is a busy and vibrant town which lies in Gangtok district, East Sikkim. The town stands on the banks of river Teesta and Rani Khola and is a vital cross over for travellers to Sikkim. Snuggled in the lap of nature is the Rongichu Water Garden, a lush garden area that sprawls across few acres of land with endless meadows, trees, shrubs and diverse plants. The Creative Writing club from Medhavi Skill University, Singtam visited the Garden for a field trip on 16th December 2022, and came back completely smitten by the natural beauty that enveloped the place. It barely took 20 minutes by bus to reach the destination from the University in Topakhani, Singtam. On the way, we passed by some local vegetable shops that sold fresh organic fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices.
On arrival, an entry fee of INR 10 was charged at the dainty ticket office, which was pretty low considering the serenity, beauty and joyful experience that this place has to offer to its visitors. The Water Garden timings are from 9 am to 5 pm throughout the week. Mostly, it’s a place for the public for recreation in the form of picnics, fun and leisure activities and also for educational trips. This exquisite place is rich in flora and fauna and a home to varieties of charismatic birds and unique insects, making it ideal for botanical studies. Moreover, it can also be termed a hub for seekers of peace and solitary time to escape from the maddening crowd of an over exerted life or a lethargic and monotonous life.
Also, there are swimming pools for people who are interested, especially in the sweltering summer season. However, the winter season caters to the maintenance of the pool and the vicinity around it. The Garden is well sustained by the people in charge for cleanliness, safety and grooming of the area. Littering the premises and leaving the bon fire unattended top the list of Don’ts out here.
The weather was lovely despite the winter season, it was warm and breezy, ideal for the students who had to move around interacting with the caretakers, fishing for information for their project. Right from the stony winding stairs that welcomed us to the green wilderness, to the tall trees that almost seemed to touch the sky and everything about that alluring place caught the students’ attention and joyously they started with their assigned tasks.
Two hours just sailed by and the students who were wholly immersed in the sights and sounds of Mother Nature had to be reminded that it was time to leave for the University. On the way back, we visited a small café that served some hot and cold beverages, snacks and bowls of hot Maggi soupy noodles. Everyone returned happy with beautiful diary notes and mesmerising memories etched in the soul.
