As I mentioned earlier, in my reading I found that there is a separatist group in Darjeeling that is demanding the formation of a separate Gorkha homeland. Periodically, this group calls a bandh to put pressure on the government to resolve the issue. A bandh is a political strike that stops all traffic. While Sikkim is not party to this dispute, the road from the airport in Bagdogra or the train station in Siligari leads to both Darjeeling and Sikkim. So if there is a bandh in Darjeeling, you cannot get to Sikkim.

Since it is impossible to predict when there will or will not be a bandh, we need to have some contingency plans. This is one of those times when I wish my schedule were more flexible. But we have fixed dates in and out of Bangkok and need to work within that framework.

Sometimes, the separatist groups names a date when they are going to have a bandh. In this case we might know far enough ahead of time to rearrange some of our itinerary as needed. But other times they just call a bandh with little warning.

So, where can we be flexible? The current plan calls for flying from Bangkok through Kolkata, on to Bagdogra, then drive to Sikkim and Darjeeling for 10 days. Next, a flight back to Kolkata and four nights there before returning to Bangkok for five days. So we have three puzzle pieces: 5 nights in Bangkok, 10 nights in Sikkim/Darjeeling, and 4 nights in Kolkata. Those could be re-ordered in a number of ways. We would need to have flexibility in our hotel reservations (and I’ll be checking on that).

Another option is to change locations if there is a bandh. I’ve already researched Assam. Perhaps we could go there instead. This would require a flight from Kolkata to Guwahati instead of Bagdogra. Of course, it would also require both canceling hotel reservations in Sikkim and Darjeeling and making new ones in Assam as well as changing our flights out of Kolkata.

But when do you decide? A month ahead of the trip? Weeks ahead? Can I wait until I arrive in Bangkok to change plans? Until Kolkata? Until Bagdogra? I guess that depends in part on how willing hotels are to change dates or refund deposits. It also depends on how long we are willing to wait to know where we are going. While I’ll gather all of the information I can when I start making reservations, I’ll have to make that call as the time gets closer.

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