Exciting Sikkim

Exciting Sikkim

sikkim is a small state in northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. Sikkim, with its rich biodiversity, has 150 lakes ranging in altitude from 200 meters to almost 8000 meters and about 600 species of bird. Sikkim has 4000 species of flowering plants, making it a botanist's paradise. It has 558 species of orchids, and 39 species of Rhododendrons and around 600 species of Butterflies. Sikkim's capital and largest city is Gangtok. Gangtok is located at a height of 5500 feet above sea level. A gradually growing sprawl of concrete, the town is blessed with a handful of sights, and doubles as a good base for excursions to places such as Rumtek and Tsomgo Lake. Today it is a busy administrative and business centre and presents an interesting mix of cultures and communities.

Some of the key places to visit in and around Gangtok are:

  • Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
  • Tsomgo Lake
  • Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
  • Flower Exhibitions
  • Rumtek Monastery
  • Ropeway
  • Hanuman Tok
  • Ganesh Tok
  • Tashi view point

LACHUNG LACHEN

One of the beautiful town in North Sikkim, located near the border with Tibet at an altitude of 9,600 feet, Lachung is a perfect tourist destination. The Word Lachung means “Small Pass”. It is around 125 kms from Gangtok. ITBP (Indo – Tibetan Border Police) has a forward base in this town. Tourists come from all over the world to visit the town between October and May, mostly on their way to the Yumthang Valley and the Lachung Monastery. The metal cantilever bridge across the wild Yumthang River. Around 1.5km uphill there is Lachung Gompa . Great view of long ribbons of waterfalls surround the scattered village of Lachung can be seen from this place.

Some of the key places to visit in and around Namchi are:

  • Sai Baba Mandir
  • Char Dham
  • Temi Tea Garden
  • Samdruptse

NAMCHI

Namchi is the capital of the South Sikkim district of Sikkim. The word Namchi means “Top of the Sky” in Bhutia. Namchi is fast becoming a major tourist spot and pilgrimage centre. The Namchi monastery, Ralong monastery and Tendong Hill are important Buddhist pilgrimage centres. The world’s largest statue of the Buddhist Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim, is on the Samdruptse hill opposite Namchi. This hill is believed to fulfill all wishes, where the largest statue in the world of Lord Padmasambhava is also established. According to myths, it is said that Buddhist saints and monks go up the hill and pray that the volcano does not erupt. Major Population of Namchi consists of Hindus and Buddhists and the language spoken is Hindi, Nepali and English.

Pelling

Pelling, a town in the district of West Sikkim, is located at a distance of 10 km from the district headquarters of Geyzing. Pelling is famous for the panoramic view of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga range, the third highest peak in the world. It offers appropriate sites for mountain biking, rock climbing, village tours, meditations, educational studies and many more. Pelling is very cleverly connected by proper roads and bridges to all the tourist destinations and all the nearest towns (Gangtok, Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jorethang, Singtam and Kalimpong). It is 115 km from the state capital Gangtok and about 135 km from Siliguri, the nearest railhead and airport.

Some of the key places to visit in and around Namchi are:

  • Sai Baba Mandir
  • Char Dham
  • Temi Tea Garden
  • Samdruptse