Sikkim

Sikkim

Sikkim is a state in north east India and situated near to India's Siliguri Corridor near Bangladesh. Gangtok is the largest and capital city of Sikkim. Its border touches China, Nepal and West Bengal. Sikkim is the second smallest among all the states of India. Kangchenjunga is in the Sikkim which is the highest peak in India and third highest in World

History of Sikkim

Sikkim was founded by the Namgyal period in the 17th century.  Buddhist priest-king Chogyal ruled here. In 1890, Sikkim became state of British India. After referendum in 1975, Sikkim joined India as its 22nd state. Modern Sikkim is one of largest Producer of cardamom production in India. It is the second largest producer of the spice after Guatemala in the world.  At Present Sikkim has four districts East Sikkim, North Sikkim, South Sikkim and West Sikkim.

Tourist Places in Sikkim

Gangtok

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. It is located in the eastern Himalayan range and is the largest town in Sikkim. Gangtok is the centre of Sikkim's tourism. Tourists can Visit Beautiful Places in Gangtok such as Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok and Ban Jhakri Waterfall. The best time to visit Gangtok is between October and December to Clear views of the Himalayan peaks. January and February is snow in the higher altitudes. In Gangtok, M G Marg is the center of attraction with all the best restaurants, beer pubs, shopping Places and a good place to hang out with your loved ones.

Nathu La

Nathu La is a mountain pass and 54 km east of Gangtok. It is located in the Himalayas in East Sikkim district. It connects the Sikkim with China's Tibet Independent Region.  Nathu means listening and La means pass in Tibetan. Only Indian citizens can visit the pass after obtaining a permit in Gangtok. Nathu La is one of the trading border posts between China and India. It was sealed by India after the 1962 indo-china War.  Nathu La was re-opened in 2006.

Tsomgo Lake

Tsomgo Lake is a glacial lake which is located in the East Sikkim district and around 40 Km from the capital Gangtok. This Lake is also called Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake.  Lake becomes frozen during the winter season. The lake surface Changes different colours according to the change of seasons. Tsomgo is made of two words. Here Tso means lake and Mgo means head. The literal meaning is source of the lake.

Yuksom

Yuksom is located in Geyzing subdivision of West Sikkim district in Sikkim. It is a historical town and was the first capital of Sikkim in 1642. It was established by Phuntsog Namgyal who was the first Chogyal of Sikkim. Yuksom is the place where there is the Norbugang Chorten.  Near the Norbugang throne, the place Namgyal was crowned. This place has several monasteries and a lake. The Chogyals ruled lasted for 333 years.

The Chogyal made the first monastery at Yuksom in Sikkim in 1701. It was the Dubdi Monastery. It is a part of Buddhist pilgrimage route including the Norbugang Chorten, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins, the Khecheopalri Lake and the Tashiding Monastery.

Yuksom has special religious and cultural significance for Bhutia Tribal of Sikkim. Yuksom has a lot of popular Buddhist monasteries, historical monuments and an ancient Gorkhas Village. The Khangchendzong is the base camp for trekking and it has large of mountaineers from all parts of the world. The village people did a good work for preservation of the Rathong Chu valley where the village is located. They have played an important role in promotion of eco-tourism in the zone. Thus Yuksom become a model village for eco-tourism.

Lachung

Lachung is situated in the North Sikkim district near the Tibet border .It is a town and hill station and far 125 Km from Gangtok. Lachung is at the confluence of the lachen and Lachung Rivers. Both the rivers are branches of the River Teesta. The Lachung means small pass.  A British explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker described the Lachung as the most picturesque village of Sikkim. Skiing is done in Phuni very near this town. In the winter the town is mostly covered in snow.

Gurudongmar Lake

Gurudongmar Lake is set at height of 17,800 ft in Sikkim. It is considered one of the highest lakes in the world. It is sacred place of Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus pilgrimages. This lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava and also called him Guru Rinpoche. He visited here in the 8th century. He was the founder of Tibetan Buddhism.

Kangchenjunga

Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain with the height of 28,169 ft in the world. It is in a section of the Himalayas called also Kanchenjunga. It lies between Nepal and in India. Kangchenjunga was to be the highest mountain in the world till 1852.  After measurement it is announced in 1856 that Mount Everest is the highest Mountain and Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world. joe Brown and George Band were the first climber who climbed the Kangchenjunga in 1955.

Ravangla

Ravangla or Rawangla or Ravongla is located at the height of 8000 ft in South Sikkim district. It is a small tourist town 65 km away from the Gangtok and 120 km away from Siliguri. It is a major town in the state and lies between Pelling and Gangtok. It is famous for Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ravangla is famous for Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary. Ravangla has snowfall during winter. Ravangla is surrounded by numerous flowers including orchids and rhododendrons in the months of April to May. Ravangla is a home of lot of Himalayan birds. It is a paradise for bird lovers. Different kinds of Birds like blue-fronted redstarts, grey bushchats, dark-throated thrush, blue whistling-thrush, green-backed tit and can be seen in the forests around Ravangla.  There are other rare birds like tragopan, babblers, cuckoos and hill partridges can also be spotted in Ravangla. There is a Large Gautama Buddha statue in Buddha Park of Ravangla.

Pelling

Pelling is located at the height 7,200 feet in the district of West Sikkim. Pelling is a small hill town which is away 10 km from the district headquarters of Geyzing, 115km from Gangtok and about 135km from Siliguri.

From Pelling the Himalayas and the Kanchenjanga can be viewed. Pelling is also provides a base for trekkers and other peripatetic adventurers. The land around Pelling is full of alpine vegetation and many waterfalls. During winter season sometimes Pelling covers with blanket of snow.

Tourist Attractions in Pelling

Pelling is famous tourist destination and tourist visit the local monasteries, rock garden, waterfall, the holy rock of Rani Dhunga, the imposing double-pronged Kanchenjungha Falls, the archaic quaint Singshore Bridge, the Changey Waterfalls, and the Khecheopalri Lake which is holy to Buddhists.

Rabdentse Palace Ruins

Rabdentse was the second capital of the Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. This city was ruined by the invading Gurkha army. Today only the ruins of the palace can be seen now. There is a Pemayangtse Monastery near the ruin. It is very oldest monasteries in Sikkim.

Pemayangtse Monastery

Pemayangtse Monastery is situated in Pemayangtse around 2 Km far from Pelling. It is also very oldest monasteries in Sikkim.  The Buddhist monastery was made in 1705 by Lama Lhatsun Chempo. It has three floors that show paintings on its walls and statues of saints and Rinpoches.

Rimbi Waterfall

Rimbi Waterfall is located around 5 km from Darap on way of Khecheopalri. It is one of the oldest in west Sikkim .The government has developed here the Sewaro Rock Garden which is made with rocks, pools, manicured gardens.

Kanchenjunga Falls

Kanchenjunga Falls is located around 18 km from Rimbi River and 28 km from Pelling. It is very attractive waterfalls in Sikkim which remains normally active throughout the year.

Sanga Choeling Monastery

Sanga Choeling Monastery is located on a ridge above Pelling which was made in 1697. It is one of the oldest monasteries which is overlooking towards Pemayangtse Monastery.

Pelling Sky Walk and Chenrezig Statue

Pelling Sky Walk and Chenrezig Statue are located near Sanga Choeling. It is the gigantic 137 feet statue of Chenrezig and a transparent Sky Walk. This Transparent sky Walk is a new attraction which is made of glass that leads to the statue. It is newly built and recently opened in November 2018.

Singshore Bridge

Singshore Bridge is set about 26 km far from Pelling. It is considered the highest bridge in Sikkim and the second highest bridge in Asia. It has the height over 100 m and 240 m in length.

Festivals in Sikkim

Sikkim celebrates all major Hindu festivals such as Tihar (Diwali) and Dashain (Dashera).  Buddhist festivals are celebrated like Losar, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu in Sikkim. On the occasion of Losar or Tibetan New Year most offices and educational schools are closed for one week.

Tihar 

Tihar is a five-day Hindu festival which is celebrated in Nepal and the state of Sikkim. It is also called Deepawali and Yamapanchak or Swanti. It is the festival of lights. Diyas and candles are lit in the houses, shops and market to make it illuminate at night. Rangoli is made by the people on the floor of their houses using colored rice, dry flour, coloured sand or flower petals.

Dashain

Dashain is also called Dashera. Dashain is celebrated by the Buddhist and Hindus all over the world. The festival falls in September or October.  It is the longest and the most auspicious festival. It is the most important festival in Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and North India. Among the Hindus it is 10 days celebration. The Goddess Durga is worshiped by the Hindus for nine days. It is called Navaratri. On the 10 day of Navaratri comes Dashami. All government offices, educational organizations and other offices are closed during the festival.

Maghe Sankranti

Maghe Sankranti is a Nepalese festival. Tharu people celebrate this as New Year. Hindus take ritual baths during this festival. Sweets such as Ladoo, Ghee and Sweet Potatoes are distributed in this festival. Elders wish good health all family members.

Chasok Tangnam

Chasok Tangnam is the most popular festival of the Limbu people. Tangnam means festival in the Limbu language.  Limbu identity, culture and nationalism can be seen in this festival. Limbus celebrates Chasok Tangnam in India, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, USA, UAE, Canada, Korea and many countries also.

Vesak

Vesak is also called as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day. The festival memorializes the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha in Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism. In the East Asia the Buddha's Birthday occurs around the traditional timing of Vesak. But on the other side The Buddha's awakening and death that have different times in the calendar as Bodhi Day and Nirvana Day.

 Losar

Losar is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism. This festival is celebrated in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and India on different dates. This is a new year's festival which is celebrated on the first day of the Lunisolar Tibetan calendar. In Nepal the variation of the festival is known as Lhochhar and this festival is celebrated around eight weeks earlier than the Tibetan Losar.

Climate of Sikkim

There are five seasons winter, summer, spring, autumn, and a monsoon season. Monsoon season is between June and September. The temperature remains seldom exceeding 28 °C in summer. The average temperature for most of Sikkim is around 18 °C. Sikkim is known for to get regular snowfall in India. In north-western Sikkim, the peaks remain frozen all the year. Here Temperature can drop to as low as −40 °C in winter. During the monsoon season, a heavy rain is here and is a record for continuous rain in Sikkim is 11 days.

How to Reach Sikkim

By Air: The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal. It is around 124 kilometers from Gangtok. Cabs can be taken easily from outside of the airport to reach the Gangtok city.  Cab or bus will take around 5 hours from airport to Gangtok city. Helicopter service is available from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok that takes about 30 minutes.

By Rail: The Nearest railway station is the Jalpaiguri and Siliguri railway station.  Jalpaiguri is around 187 km and Siliguri is 146 km away from Sikkim. Sikkim has not its own station and these nearest rail stations situated in West Bengal.  These have good train connectivity with other major stations such as Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Mumbai.

By Road: Gangtok has good road connectivity and linked with Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Sikkim state transport buses are regularly available from Gangtok to Siliguri. Sleeper and luxury buses are available for Gangtok in a reasonable price.

Best time to Visit

Sikkim can be visited any time of the year. The best time is to visit from September to November and March to May. Spring season is good for visit from March to May and can enjoy the blooming natural beauty in Gangtok. In autumn season tourist can enjoy to clear view of Himalayan Range. In Sikkim autumn and spring season are pleasant. The pleasant weather makes the best time for vising sightseeing and adventure activities.