| Sikkim Sights |
| Gangtok Gangtok is the main city and the capital of Sikkim. It is a cosmopolitan place with views of snow-covered Himalayas, botanical gardens and monasteries. Gangtok is also an ideal base to visit the southern parts of the state where most of the tourist sites are located. Rumtek Rumtek, 24km from Gangtok at an altitude of 1500m, is the headquarters for the Kargyu-pa (“Black Hat”) order of Tibetan Buddhism. The Rumtek Monastery was founded in 1740, and was rebuilt after an earthquake destroyed it in the 1960s. It is designed in the traditional style after the principal Kargyu-pa monastery in Chhofuk, Tibet, with detailed woodwork and paintings. In a back room are impressive golden statues of the 16th Gwalpa, who left Tibet when China invaded. North Sikkim Tsongo Lake (Changu Lake) To visit this lake, 35km northeast of Gangtok, you require a permit and must go on a tour arranged by an authorized travel agency. The travel agency can arrange the permit, which is valid for only one day. Phodong The Phodong Gompa, 37km north of Gangtok, belongs to the Kagyu-pa order, the same order as the monastery in Rumtek. It is located high above the main road and there are good views of the area. The monastery was founded in 1740, but the present building is fairly recent. There are chaam dances in December. About fifty monks live here and across from the gompa is a community of nuns who also belong to the Kagyu-pa order. Yumthang Valley This valley, 140km north of Gangtok, is at an elevation of 3600m. The valley can be visited, but trekking is not allowed. There are Hot Springs here located a few minutes walk from the road. The best time to visit the valley is in April and May, when the rhododendrons are in bloom. To come here, you require a permit and must arrange your trip through an authorized travel agency with at least four people. Kanchenjunga National Park Usually only those on a mountaineering expedition or trek organized by an authorized travel agency are permitted to enter the park. Treks can be arranged in Gangtok. Those wishing to climb a peak over 6000 m must obtain permission at the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). West Sikkim Yuksom, in Northwest Sikkim, was the first capital. The main activities to do here are the trek to Dzongri at the base of Kanchenjunga, trekking in the area of Pemayangtse, and visiting the monasteries of Tashiding and Pemayangtse. Foreigners are required to have a permit to visit Western Sikkim. Pelling When the weather is clear, there are good views of Kanchenjunga. There are good budget places to stay and places to leave luggage while trekking. A 2 km walk from Pelling is the Pemayangtse Gompa, founded in 1705. It is one of the oldest and most important gompas in Sikkim. It is the main gompa of the Nyingma-pa (“Red Hat”) order. The monastery has paintings and sculptures on the interior walls and a good collection of thangkas. Pemayangtse means “Perfect Sublime Lotus.” In February during the Tibetan New Year there are chaam dances, performed by the monks on the 28th and 29th days of the twelfth lunar month. Yuksom Yuksom, 38km north of Pemayangtse, is the furthest north you are permitted to go by road and is the trailhead for the trek to Dzongri. This is where the three Buddhist lamas arrived from Tibet to establish the Buddhist Nyingma-pa (“Red Hat”) order. It was the first capital of Sikkim, and the first chogyal, Phutsog Namgyal, was crowned here. Now it is a small village. |
| South Sikkim Namchi Namchi is the capital of the South Sikkim. Located at an altitude of 1,675 m, Namchi offers beautiful views of the snow-clad mountains. The name Namchi means 'Sky High'. It is dotted with impressive attractions such as the Namachi Monastery, Ralong Monestry and Tedong Hill, the famous Buddhist pilgrimage centres. 8 km from Nanchi is Samdrupste Hill where you can find the world's largest statue of the Buddhist Padmasambhava, a great saint of Sikkim, standing 35 m high. A few km from the town lies the Temi Tea Garden, the only tea estate of Sikkim. The tea leaves of Sikkim are renowned the world over for their aroma,taste and good quality. Tashiding This town, 40km west of Gezing, may be visited while trekking. You are supposed to have your permits endorsed in Gangtok to visit here. It is possible to trek to Pemayangtse or Legship from here. The Tashiding Gompa, established in 1716, is considered the second most important gompa in Sikkim, after the Pemayangtse Gompa. It is a 45-minute walk from the village of Tashiding. There are chortens and mani walls surrounding the temple. The Bhumchu Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month (March). Treks in Sikkim The facilities are not so developed for trekking in Sikkim. The best times to trek are March to May, and October to early December. The treks are not so difficult and do not go above 4000m. During the rainy season, leeches can be a problem. Pelling to Legship via Khecheopari Trek To do this trek, visitors must have their permits stamped in Gangtok, which allows them to go to Khecheopari Lake and Tashiling Gompa. From Pelling the trek goes to the Khecheopari Lake (4 hr), and from there to Yuksom (4 hr). From Yuksom you walk to Tashiling (7 hr), and from there, it is a one-hour walk to Legship. Yuksom to Dzongri to Goecha La Trek This is the most popular trek in Sikkim, and the scenery is excellent. From Dzongri and Goecha La there are great views of Kanchenjunga. Special permits are required for this trek, and trekkers are supposed to travel with at least four people and to have their trek arranged through an authorized travel agency in Gangtok. Travel agencies charge about $40 to 70 per day, which includes porters, yaks, and food. There are trekking huts along the route, but they are often full during the high season. Altitude sickness can sometimes be problem. May is a good time to make the trek, when the rhododendron are in bloom. |