| South Sikkim |
After the East Sikkim District, the south is the only district that contains a major part of Sikkim's population. The people are mainly of Nepali descent. Other ethnic groups include the Lepcha and Bhutia communities. Nepali is the most widely spoken language in the district. The South District is the most industrialised district in the state, owing to the availability of flattened land. Temi Tea Garden distinguishes the South district for being among the leading tea producers of India. The stable geology also means that the roads are in a good condition as compared to other parts of the state which suffer from frequent landslides. South Sikkim lies at an altitude of 400 to 2000 metres and hence enjoys a temperate climate for most of the year. Namchi Namchi is the capital of South Sikkim. Located 78 km from Gangtok, at an altitude of 1,675 m, it offers beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains. The name Namchi means 'Sky High'. Namchi is fast becoming a major tourist spot and pilgrimage centre. The Namchi monastery, Ralong monastery and Tendong Hill are important Buddhist pilgrimage centres. Namchi's most famous landmark is the worlds tallest statue (at 36 m) of the Buddhist Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim. The statue is situated on Samdruptse Hill, meaning "the wish fulfilling" hill, 8 km from Namchi. Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in Sikkim situated nearly 25 km from Namchi. The park is a lifeline for Namchi as the sanctuary is the only source of potable water for Namchi throughout the year. The park is rich in both flora and fauna varieties. Species of animals found here are Leopards, Wild dog, Indian Fox, Jackal, Himalayan Black Bear, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Musk Deer and Red Panda. A few km from the town lie the Temi Tea Gardens, the only tea estate in Sikkim. It is one of the best tea producing estates in India and its tea is also considered of top quality in the international market. Temi Tea Garden was established in the year 1969 and covers an area of 435 acres. It produces nearly 100 million tonnes of tea every year. Accommodation Hotel Mayal Tel: (03595) 737126 Room: from Rs 400 Transport Namchi is well connected to other towns in Sikkim and West Bengal. Jeeps and buses regularly ply between Namchi to Gangtok (Rs 100, 3 hours), Jorethang (Rs 30, 1 hour), Siliguri (Rs 100, 4 hours), Kalimpong and Pelling. Tashiding The Tashiding Gompa is considered the second most important gompa in Sikkim, after the Pemayangtse Gompa. It is a 45-minute walk from the village of Tashiding. The Gompa dates back to the year 1717 and is located on the site said to be blessed by the great Guru Padmasambhava. The story goes that Padmasambhava shot an arrow into the air to select the place where he would sit in meditation. The place where the arrow landed eventually became the site of the Tashiding Monastery. The monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa order. The main temple of the monastery was rebuilt some time back. It stands encircled by traditional buildings, chortens and mani (stone plates) inscribed with sacred Buddhist inscriptions. The chortens stand at the far end of the complex. The most significant one is the 'Thong-Wa-rang-Dol', literally meaning 'Saviours by mere sight'. This chorten is believed to cleanse the soul of any person who looks at it. The annual festival of the monastery, known as the Bumchu Ceremony, is held in 14th and 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan Calendar (in March). The ceremony, which is held at midnight, attracts devotees from far and wide. Tashiding may be visited as part of an organised trek. You will need a permit, obtained in Gangtok to visit here. It is also possible to trek to Pemayangtse or Legship from Tashiding. Accommodation For those visiting Tashiding as part of an organised trip, accommodation will usually be arranged for you, either in a Trekkers Lodge or campsite. Otherwise, nearby places like Yuksam and Pelling offer good accommodation options. Transport Daily buses operate to Tashiding from Geyzing, 40 km away. |
Ravangla A small town situated on the ridge between the Meanam and Tendong hills, Ravangla is a transit point to various tourist destinations in South and West Sikkim. It is also an upcoming tourist spot, and transit point for trekkers to Maenam Hill and Borong. There are accommodation facilities and numerous short nature trails. You can also trek down to the sacred cave "Shar Chok Bephu", one of the holiest caves in Sikkim. Ravangla can be reached by shared jeeps from Namchi, 22 km away. Tendong Hill Overlooking the town of Namchi, there is a small flat stretch of land at an altitude of 2585 m which is popularly known as the Tendong Hill. One of the more prominent landmarks of South Sikkim, Tendong is immersed in myths and lore passed down through generations of the ethnic Lepchas. It gets its name, meaning "the upraised horn" from the Lepcha lore that when their land was submerged in water, Tendong supported a boat and rose up like a horn above the flood waters. When the water subsided, so did Tendong. To this day, monks leaves for the Tendong hilltop with the arrival of monsoons. They stay there throughout the rains, praying that the calamity does not repeat. Maenam Hill Reaching a height of 3121 m, Maenam Hill towers over South Sikkim with Tendong on one side and Ravangla on the other. A short distance away is the legendary Bhaley Dunga, a rocky spur which juts out from the ridge top and remains suspended in the air above Yangang Village. The trek to Meanam from Ravangla takes about 4 hours and from Maenam hilltop one has the option to take the gentle walk down to Borong village. Borong A small hamlet facing the snow-capped mountains, Borong is accessible by road from Ravangla or a trek via Maenam. A picturesque village with beautiful landscape and magnificent views it is also host to the hot spring "Borong Tsa-Chu". The trek trail, originating from Namchi or Damthang to Tendong-Ravangla-Maenam-Borong (5 to 6 days) is one of the most interesting trails scaling all the hill tops along the route. |