Sikkim

HISTORY & CULTURE

Sikkim is a unique blend of different religion, customs and traditions of different communities. It is the state, where god still conquers in the form of love, serenity and harmony. Sikkim is the hub of nation and historic beliefs. Sikkim was a kingdom and was not a part of India. It was only in 1975 that Sikkim became a part of India. According to theories, the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche visited Sikkim in the 8th century AD, presented Buddhism and fortuned the era of the monarchy. Sikkim’s Namgyal dynasty was conventional in 1642. Sikkim is the only state in India with a cultural Nepali majority. The main religions are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism.

PLACES TO VISIT

Tsomgo Lake

The Tsomgo Lake, also prevalent as the Changu Lake, is a water form made of a glacier making it one of the best places to visit in Gangtok. Located at the height of 12310 feet, the Tsomgo Lake is one of Sikkim’s major tourist lures. This is one of India’s highest altitude lakes and it’s known for its natural exquisiteness. The sight of the adjacent snow cover hills shimmering on the Tsomgo Lake is one reminiscence that you can treasure forever. The lake is about 1 km long and it’s moulded like an egg.

Nathula Pass

Nathula Pass is located at analtitude of 14140 feet and this is the best place to be for the trekking fanatics when visiting Sikkim. The border trade market, Sherathang, is a prevalent place where tourists can buy different kinds of Tibetan items at aninexpensive price. This Sikkim point of attention is famous among travellers.

Yumthang Valley

The swellingpaddocks, the skimming yaks by the banks of wild Teesta river and the many hot spiralsamongst the soaring mountain peaks position Yumthang valley among the top places to visit in Sikkim. The valley of flowers is located at anelevation of more than 11,000 feet above sea level at around 128 kilometres from Gangtok.

Gurudongmar Lake

Edged in by snow-covered foothills, this lake remains frozen during the winter season and during summers, the lake water imitates the sky and clouds like a mirror. It is one of the highly recommended places to visit in Sikkim on the Northern side of Kanchenjunga mountain range which is situated at around 174 kilometres from Gangtok. Due to the immediacy to the Chinese Tibetan border, one has to take permits to visit the lake.

Goechala

Upright at a stature of about 4,940 m above sea level, the highland pass of Goechala is one of the best places to visit in Sikkim. Being in the juxtaposition of some of the highest mountains of the Himalayas, the pass is an astounding destination for all the trekkers visiting Sikkim. The best thing about this place is the stunning view of Mt. Kanchenjunga’s southeast face.

Green Lake

Fix your eyes to the jade-green lake encircled by snow-covered glaciers and mountains. Green Lake is still an uncharted and unimpeded destination in Sikkim. It aids as a base to the those keen to climb Mount Kanchenjunga and Zemu glacier. Starting from Thangu village, the trek to Green lake passes through the splendid Kanchenjunga National Park and also brings forth the backdrop of the confluence of the Zemu Chu and Lachen Chu which are two very noteworthy rivers of the region.

Pelling

Pelling is a dream terminus for trekkers, nature lovers, bird-watchers and tranquillity seekers. The city is scattered with inheritance structures like antique monasteries and breath-taking cascades like the Kanchenjunga falls, the Rimbi Waterfall and the Changey Waterfall. The Sanga Choeling Monastery and the Pemayangtse Monastery are the two of the main abbeys in the area that one must visit for their heritage and architectural consequence when they are in Pelling.

Zuluk

Balanced atop a height of 10,000 feet, surrounded by craggy lower Himalayan elevations lies Zuluk, a small settlement that redefines natural beauty. Positioned close to the Indo-Tibetan border is this charming village with a big troop of Military settled and protecting

Ravangla

Board on a journey to discover a lesser-known picturesque village amongst the high mountains of Eastern Himalayas in South Sikkim. Ravangla is a village at an advancement of around 8000 feet above sea level with breath-takingsceneries painted by Kanchenjunga and its sister peaks of Kabru, Pandim, Siniolchu.

Rumtek Monastery

This impressive monastery is a sight to the sore eyes, you will spectator some of the rarest Buddhist representations and mural paintings in this three-storeyed mysticalcentre. Rumtek Monastery belongs to the Kagyu sect and which was first built in the 12th century but was left to ruin so throughout 1960 Gyalwa Karmapa who became the 16th Karmapa of the centrere-established it.

Yuksom

Yuksom is a littleancient town in the West Sikkim district and is also known as the “gateway to Kanchenjunga.” Tashiding Monastery, Dubdi Monastery, Complex of TashiTeenka, Kartok monastery and Khecheopalri lake are few of the stimulating heritage places to visit in Yuksom.

Sikkim Himalayan Zoological Park

Straddling across anenormous area of 230 hectares of a woodland hill, Sikkim Himalayan Zoological Park is one of the Sikkim tourists’ places which aid as aretreat to the countrysideenthusiasts and wildlife fanatics. The main lure at this small pinnacle zoo is a delightful Red Panda who catches everyone’s devotion.