Sikkim

The best time to visit Sikkim is the summer months as the temperatures are far more bearable and rather pleasant. You can also visit during the monsoons if you are looking out for additional discounts and tourist crowds!

You can further board a bus or hire a taxi to reach Sikkim. Well, the road be the most convenient option to reach Sikkim if confused!  There are frequent public and private bus services connecting Sikkim with other neighbouring towns and cities. Also, there’s no airport in Sikkim and therefore, you will have to resort to the road only. However, if you want to travel in luxury, you can travel by helicopter service from Bagdogra to Gangtok which takes about 30 minutes. Look out for our Sikkim tour package from Kolkata to make it easier for yourself.

Well, there’s so much to do in here and just so many places to hover around, that you are likely to miss out on something or the other. However, one is to cherish each and every moment in here- the place amidst Himalayas rather compel you too!

Scroll through, know more!

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1. Namchi

Namchi means ‘sky high’ in Sikkimese and well, the name and its meaning say it all. Namchi is much known and visited for being the top-notch religious site, a place that offers numerous tourist activities and booms with pleasant weather throughout! There is an 87 feet high statue of Shiva constructed on the Solophok hill along with copies of Chaar Dhaam. There are beautiful temples of Kirateshwar Mahadev and Shirdi Sai Baba here. The Dhaam has its own “Yatri Niwas” and is much acclaimed for being the most creative tourist project. Other popular attractions include Siddheswara Dhaam, Namchi Monastery, Ralang Monastery, and Tendong.

Ps, apart from the rejuvenating flora and recreational activities, Namchi is a seamless place for the Shopaholics!

2. Ravangla

Ravangla is located at an average elevation of 8000 feet and lies there on the Gangtok Gaysiling Highway. Many of its zones offer exquisite views of Mt Kanchenjunga, Mt Sinialchu, Mt Kabru, and other peaks. The area known as upper Ravangla is truly a piece of heaven since it blooms in summer and witnesses good amount of snowfall in the winter. Moreover, Ravangla is deemed perfect as a trekking spot!

3. Lachen, Chopta Valley and Gurudongmar Lake

Tourists usually stay at Lachen to get a better reach at Chopta Valley and Gurudongmar Lake. Lachen has a charismatic appeal owing to a small Gompa in it where the annual Yak race is held in the summers.

Meanwhile, Gurudongmar Lake is Sikkim’s largest lake and is also its most sacred lake. It will take you around 4 hours to reach Gurudongmar Lake from Lachen as the roads are rough and steep. What’s worth noticing is the topography and the changing landscape from Lachen to Gurudongmar. The lake is huge- about 290 acres large and is rather surrounded by snowy mountains.

Well, the holy lake has a perennial spot that never freezes despite the entire lake water being frozen. That part of the Lake is known to have healing properties. Ps, don’t forget to visit the Padmasambhava temple on the banks of the lake.

The Chopta valley is very pretty as it’s home to a beautiful collection of wildflowers in summer and autumn while in winters it’s covered with snow. It’s rather dreamy to take a stroll along the frozen river!

4. Gangtok

Gangtok is the most crowded of all places in Sikkim for first, being the capital city, for its connectivity to major tourist hubs of course, and secondly, for being a base for trekking, sightseeing tours, etc. Gangtok is much known and also visited for its delicious food, amazing nightlife, awesome hotels and some truly enticing shopping centers. One can go around doing so much of tourist activities here- including the cable ropeway that runs from Deorali to Tashiling Secretariat. One can walk down to Ridge Park to witness the elating flower show (when in season). Religious destinations include Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok. Other popular attractions- sleep waterworks, lukshyama (royal crematorium), Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology and Casino Mahjong, and Deltin Denzong Casino (one of the few places where gambling is legalized).

5. Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula Pass

A permitting issue is needed in order to visit these places under-protected category! The Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake) is considered to be the highest one in Sikkim (3780 meters altitude). Brahminy ducks and many other exotic species of birds are hommies to this lake. Furthermore, you will see a small Shiva temple on the shore of the lake. The waters of the lake originate from the melted snow from the mountains nearby. Also, most tourists opt to circle the lake via a Yak ride.

Well, Nathula pass (14,140 feet altitude) can only be visited between March to October. It remains completely snowed over otherwise. Nathula Pass marks the border between India and China. 3 km below Nathula is the Indian Trade Mart at Sherathang. Kupup which contains the world’s second-highest golf course and Gnathang monastery is nearby. You can also check out the world’s highest altitude ATM that runs on a generator here. However, Nathula’s altitudes are really high and therefore isn’t recommended for asthma patients and infants.

Baba Mandir is also known as Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple. Baba Harbhajan Singh originally worked for the Punjab regiment before he died here and then is known to have appeared in the dreams of his colleagues- asking them to build this temple in his memory. He is regarded to be a sort of guardian deity of this area.

Well, well, you must have totally realised by now the chimeric that we’ve weaving out of this wonderland- Sikkim. With snow-capped mountains, frozen lakes, migratory birds, shopping variations, exquisite flora, picturesque valleys, stupendous cultural practices and traditions, Sikkim truly becomes your place-to-be in the coming times!! Sikkim is one of the most-loved and visited tourist spots when it comes to taking a leisure, away from the hustle-bustle of towns and cities. The state is truly one of God’s most blessed places on earth- deserves to go amiss, therefore!

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