India Tourism » Sikkim Travel

Discovering Sikkim is a rewarding experience, made extra special by its haunting beauty. Towering mountain peaks, lush valleys, fast flowing rivers, hot springs known for their medicinal value and a soul-touching grace, Sikkim is small yet grand. Spread below Mount Kanchenzonga (8534 mts), the third highest mountain in the world revered by the Sikkimese as their protective deity, Sikkim is a land of many moods.

Buddhism is an inseparable part of Sikkim. Simply listening to the rhythmic prayer of devoted Lamas robed in red, chanting ancient mantras to the rhythm of drums and trumpets evoke an illuminating feeling. An aura of spirituality runs around the 200 monasteries or Gompas belonging to the Nyingma and Kagyu.

In a few hours, one can move from the sub-tropical heat of the lower valleys to the cold of the rugged mountain slopes that reach up to the area of perpetual snow. Every bend of the road reveals a new paradise.

Other delightful places are the Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology, a treasure trove of rare Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts, over two hundred Buddhist icons and Thankas and Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Gardens of lush green vegetation and various rare plants.

WHY IT’S A MONSOON DESTINATION
You’ll know why you came to Sikkim during the monsoon when you see the monsoon mist cling to huge tracts of lichen covered forest, where every conceivable species of rhododendron and giant magnolia trees, conifers and beautiful flowering plants grows. You have to be prepared for torrential downpours, sometimes lasting several days at a stretch. Rafting and trekking are out, just enjoy the scenery.

HOW TO GET THERE
There are no airports or railways in Sikkim. Bagdogra airport near Siliguri (in north Bengal), 117 km from Gangtok, is connected with regular flights from Kolkata. Alternatively, an overnight train from Kolkata can take you to New Jalpaiguri station, from where plenty of taxis and buses are available. After 44 years of closure, the Nathu La pass to Tibet, China – a part of the historic Silk Road – opened again in July 2006. There are plans for a Gangtok-Lhasa bus service.

Nathu La pass is now open to tourists. People who wish to visit Nathu La should get special permission one day in advance.
Most travel in Sikkim is done by bus or jeep on road. Trekking is also a popular option.

WHERE TO STAY
Gangtok has a good many hotels, with names like Hotel Mount Simvo, Hotel Golden Pagoda, The Hidden Forest Retreat, Hotel Golden Heights, Shilton Lodge and Tashigang Resort. Like everything else in the mountain kingdom, they are well ordered and unlikely to cause any grief.

Must-visits
• Mount Kanchenzonga, the third highest mountain in the world.
• Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology, a treasure trove of rare Lep Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts
• Tsomgo Lake, considered sacred by the local people
• Rumtek Monastery, 300 years old
• The Dharma Chakra Centre, seat of the Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism