Sikkim

The state of Sikkim sits in the lap of the Himalayas and is home to India’s highest peak, the Kanchenjunga. The scenery of Sikkim has glaciers and ice cap Mountains at higher altitudes, meadows and wild flowers in the lower plains, and further along the slopes are thick pine forests. Everything about tourism in Sikkim will remind you of the beautiful lands of fairy tales!

Gifted with a beautiful location, Sikkim is bounded by Tibet on its north and northeast, Bhutan on its east, Nepal on its west, and West Bengal on its south. If you really wish to gulp a cocktail made up of natural beauty, adventure, and history, Sikkim is surely the best pick. Being the least populated and second smallest Indian state, the place is a true delight for people wanting a private and secluded trip. If you are planning a Honeymoon vacation, we bet you, Sikkim is the best choice your romantic escapade.

People and Culture

The People of Sikkim consist of three ethnic groups, that is, Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali. Communities of different hues intermingle freely in Sikkim to constitute a homogenous blend. Hindu Temples coexist with Buddhist Monasteries, Churches, Mosque and Gurudwara. The predominant Communities are Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese.

Languages

The official languages of the state are English, Nepali, Sikkimese(Bhutia) and Lepcha. Additional official languages include Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sherpa and Tamang for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state.

Permit of Sikkim

Indian tourists are free from any permit to explore Sikkim. However, in order to visit Nathula Pass, Zuluk, Tsomgo Lake, Dzongri and Goechala, you will have to take a travel permit. But foreigners will have to take a tourist permit to explore Sikkim.

Highlights of Sikkim

1. Nathula Pass

Nathula Pass is a Himalayan mountain pass in eastern Sikkim district. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with the autonomous zone of Tibet in China. The pass is a part of an offshoot of the ancient Tea Horse Path, at 4,310 m above mean sea level.

2. Gangtok

If you are visiting Sikkim for the first time, Gangtok - the capital of Sikkim should be first in your travel agenda. Gangtok not only offers lovely views of Kanchenjunga and scenic views, it offers great attractions and activities such as parks and gardens, Buddhist monasteries and Hindu Temples, zoo with exotic Himalayan animals, art and craft centres, cable car rides etc as well as great opportunities for shopping, top class accommodations of all range, dining and nightlife.

3. Baba Mandir

The Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple is popularly known as Baba Mandir. The Baba Mandir, Sikkim is located at an altitude of 12,123 ft above sea level. This is around 52 Km from Gangtok and is between Jelepla and Nathula pass.

4. Pelling

Pelling is a small hill town in western Sikkim offering spectacular views of the snow peaks of Kanchenjunga apart from many other attractions including old monasteries, lovely lakes and landscapes, waterfalls etc. There are also several nearby places offering wonderful drive through scenic landscapes and taking you to great attractions such as the second highest suspension bridge in Asia, indo-Nepal border village, first capital of Sikkim and lot more.

5. Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point

From Gangtok, you can make an excellent trip to north Sikkim which includes the mountain village Lachung offering lovely views of mountains, the spectacular valley of flowers featuring varieties of rhododendrons in different colors known as Yumthang, and the snow covered Zero Point where the civilian road ends.

6. Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake

Lachen is a small mountain village in north Sikkim and has developed into a base to visit Gurudongmar Lake which is one of the highest lakes in the world close to the Indo-China border. Another wonderful place here is Chopta Valley which lies between Lachen and Gurudongmar, and gets covered with flowers during spring and with snow during winter.

Cuisines

Sikkim is a very small hilly state of India located in the Eastern Himalayas with a total geographical area of 7096.Sq. Kms. The traditional food of Sikkim is called Sikkimese cuisine. The cuisine is a blend of Tibetan, Nepali and Lepcha dishes which comes from various ethnic tribes and communities of Sikkim. Sikkimese food is largely based on rice, culinary vegetables from jungle like Ningro (Fern), Nakima (Wild Lily), Baas ko Tusa (Bamboo-Shoot), Cheuw (Mushrooms), etc. Even organic vegetables such as Iskus (Chayote/ Squash), Pharsi (pumpkin), Pharsi ko Munta (Pumpkin leaves), Iskus ko Munta (Chayote/ Squash leaves), Kinema (Fermented Soyabean), Ruk Tamatar ( Tree Tomato) and Dalle Chillies (Hot Fire Balls), etc are also extensively used in day to day menu. Most of the Sikkimese people are meat eaters. Varity of fresh n processed meats of mutton,beef,pork chicken and fish are feasted in almost every meal. Locally fermented beverage such as Arra (Homemade Whiskey), and Chaang / Tongba (Fermented Millet) also compliments the Sikkimese cuisine. Most of the raw materials are readily available in the local vegetable markets and meat shops at a decent price. Being an organic State, people seek for organic raw materials.

Shopping

If you are looking for local handicraft items like hand-woven shawls or some wooden wind chimes, this is your place. The markets here are filled with shops selling everything from the Laughing Buddha to Tibetan traditional clothes and beautiful hand-made souvenirs. While you hit the shops, make sure you stack up on your cardamom supplies as Sikkim is not only one of the major exporters of the spice but is also all organic.

Best Time to Visit Sikkim

The summer months from March to July have the most pleasant weather conditions. Sikkim is pleasantly warm, the mountains are clear and dotted with orchids and wild flowers and the mountainous terrain is quite accessible with tourism at its peak. With the monsoon behind, the winter months from September to December are also a common tourist time. The nights can get nippy but the skies will be clear and the days cool. Then again it is important to remember the temperature varies within the state depending on the altitude; the state experiences a sub-tropic climate in the south and it slowly changes towards the north. However during Monsoons, Sikkim is quite landslide prone so the state is best avoided during that season.

How to Reach Sikkim

By Air:

The closest airport to Sikkim is the Bagdora Airport in West Bengal, which has frequent flights coming in from Delhi, Kolkata and other important cities. Gangtok is about 120 kilometres from there; you should be able to find taxi services easily and if you are lucky you can even use the helicopter services offered by the Sikkim tourism department! They are reasonably priced services that take you to different locations in Sikkim.

By Rail:

You have two options, New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri, both approximately 120 kilometres from Gangtok. From here you can avail taxi services to Gangtok.

By Road:

NH 31 connects Sikkim to Siliguri. There are plenty of travel options along this route. You can hire a cab or use the public or private transport bus services, then sit back and enjoy the ride.