Sikkim

Sikkim is a state blessed by Natures Marvels. One can find this mountainous region blooming with flowers in the spring and frozen lakes in winter. Gangtok, the capital city is a modern hill station with all amenities. The weather is pleasing most of the year and its Buddhist past has a tremendous appeal. The Institute of Tibetology, Do-Drul Chorten, Enchey Monastery, Rumtek Monastery and monasteries at Pemayangtse and Tashiding are visit worthy places. Among other places are the sacred and serene Changu Lake, Khecheopalri Lake, the quaint hamlet of Pelling, the traditional “Lepcha” village at Chungthang, the view of the magnificent Kanchenjunga peak at Singhik and the remote and flower-bedecked valley at Yumthang. There are numerous activities attracting adventure tourism enthusiasts like trekking in Tendong Hill, the Versey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Menam Hill and Dzongri Trail. Hang-gliding at Jorethan, Kayaking and River Rafting on the river Teesta, Mountaineering and Mountain biking can be thrilling experiences.
Sikkim being mountainous terrain does not have an airport or railway network. The nearest airport is Bagdogra in West Bengal and nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri. Gangtok can be reached by road from Siliguri, Darjeeling, Bagdogra and New Jalpaiguri.
Best Time to visit: March to May and then October to mid-December
Languages Spoken: Nepali, Sikkimese
Climate: Temperate climate with pleasant summers, heavy rainfall during monsoon and cold winters
Holy Places: Do-Drul Chorten, Enchey Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, monasteries at Pemayangtse and Tashiding
Places to visit: Institute of Tibetology, Pelling Hamlet
Natural Wonders: Changu Lake, Khecheopalri Lake, Singhik
Adventure tourism: Hang-gliding at Jorethan, Kayaking and River Rafting on the river Teesta, Trekking in Tendong Hill, the Versey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Menam Hill and Dzongri Trail and Mountain biking
Mountaineering Peaks: Freys Peak, Jopuno, Tinchenkhang, Byrmkhangse and Lamo Angden

Namprikdang Of Dzongu, North Sikkim

By

Having grown up amongst the same type of houses and among Lepcha neighbours and friends in Kalimpong, it was indeed heartening to connect with the ancient times at Namprikdang. Of course there was the official reception of VIPs in the traditional ways, the forgettable speeches after speeches, with clear and present hints to “vote for me”.

Read More

Contemplation and Khangchendzonga

By

Khangchendzonga at 8586m is the third highest peak in the world. It is not a calm and serene mountain as it appears to be when viewed from Darjeeling or Sikkim. Both ice and rock avalanches of incredible dimensions are frequent occurences.Hurricanes of incredible force are one of the deadliest of Kanchenjunga’s weapons which plays havoc with any intruder who ventures “to walk the heights of gods.” This is an article which I wrote sometime ago but Kanchenjuga remains ageless.

Read More
Hotel Shire in Gangtok

Hotel Shire in Gangtok

By

There is a big prayer room, a kitchen garden, few ducks, parking space, tress and lots of fresh and clean air. You don’t feel like being fitted in a small hotel room, rather it gives you a feeling of a mini resort. The air is pretty casual and you can walk up to Tempa (the man who runs it) for anything and everything. Tempa’s dad and mom, both had a very illustrious career with government of Sikkim and if you are lucky then you can get to see all those old photographs and award plaques of his father.

Read More

Yuksom – a peaceful abode in the laps of Eastern Himalayas

By

Yuksom is still regarded as the base camp of Kanchenjungha, although ascent from Sikkim side has stopped over a decade ago. The mountains are revered as God by localites and stepping foot on the sacred slopes amounts to desecration of the divine forces. Kanchenjungha is abode of the Gods. We came across camps of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Their basic and advanced mountaineering courses are conducted at Rathong Glacier, the starting point of which also happens to be Yuksom.

Read More

नाथुला पास का यात्रा वृत्तांत

By

ऐसी विषम परिस्थितियों में भी सीमा के प्रहरियों को मुस्तैदी से डंटा देख उन्हें सलाम करने का मन हुआ  और हमारी खुशकिस्मती थी कि उनके प्रति आभार और सम्मान व्यक्त करने का अवसर भी मिला। हमारे जाँबाज़ सिपाही जान पे खेल के ना सिर्फ सीमा की सुरक्षा करते हैं, बल्कि हम जैसे यात्रियों की सुविधा का भी ख्याल रखते हैं।

Read More

Queen of The Himalayas: Darjeeling

By

I couldn’t pen down my trips since 4 year in ghumakkar but remain a silo reader & virtual traveller nonetheless. Coming up with few for places & few more memories to take you guys for a virtual tour… North East was on the list from a long time & finally got a chance to execute it, in summer breaks of 2016. Took almost one month in finalising the itineraries & enquiry with tour operators about weather & Road conditions. Just after flight booking I came to know that Monsoons strikes early in North east & bridge is broken after Mangan. Tourist got stuck in b/w who headed for Northern zone ( Lachun & Lachen etc.) .As gurudongmar lake was not possible in that case, so excluded North Sikkim from the plan & decided for remaining Sikkim within one week.

Read More

Enchanting Sikkim

By

Sikkim is a state in East India in the Himalayan foot hills. We started our journey from Delhi, where we took Deccan Air flight to Bagdogra, which is the nearest airport to Gangtok and is around 4 hours drive. At the airport, we took a local cab service (that we had booked in advance), the driver was waiting for us at the airport and thus began our tour of the exasperating Himalayan abode.

Read More