Nestled in the enchanting Himalayan range, Sikkim is an idyllic destination that offers breathtaking landscapes and pleasant weather conditions through most of the year.
It is home to the mighty Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak on earth. Ranging from pristine waterfalls, serene lakes and beautiful tea gardens to colourful monasteries and giant statues – it has the best of Himalayas.
Sikkim is almost fully mountainous, with altitudes ranging from 5,000 ft to 15,000 ft. Apart from its picturesque landscapes, Sikkim offers adventure enthusiasts with opportunities for treks, river rafting, para gliding and more. The famous Kanchenjunga base camp trek and Dzongri trek are popular with advanced trekkers.
We spent 12 days in Sikkim and here are the highlights of what we enjoyed during our visit.
For us, Sikkim was an exception to our normal mode of travel – driving by ourselves. Instead, we hired a car and driver, which turned out to be a great choice because we could enjoy the scenery instead of having to focus on negotiating the bumpy and winding hill roads, and heavy truck traffic. It would not have been a pleasure to drive on these roads.
GANGTOK
A 5-hour drive from Bagdogra, the nearest airport, took us to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
It is a very built-up and busy city, located on a hillside at an altitude of 5,600 ft (1,700 m). We were lucky to find a hotel with a charming lawn and a great view, plus good food and attentive staff. The temperature here ranges between 8 deg C to 25 deg C throughout the year with a bit of rain now and then.
Rumtek Monastery
Sikkim has deep Buddhist influences reflected through its culture and traditions. The Rumtek Monastery is an important center for Tibetan Buddhism, with a history dating back 800 years. Today it is home to a large community of monks and a centre for religious studies and practices.
From here you can get awesome views of the surrounding mountains and green valleys. Rumtek Monastery is the largest monastery in Sikkim showcasing impressive Tibetan architecture. The main building is adorned with intricate frescoes and ornate decorations. The monastery complex includes halls, libraries and residential quarters for monks. The monastery houses a rich collection of Buddhist scriptures and Thangkas (religious paintings).
The highlight of this monastery is the Golden Stupa, decorated with gold and precious gems.
Flower Exhibitions and Plant Conservatories
Though we are not anthophiles as such, we did have a very nice time in a conservatory located near Gangtok, where one can find a lovely collection of plants, especially Himalayan flowers, including rare orchids, rhododendrons and foxgloves.
An effort has been made to present world famous orchids and the beautiful flowers of Sikkim at one place.
There is a green house, a water pond with a bridge over it, and landscaped garden adorned with flowering bushes. The spread of colourful flowers makes the place a visual treat.
Day trip from Gangtok
A “must do” day trip from Gangtok is to Tsomgo Lake (commonly called Tshangu Lake). It is an oval shaped glacial lake located at an altitude of 12,310 ft. The drive from Gangtok, via steep mountain roads, takes about 2-2.5 hours. The lake is fed by melting snow flowing from the surrounding mountains.
A bit further from Tsomgo Lake is Baba Mandir – a shrine built in commemoration of Harbhajan Singh, an Indian army captain. The scenery at this point is spectacular. There are snow-clad mountains all around, with several treks and trails for the adventurous. The route also goes further uphill to Nathula Pass, which is the India-China border.
While we were driving around near Tsomgo Lake, we were surprised to see our iPhone showing the time and location as ‘Beijing’ – the India-China border was just about 40 kms further!
We really loved the partly frozen Tsomgo Lake and the reflections of the surrounding hills which made it more beautiful.
LACHUNG
Lachung is a small picturesque village, a 6-7 hour drive from Gangtok on mountain roads. It is at an elevation of about 9,600 ft (2,900 m). Two tributaries of the Teesta river – Lachen and Lachung – meet here, resulting in breathtaking landscapes, surrounded by snow-clad mountains dotted with waterfalls.
We stayed two days here and enjoyed the Yumthang valley and Zero Point.
Yumthang Valley
Yumthang, also called the Valley of Flowers, is a large valley at an altitude of 11,200 feet, surrounded by snow-covered mountains. It was a pleasure to walk alongside the streams, taking in the beauty and serenity of the surroundings. The many Buddhist flags, bearing all kinds of colours, added to the charm of the place. Unfortunately, we went at the beginning of spring when the flowers were just starting to bloom, or else we could have enjoyed the vibrant rhododendron flowers which cover the entire valley at springtime.
Zero Point
Zero Point, also known as Yumesamdong, is about 22 kms from Yumthang valley, at an altitude of 15,400 feet. The one-hour drive takes you up a steep and winding mountain road, both sides of which are covered with snow. Zero point itself was fully covered in snow – great fun for the kids. Adults could warm themselves with hot drinks or shots of liquor, served by enterprising local girls from their makeshift stalls.
Ravangla and Namchi
Located in South Sikkim about three hours by car from Gangtok, Ravangla is a quaint hill town surrounded by lush green tea plantations and mesmerizing views of the snow-capped Himalayas. It is a beautiful, tranquil and charming place to relax.
The highlight of Ravangla is the Buddha Park, also known as Tathagata Tsal, which showcases a 130-foot tall statue of Buddha. (Please read about this and other impressive giant statues in Sikkim in our blog post: Giants on the Hills ). The Park offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and is a perfect spot to witness a magnificent sunrise or sunset, with colours reflecting on the snow and rocks.
Temi Tea Gardens
Located in Ravangla, Temi Tea gardens is a large tea plantation covering an area of 440 acres and employing 450 people. The estate uses only organic fertilizers for the production of tea and avoids agro-chemicals. The vast sloping tea fields provide a scenic view for tourists.
Connoisseurs of tea will enjoy a visit to these gardens and the pretty villages nearby. This place was a Sherpa village before the establishment of the tea estate.
We enjoyed walking through the lush green gardens, visited the tea processing factory and sipped some good organic tea.
Yuksom
Yuksom is a small village in West Sikkim – popular with trekking enthusiasts.
Visitors like its tranquil and quiet ambiance. The Khecheopairi Lake (also known as the Wish fulfilling lake) is considered as a sacred lake by the locals.
Yuksom and surrounds have miles and miles of lush green forests and beautiful pathways around the lake.
Pelling
Pelling is a picturesque and serene little town in western Sikkim, surrounded by rolling hills. The scenery, plus the cool, misty and cloudy weather, makes it a refreshing getaway. It is the perfect break place for city dwellers on the run, or for writers/artists who are looking for peace and quiet.
The highlight of Pelling is the view of the snow-clad shimmering peak of Mount Kanchenjunga in the distance – making for an awe-inspiring sight. You can seek the peak in the morning as well as the evening, provided you are lucky and there are no clouds.
We were lucky to get a clear view early in the morning from our hotel balcony!
Two points to note
The altitudes, and the surrounding tall mountain peaks, give rise to two issues:
Breathlessness: For aging city dwellers like us, walking around at altitudes of 12,000 feet or more presents a challenge. However, we found it quite do-able provided we paused frequently and didn’t rush around. The guides carry oxygen bottles, but we didn’t use them at all.
WiFi Issues: We are heavily dependent on internet connectivity, which was missing at some places, even in hotels. However, this issue can be resolved by setting up a personal hotspot on a cell phone.
Sikkim is a beautiful and relaxing place to visit. Once you get there, you have a choice. You can venture out daily to see many different sights and sceneries, or you can just park yourself in a comfortable hotel, soak in the beauty and serenity, and just chill.
We did bits of both, and it was wonderful.
I have only been to Namchi and.Ravangla. That was a work trip, so just saw the beauty of the mountains and the flowers. Now, after reading your post, I feel I should go again. I would love to see Pelling and go trekking around the monasteries. Probably 15 days would work well to explore the mountainous organic state.
Sikkim is a dream destination because of its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and endless opportunities for adventure. Tsomgo Lake is a must-visit. I enjoy driving through steep mountain roads and seeing snow-clad mountains and the calm lake.
We never got close to the Himalayas when we were in India. Sikkim sure does look like an idyllic mountainous spot to visit one day. But I will take your warning about the altitudes and Wifi gaps. The architecture and the mountains would keep us exploring for days. Fascinating to see the partly frozen Tsomgo Lake. There is such a lovely variety in the sights around Sikkim.
Sikkim looks like a beautiful destination! I was hiking up at 12,000 feet last week (in the U.S.), and have to agree this can be quite a challenging altitude unless you’re adapted to it.
Sikkim looks quite interesting and has amazing views. It would be nice to wake up with a view of Kanchenjunga towering above.
India, like my home country of Australia is so big and there is so much to see. I’ve been to India twice but both times for work. I didn’t know about Sikkim but it has been bumped to the top of my must see list when I do get there on a non work trip.
I have come to associate Sikkim with grand landscapes and being very picturesque. I have unfortunately not been around this region and it looks amazing : the Kanchenjunga is definitely awe-inspiring. How pretty is Tsomgo lake as well.
I have read so much about the Sikkim area. The mountains are so beautiful, and visiting some tea plantations would be amazing too. From Europe, it is quite far, so I would want to spend time in other places in India too.
Sikkim looks like such a dreamy location to visit! I would love to visit these stunning landscapes and incredible monuments. The monastery seems so serene and peaceful; what a beautiful place to spend some quiet and solitude.
I was supposed to go to Sikkim in 2020, but the pandemic hit and we all know what happened. Unfortunately I didn’t get to reschedule the trip there yet. The landscape in Sikkim looks so wonderful, with so many high peaks but also surprising findings, such as tea plantations. I had no idea that tea can grow at such high altitudes. I would like to go to the Zero Point, it sounds like such an adrenaline-line inducing journey on the winding roads.
Wow! What a gorgeous area! I love that there is so much to do, too. I really like visiting botanical gardens or anything surrounding plants, so I would definitely visit the conservatory. I’ve never even heard of Kanchenjunga, but I’d love to see it b/c it is so high (the 3rd, no less!). Sikkim as a whole looks like a great place to spend time.
I would love to visit and check out the flower exhibitions and plant conservatories. Actually, I had no idea that there is one near Gangtok.
The view at Tsomgo Lake is beautiful. It is definitely worth the trip. Thank you for sharing your adventure in Sikkim.
Sikkim Looks like it has something for everyone. I love how you can go from flowers and lush green vegetation to the snow at higher altitudes all in one area. I’d definitely be up for the paragliding or the river rafting there. I’d love to spend a few weeks here just hiking and exploring.
That is seriously impressive mountain territory! Those photos are amazing, …. and you were lucky to have such a clear view! I can imagine that the car with driver turned out to be a very wise decision.