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.

Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok
Golden Stupa at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim

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.

At Sikkim Flower show

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.

Array of flowers on display

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!

Tsomgo Lake
Spectacular location and views
Yak-rides on the snowy hills
Awesome relections on Tsomgo lake
Enjoying the views
Snow and mountains en route to Tsomgo Lake

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.

Amidst the backdrop of mountains and streams in Yumthang valley
At Zero Point - beverages sold on on roadside
Spectacular Views en route
View of mountainous roads from above
Flags and mountains in Yumthang

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.

Temi Tea Gardens, Namchi
At Tashi Tenka
Bhim falls near Lachung
Temi Tea Gardens, Namchi
Tashi Tenka, Yuksom

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.

Awesome view of the Kanchenjunga peak from our hotel balcony

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.

Sikkim in India
Sikkim images

Related Posts

Pin It on Pinterest

Leisurely Drives
Multicolored flags & snow clad mountains at Yumthang valley in Lachung
Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok
Golden Stupa at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim
At Sikkim Flower show
Array of flowers on display
Tsomgo Lake
Spectacular location and views
Yak-rides on the snowy hills
Awesome relections on Tsomgo lake
Enjoying the views
Snow and mountains en route to Tsomgo Lake
Amidst the backdrop of mountains and streams in Yumthang valley
At Zero Point - beverages sold on on roadside
Spectacular Views en route
View of mountainous roads from above
Flags and mountains in Yumthang
Temi Tea Gardens, Namchi
At Tashi Tenka
Bhim falls near Lachung
Temi Tea Gardens, Namchi
Tashi Tenka, Yuksom
Awesome view of the Kanchenjunga peak from our hotel balcony
Sikkim in India
Sikkim images
Giants on the Hills
A Road Trip through North India – Photo Blog
Rambha – Birds in the lagoon – India
Munnar – Tea in the hills – India
Giants on the Hills
A Road Trip through North India – Photo Blog
Rambha – Birds in the lagoon – India
Share This