Sikkim

Nestling with the majestic Himalayas, Sikkim is dotted with numerous tiny monasteries which tell a lot about the history, religion and cultures of this state. People here are deeply devoted to their simple living and welcome outsiders with great warmth. There is no dearth of nature in Sikkim. Here you can fall in love with a maze of steep valleys, flourishing woodlands and rich groves.

Top places to visit in Sikkim:

Pemayangtse Monastery
Pemayangtse Monastery is located 140 kilometres from Gangtok. It was set up by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705 and is counted among the oldest living monasteries in the state. Here you can see monks performing normal day to day rituals and meditating. The place bestows seamless calmness.

Kanchendzonga National Park
Kanchendzonga National Park stands at an unbelievable height of 1,829 meters to 8,550 metres. Here you can spot a mix of flora, including oaks, fir, birch, maple, willow, etc. Also spot and click sights of musk deer, snow leopard, Clouded Leopard and Himalayan tahr which can be seen roaming around freely.

Nathu La Pass
Nathu La Pass remains the most popular place of tourist interest in Sikkim located at an elevation of 4,310 meters. The pass enjoys a dry alpine climate and acts home to many endangered animals like snow leopard, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan wolf, etc. The valley is blessed with all the charming facades of nature.

Tsango Lake
Tsango Lake is a glacial lake which stretches up to 1 km. Locals believe that this lake is sacred, and they once used to predict future as per its changing colour. There is also a small temple along the river bank dedicated to lord Siva. During winters the lake remains frozen whereas uncountable flowers bloom here between the months of May and August.

Rumtek Monastery
Built in the 16th century, Rumtek Monastery was set up by the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje. Later in 1959 it was rebuild by the 16th Karmapa. This is the largest Monastery in Sikkim and houses many monks. People visit here to get drenched into the serenity and spirituality sprawling here.

Namchi
The exquisiteness of Namchi Hill Station is matchless. Here you can learn a lot about indigenous cultures of the Sikkimese people apart from enjoying beautiful views of the impressive Mt. Kanchenjunga. Climate here remains pleasant most of the year and thus, it welcomes travellers throughout the year.

How to Reach
The closest airport to Sikkim is at Bagdogra in West Bengal. From there, taxis are available to reach Gangtok. Helicopter rides also connect Gangtok with Bagdogra. As Sikkim doesn't have a rail network, travellers can deboard at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. Road travel is also a good option to reach Gangtok from Siliguri (West Bengal).