The heavenly kingdom of Sikkim: In the land of mountains, clouds and snow

When we think of mountains, the first thing that comes to mind for many of us is Darjeeling, Shillong, or Sikkim. And for those who have visited Sikkim once, there is no need to explain why the place is so beautiful.

Sikkim is a small state in the Himalayas in the northeast of India. Although not very large in size, Sikkim is full of nature. In some places, there are huge mountains, in some places the roads are covered in clouds, and in some places the entire mountain is white with snow. Along with this, there are Buddhist monasteries, mountain waterfalls, rivers and quiet small towns.

The most interesting thing is that each place in Sikkim gives you a different feeling. If you go to Gangtok, you will find the hustle and bustle of the city and the mountain environment together, while if you go to Lachung or Yumthang, you will feel like you have moved to a faraway world.

Where is Sikkim?

Sikkim is a hilly state in the eastern Himalayan region of India. It is bordered by Tibet to the north, Bhutan to the east, Nepal to the west, and the Indian state of West Bengal to the south.

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. Most tourists start their trip with Gangtok as their base while visiting Sikkim. From here, arrangements can be made to visit various popular places in Sikkim.

Gangtok: The beginning of your Sikkim journey

It is difficult to leave out Gangtok when visiting Sikkim. This city built on a hillside is beautiful, clean and quite organized at the same time.

Waking up in the morning and opening the window to see the mountains, walking on the streets in the cool breeze or wandering around in the evening to see the city lights, all these little things will make you feel good in Gangtok.

You can visit Tashi View Point, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Hanuman Talk, Ban Jhakri Waterfall, Rumtek Monastery, Enche Monastery, Ridge Flower Park and Sikkim Himalayan Zoological Park.

Tashi View Point

If you want to see the sunrise from the mountain, you can go to Tashi View Point. If the weather is clear, the surrounding mountains including Kanchenjunga can be seen quite beautifully from here.

However, there is no guarantee that the weather in the mountains will always be as you wish. If there are clouds, the view may be missed. So if you are lucky, the view will be completely frozen.

 Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

This is a great place to learn about Buddhism and Tibetan culture. It has various old artifacts, books, and cultural materials.

 Hanuman Tok

This temple, located on a hill, is known for its religious importance as well as its beautiful view. It is quite nice to see the surrounding hilly area from here.

 Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek is one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim. Both the architecture of the monastery and the surrounding hilly environment are worth seeing.

Pelling: Kanchenjunga can be seen here

Pelling is much quieter than Gangtok. The biggest attraction of this hill town in West Sikkim is the mountain views and the opportunity to see Kanchenjunga.

If you go to Pelling, you can visit the Kanchenjunga Falls, the Rabdentse ruins and the Pemayangtse monastery.

And you can also experience the Pelling Sky Walk. While walking on the glass bridge over the mountain, looking down can be a little scary. But the place is quite a nice place to take pictures.

You can also visit the Pemayangtse monastery. The architecture of this monastery, which is about 300 years old, is quite beautiful and the atmosphere of the place is also peaceful.

Lachung: Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city

For those who want to see a little quiet mountains, Lachung is a good place.

This small hill town in North Sikkim is known for its surrounding mountains, rivers and green nature. It takes a few hours to go from Gangtok to Lachung. Since the road is completely mountainous, the journey also becomes a part of the trip.

From Lachung, you can visit Yumthang Valley, Bhim Nala Waterfall and Snow Point.

While traveling through the mountain road, sometimes the Teesta River will be on your side, sometimes the clouds will be stuck on the mountains. Honestly, on this road, you should not just sit for the destination, you should also see the surrounding scenery.

Yumthang Valley: Valley of Flowers

One of the most famous places in Sikkim is Yumthang Valley. Many people call it the “Valley of Flowers”.

During the flowering season, the entire valley is filled with flowers of various colors. There are mountains all around and a huge valley in the middle. It would be nice to stand in such a place and be quiet for a while.

However, it is important to know the weather and road conditions before going here. The weather can suddenly deteriorate in the hilly areas.

Changu Lake: A piece of blue water amidst the ice

Changu Lake is about 40 kilometers from Gangtok. Located at an altitude of about 3,750 meters above sea level, this mountain lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sikkim.

During the winter, the lake water can freeze due to extreme cold. The surrounding mountains are also covered in snow.

However, due to the high altitude, the cold can be quite intense here. So, it is very important to take warm clothes, not just thinking about taking pictures.

Yuksom: A place of history and trekking

You can also visit the historic town of Yuksom in West Sikkim. The place is relatively quiet and close to nature.

Yuksom is also well known for trekking. Those who like to walk along the mountain roads will like the place.

Here, a very different atmosphere is found with a combination of Buddhist monasteries, waterfalls and beautiful mountain surroundings.

When is the best time to visit Sikkim?

Sikkim is beautiful at all times of the year. However, the best time to visit is usually from late February to May and from late September to November.

If you go in the spring, you will see flowers in the mountains. And if the sky is clear after the monsoon, the view of the mountains is also very beautiful.

However, in winter, some roads may be closed due to snow. Also, there is a risk of landslides in the hilly areas during the monsoon. So, you should check the weather forecast before going.

What should you bring with you when going to Sikkim?

There is no need to pack a lot of unnecessary things when traveling to Sikkim. However, there are some things that you should definitely keep.

ü  Warm clothes and jackets

ü  Socks, hats and scarves

ü  Good grip shoes

ü  Essential medicines

ü  Passport and visa documents

ü  Copies of necessary permits and documents

ü  Power bank

ü  Sunglasses and sunscreen

Going to high altitudes can be a challenge, especially if you experience dizziness, nausea, or shortness of breath.

One thing to keep in mind when going to North Sikkim

Some areas of North Sikkim, including Lachung and Yumthang, may require special permits. So, if you are planning to visit them, make sure you have the permits in advance.

Here is a mistake that many people make. They plan their entire trip to Sikkim on their own, but later face permit or road problems. So, in the case of North Sikkim, it is safer to arrange everything in advance through a local travel agency or an authorized system.

How long should you stay for a trip to Sikkim?

If you want to visit Sikkim properly, it is better to have at least 5 to 7 days.

If you only visit Gangtok, you can do it in less time. But if you want to visit Changu Lake, Lachung, Yumthang and Pelling in addition to Gangtok, you need to have more time on your hands.

A general travel plan might be like this:

Day 1: Arrive in Gangtok, relax and explore the city

Day 2: Sightseeing in Gangtok

Day 3: Changu Lake and surroundings

Day 4: Drive to Lachung

Day 5: Explore Yumthang Valley

Day 6: Drive to Gangtok or Pelling

Day 7: Prepare for Pelling return

But it is not a mandatory route. It is normal to change the route based on your budget, time, weather and permits.

Remember the last thing.

The beauty of Sikkim is not confined to just a few tourist destinations. The mountain roads on the way to the destination, the clouds outside the window, the waterfalls that suddenly appear in front of you or the snow-capped mountains in the distance, all combine to form the real beauty of Sikkim.

The urban environment of Gangtok, the mountain scenery of Pelling, the quiet environment of Lachung, the valley of flowers of Yumthang and the ice of Changu Lake, all in all, Sikkim is a place where once you visit, it is not unusual to want to go back.

So instead of just making a list of a few places saying “I will visit Sikkim”, take some time to plan. Instead of going to the mountains and rushing back to take pictures, spend some time quietly in nature. The real beauty of Sikkim is there.