North Sikkim- A Slice of Heaven | TTW
Sikkim is a small state in northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal. Part of the Himalayas, the area has a dramatic landscape including India’s highest mountain, 8,586m Kanchenjunga. Sikkim is also home to glaciers, alpine meadows, and thousands of varieties of wildflowers. High snow-capped mountains, flowing rivers, chilled wind, wildflowers, colorful wildlife, and beautiful people made the Himalayan state Sikkim most beautiful. The northern part of Sikkim is a very popular travel destination among tourists and is certainly the best part of Sikkim. This barren land is popular for its breathtaking views. Though many people called it ‘Small Ladakh’ but this place is beautiful to its virginity. The main attraction of North Sikkim is based on Gurudongmar Lake (the holy lake), Zero Point (the snow zone), Yumthang Valley(the valley of flowers), Lachung, and Lachen. Generally, this place is appropriate for a 2night/3 days trip but you may add more days depending on the places you would like to visit and also depends on what type of traveler you are. How to reach Sikkim: By Air: The regularly operated airport nearest to Gangtok is about 124 Kms away in Bagdogra, West Bengal. From the airport, you can hire a shared taxi or a private vehicle that will get you to Gangtok in around 3-4 hours. The Pakyong Airport is the only airport serving Sikkim which is just 27 km away from Gangtok but it’s not regularly operated. By Train: The nearest railway station to Gangtok is New Jalpaiguri(NJP), around 148 km away from Gangtok. From NJP you can easily get a taxi to Gangtok. It will take around 4-4.5 hrs to reach Gangtok. By Road: Tourists coming from nearby places like Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, or any nearby place can even drive to Gangtok. Sikkim is well connected with West Bengal and the other nearby places. Know more about how to visit Sikkim here. Best Itinerary for Sikkim Trip: I would suggest a minimum of one week, but if you have more days, it’s better and you can even explore more. Day 1: Reach Gangtok by Road, Train, or Air. Day 2: Explore Gangtok and surroundings (city tour). Day 3: Explore Tsongmo Lake and return to Gangtok. Days 4-6: North Sikkim Tour: Visit Yumthang Valley and Gurudongmar Lake via Lachen & Lachung. Day 6: Road Trip and transfer back to Gangtok Day 7: Transfer to Bagdogra Airport/ NJP/ or travel back home by Road. Here’s the best time to visit Sikkim. It’s like a base itinerary that you can follow, but you can of course end up doing something quite different, often changing plans while traveling as you learn about new places and gather new experiences. Day 1(Reach Gangtok and relax): You can hire a cab for Gangtok. During the journey, ask your cab driver a lot of questions about the long journey from the airport/train station/bus stop, try to accumulate as much information as you can. The road is quite good, and you’ll enjoy the journey. However, on the way, do stop by and admire the mighty Teesta river – it’s truly a sight to behold. By the time you reach Gangtok, you will be exhausted and would just want to take some rest. So take enough rest and hydrate yourself. If you have energy in the evening, head out to the MG Marg – that’s where everyone from the city gathers to hang out and is the most vibrant place you will ever see. Enjoy your time over there. Day 2(Visit the Gangtok city): You can spend your time hopping around the local shops, eating the local foods, sightseeing and organizing onwards travel. Many of the places to visit in Gangtok can be seen on ubiquitous “three-point”, “five-point”, and “seven-point” local tours offered by travel agents, hotels, and taxi drivers. The “three-point” tours incorporate the city’s three main viewpoints (Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok, and Tashi Viewpoint). Variants such as the Enchey monastery can be added for “five-point” tours. “Seven points” tours include monasteries outside Gangtok, such as Rumtek and Lindum. Enchey Monastery: Sikkim’s monasteries are among its most popular attractions. You’ll find Enchey monastery perched on a ridge above Gangtok. The name of this serene place means a solitary monastery. It was initially constructed in 1909 but had to be rebuilt after catching fire in 1947. This monastery is relatively small and noncommercial. However, it’s beautifully decorated inside, with colorful murals, statues, and a large collection of masks used in ritual dances. The founder, Lama Druptob Karpo, was a Tantric master known for his ability to levitate and fly! Enchey monastery is open from 4 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and until 1 p.m. on Sunday. Two renowned monasteries can also be seen on scenic day trips from Gangtok: Rumtek, and the newer and more eye-catching Lingdum (Ranka) with its huge golden Buddha statue. Be at Lingdum at 7.30 a.m. or 3.30 p.m. to hear the monks chanting in mesmerizing unison. Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok: From Enchey monastery, take the road northeast up to colorful Ganesh Tok with its fluttering prayer flags, for dramatic views over Gangkok. There’s a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh there, along with cafe and souvenir shops. Higher up beyond Ganesh Tok, and arguably with a better viewpoint, sits Hanuman Tok. Visitors are greeted by a towering orange statue of Lord Hanuman. The Hanuman temple there is maintained by the Indian Army, so it’s clean and peaceful. It’s surrounded by lovely sprawling gardens, walking trails, and the splendid sight of Mount Khangchendzonga on a clear day. Himalayan Zoological Park: Opposite Ganesh Tok, the Himalayan Zoological Park is one of India’s better-maintained zoos with a natural jungle setting. It’s spread across 230 hectares of hillside and houses rare animals, many of which have been rescued from traders and poachers. They include Himalayan bears, snow leopards, Tibetan wolves, and red pandas. The
