Sikkim Tourism

Gangtok

The largest city, capital and center of the tourist industry of Sikkim, Gangtok is ground zero for any and all activity in the state.  Set high in the Himalayas, Gangtok has a view of much of the state and is connected by road to most of the major sites.

Rumtek Monastery

The 16th century Rumtek Monastery has long been a center of Buddhist life in the state.  It is home to artifacts and relics from the Tibetan Tsurphu Monastery.  The gold Buddha inside the monastery is a masterwork of Tibetan craftsmanship and is a major tourist attraction.
Enchey Monastery
Inhabited for hundreds of years, Enchey Monastery is famous for its annual Chaam festival, where many exquisite masks are worn in the dancing rituals.  Some 90 monks live and worship in the monastery, and it serves as a rare opportunity to see Buddhist monks.
Lake Tsongmo
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A must-see for any tourist visiting Sikkim, Tsongmo Lake is more easily accessed than the many other mountain lakes of Sikkim.  In the winter, it is literally an ice cube, but in the summer months many ducks and other migratory birds, as well as the charming red panda, state animal of Sikkim, can be seen.  Yak rides and tours are available for more adventuresome tourists.
Pelling
The closest town to Kanchenjanga, Pelling is an excellent base camp for exploring the virgin wilderness, replete with waterfalls and dense forest.  The diverse wildlife of the area, including the rare snow leopard, make it an appealing and isolated place to explore the Indian Himalayas.
Kanchenjanga
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Third highest mountain on Earth, Kanchenjanga appears as more of a barrier than mountain to the beholder.  It seems to hedge in the skyline a little too closely!  It is largely undisturbed, as most hikers tend to avoid the area due to the extreme weather as well as government restrictions on travel.  Nevertheless, permission can be granted.  At the base of the mountain lies the massive Zemu Glacier.
Biksthang
Nearby Pelling is the mountain resort Biksthang, popular among people seeking a week away in the mountains.  Like much of the surrounding area, it is an amazing opportunity to see Himalayan wildlife and explore the towering mountains.            
Khecheopalri Lake
Khecheopalri Lake is revered as holy by both Buddhists and Hindus.  Extremely idyllic, the lake is surrounded by a thick bamboo forest replete with many animals, particularly its ducks, who are famous for their affinity of removing stray leaves on the lake, lending a smooth and unbroken surface.
Namchi
Namchi is a major destination for Buddhist tourists visiting Sikkim, as it is here that the largest statue on earth of Guru Rinpoche lies.  Namchi is also home to some of the finest tea anywhere, grown at the Temi Tea Gardens.  It is becoming a popular site for adventure tourism as well as hiking and trekking, and many travel the world over to visit the small town.  Like most of Sikkim, the view of the Himalayas here is unmatched.
Gurudongmar Lake
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Almost impossible to reach, those who do make it to Gurudongmar lake will not be disappointed.  The lake is covered in ice and snow well into May, and many Sikkimese consider the lake holy because of its alleged healing water.  Because of the high elevation, harsh weather, and necessity of special government permission, very few people come here.  Those that do, however are given a beautiful view of the roof of the world.
Yuksam
High in the Himalayan foothills, Yuksam is on the top of a gentle hill that overlooks the surrounding valleys.  The former capital of Sikkim, Yuksam is a peaceful village now that has mountain villas and many trails open for adventure.
Tashiding
A couple hours from Yuksam is the Tashiding Monastery on top of a steep hill intersecting the Rathong and Rangit rivers.  Many local Sikkimese consider the monastery a holy place, capable of cleansing all sin.  It also has many intricate carvings and artworks made by the monks over the centuries.
Yumthang Valley
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One of the remotest parts of Asia, Yumthang valley is entirely secluded from the modern world.  It is extremely difficult to get to, requiring days of hiking and permission from the local government.  The valley has a large rhododendron sanctuary, where over two dozen species of the flower blossom, as well as many other species such as poppies and irises.  Many rare animals, including the snow leopard, live here.



Sikkim History and Culture

The first mention of the area known as Sikkim is by the Guru Rinpoche around 700 AD, who also brought Buddhism to the area.  The state of SIkkim was formed when a Tibetan prince had a vision telling him to travel south to meet his destiny.  Thus was the royal house of Sikkim formed, which came to define the area's history.
The area lived in peace for generations, with many monasteries cropping up high in the mountains.  The Bhutanese moved into the area around 1700, but were chased away by the Tibetans some time later.  Habitual tensions between the Sikkimese and neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet were frequent.  As a consequence of this history, in many ways Sikkim is closer culturally to its Buddhist neighbors than the largely Hindu subcontinent.
The British protected Sikkim from the Nepalese during the Anglo-Nepalese wars, but before long the British also annexed Sikkim, leaving the hereditary kings in power as puppet rulers.
After the Independence of India, Sikkim was granted autonomy by Jawaharlal Nehru, and it remained independent on the domestic level.  However, tensions began to arise with the state's monarchy and the minorities in the state, who wanted more democratic representation, leading to Sikkim joining the Indian Union as a state.  In recent history, Sikkim was where a Tibetan Lama, Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje, escaped from China.  Recently, new economic activity has began after the re-opening of the Nathula border crossing, one of three India has with China.
Sikkim is largely Hindu, but a large chunk of the population follows Buddhism, a legacy of the long influence of Tibet and Bhutan on the state.  Additionally, many Christian missionaries introduced their religion to the area and there are significant minorities of Christians.  Additionally, most people in Sikkim are Nepalese, with the Sikkimese people themselves being a minority.  Immigrant populations of Bihari, Bengali, and Tibetans are also prominent.  Most people speak Nepali, English, or Hindi, and many smaller languages, including Sikkimese, are spoke in the several isolated valleys of the state.
Sikkim has, without a doubt, some of the most spellbinding scenery in India.  The largest mountain in the country, Kanchenjanga, is in the northwest corner of the state, and the far removed pine-covered vales ubiquitous to the state offer a feast to the eyes and senses.
Nowadays, Sikkim has become one of India's premier tourist destinations, a consequence of the immense beauty of its mountains.  Hundreds of thousands visit here each year to behold the splendor of the Himalayas, and Sikkim should not be omitted from any travel itinerary!