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Sikkim, Nepali: सिक्किम, is a state in East India in the Himalayan foot hills also bordering the nations of China, Nepal and Bhutan.

Regions

Towns

  • Gangtok – the capital of East Sikkim, and the state capital
  • Geyzing – the capital of West Sikkim
  • Mangan – the capital of North Sikkim
  • Namchi – the capital of South Sikkim
  • Pelling
  • Rawangla
  • Yuksom

Culture and History

Nepalese, Hindi, Limbu, Bhutia, Lepcha and English

Travel to Sikkim - Visa Requirements

There are no airports or railways in Sikkim. Nearest airport for Sikkim is Bagdogra, near Siliguri in North Bengal, which is 124 km and approximately four hours drive from Gangtok. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Deccan Air, etc. service Bagdogra linking it with Kolkata, Guwahati and New Delhi. The main way to enter Sikkim from the rest of India is by road using bus or jeep from West Bengal. Darjeeling and Siliguri both have regular services into the state. You can also take a helicopter from Siliguri to Gangtok.

After 44 years of closure, the Nathu La pass to Tibet, China – a part of the historic Silk Road – opened again in July 2006. There are plans for a Gangtok-Lhasa bus service.

Nathu la pass is now open to tourists. People who wish to visit Nathu la should get special permission one day in advance.

Eight kilometers from Nathu la is the original Harbajan Singh Baba Temple from which the Indo-Bhutan border is approximately 6 km and the India-China border is around 5 km. A must visit place for all those who like to explore places!

Tours and Getting around Sikkim

Most travel in Sikkim is done by bus or jeep on road. Trekking is also a popular option.

Sikkim tourist attractions and sightseeing

  • Rumtek Monastery [1] – 24 km from Gangtok in East Sikkim – the main seat of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism in Sikkim. Originally built by the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje in 1740, but fell into disrepair. The current structure dates from 1959.
  • Tsongmo Lake [2] – 40 km from Gangtok in East Sikkim on Nathula route – Tsongmo Lake (also called Changu Lake or Tsomgo Lake) is a large lake in the East Sikkim district of India. Etymologically "Tso" means lake and "Mgo" means head, thus literally meaning "source of the lake" in the Bhutia language.Tsongmo lake is declared a sacred lake by the local Buddhist and Hindu population. A little distance from the lake is a beautiful natural three storied cave, the Tseten Tashi Cave is a worth to visit.

It is oval-shaped, with a length of about one kilometre and has an average depth of fifteen metres.It is also a home of Brahminy Ducks besides being a stopover for various migratory birds.

The lake remains hidden in the rich forest cover. It is believed that the birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the lake surface. There is a motorable road from Pemayangtse right up to the lake area. It falls in the restricted area and hence an inner line permit is required by Indians to visit this place. Foreign nationals are not permitted to visit this lake without special permission

Sikkim city tours

  • Yak and Yeti Travels, Gangtok(Zero Point), ☎ 9434117418, [3]. trekking trips, North Sikkim package tours, day visit to Tsomgo Lake, village stays, helicopter flight, tours to monasteries, mountain biking, cultural treks, camping, river rafting etc. 

Sikkim Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Sikkimese relish Tibetan food. You must eat delicious momos stuffed with meat. For vegeterians, veg momos are also available. Noodles, locally called Thupkas, are also good.

Sikkim nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Locally brewed millet beer known as "Chhang"/"Thumba" served in bamboo glass and wooden straw, and liqours like whiskey, brandy, rum etc. Booze is very cheap in Sikkim as compared to other parts of India. Also don't forget special liqueurs like orange, coffee, tea and even pan (betelnut with aromatic spices encased in a betel leaf).

Sikkim cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

  • Hotel Superview Himalchuli, Zero Point. Run by the Sikkimese family. It is ideal for families. This hotel offers a panoramic views of the Gangtok town, valleys and mountains. It has room top garden and private parking. The rooms are reasonably priced and offers multi cuisine.

Get out

Destinations in Sikkim:

This page was last edited by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by David, Michael Kreis, paandu raam and Akshay Sureka, Wikitravel user(s) Salvadors, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license

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