Here in this blog, you can get to know the 8 best places to visit in Sikkim and why must you visit there once in your lifetime.
Situated in the NorthEast of India, Sikkim is a beautiful small state surrounded by Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan borders. The state has an enchanting beauty that will mesmerize you surely. The highest peak in India Kanchenjunga is present in Sikkim(Eastern Himalaya). The climate of Sikkim is a blend of Subtropical and Alpine vegetation.
Why should you visit Sikkim?
The place is perfect for spending an amazing vacation far from every stress and worry of life. Sikkim is rich in its diversity in its flora and fauna.
Sikkim is also a preferable location for honeymoon couples with plenty of exciting Sikkim tour packages. A trip to Sikkim will earn you a bunch of beautiful memories and a superior travel experience.
There are a huge number of places you can explore. You can get catch sight of Tibetan culture and enjoy the flavor of Tibet and Buddhism. However, the local people of Sikkim follow traditional Tibetan culture through which you would get to discover the unknown and amazing facts about their culture. They celebrate several festivals like the Gangtok winter festival, Losar, Saga Dawa, Pang Lhabsol, Losoong, and many more. You can be a part of glorious festivals if you visit there during a certain time.
Best Places to visit in Sikkim
Nathu La pass
It is situated in East Sikkim District and the place is a border area between India and China. The altitude is 4,310 meters above sea level. Nathu La is a Tibetan word that means “listening ears pass”. It is about 56 km distance from Gangtok. It is also known for being the historic Silk road once. Nathu La, being one of the best places to visit in Sikkim gives you an eye catching view of the Chumbi Valley of Tibet. The roads are surrounded by snow mostly, which enhances your travel experience to Nathu La. Undoubtedly, this destination ranks first on the list of the 7 best places to visit in Sikkim.
Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir
If you are in Gangtok, you must definitely visit Tsomgo Lake or Changu Lake. It is about 38 km far from Gangtok and situated at an altitude of 3780 meters from sea level and is known as one of the highest lakes in India. The color of the lake changes according to the season and that leaves the most charming effect. Also, it is believed by the locals that the lake water has some medicinal effects.
Baba Mandir is situated near the lake and is a temple built in honor of Baba Harbhajan Singh, from the Punjab Regiment. there are a lot of eerie stories revolving around the Baba Mandir.
Pelling
Pelling is a tiny town situated in the West of Sikkim at an altitude of 2150 meters. To get a glimpse of the Himalayan range, Pelling is just the perfect destination. If you are an adventure fan can enjoy several activities here like river rafting, trekking, kayaking, etc. Also, Pelling is an abode for several old monasteries as well. You can visit here any time of the year but visit during the summers April-July would be great.
Ravangla
This beautiful town is situated in the Southern part of Sikkim that is Ravangla, it proves to be a paradise for nature lovers. It is 68 km far from Gangtok and the place gets its name from the Bhutanese word ” Ra Vong La” which means ‘wild sheep rearing pass’. The place is rich in flora and fauna, the best place for bird watching, and a residence of rare and endangered species. Ravangla is also famous for Buddha park. The park features a huge 130 ft tall statue of Lord Buddha. The park is surrounded by greenery and is extremely peaceful.
Namchi
It is a worth visiting town in Sikkim. The place got its name from the Tibetian word “Namchi” meaning ‘top of the sky’. It is 93 km far from the capital city Gangtok. Namchi is known as the pilgrimage center of Buddhists. It is also the capital of South Sikkim. During the month of October, Namchi hosts the festival Mahotsav which is a cultural and food festival. Namchi is famous for Siddheswara Dham or ‘Char Dhaam’ temple. You can find the replicas of “Jyotirlingas” and this place can give you an absolute divine feeling.
Gangtok
The capital city of Sikkim has its own panoramic beauty. Gangtok falls in the Eastern Himalayas and is one of the most famous popular tourist places in India.
It is a favorite place for nature lovers and you cannot restrain yourself from exploring the beauty of the city. It is famous for some places like MG Marg, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Rok, Tashi View Point, Zoological Park, Rumtek Monastery, and many more. The details of Gangtok tourism are not possible to define in these few lines. In brief, Gangtok itself has a separate space in the list of best places to visit in Sikkim and you need to spend your valuable time exploring this city well.
Lachen & Lachung
Lachen and Lachung are tiny villages situated in the North Sikkim. They have the most alluring charm among all the other places of Sikkim. These places might not be that popular but you have to believe that you will not regret visiting this place. As the villages are in the north, you cannot visit here during the monsoon and winters due to heavy rainfall and snowfall. The vegetation bears plenty of fruit orchards and flowers and has glacial rivers which makes the places more unique.
Gurudongmar Lake
This lake is regarded as the highest fresh-water lake in the world. It is situated at an altitude of 5425 meters. Gurudongmar Lake is also known as Tso Lhamo Lake. This lake is considered sacred because during winters while the river gets frozen due to the extreme climate, one of its portions never gets frozen. We advise you not to visit there during extreme winters due to snowfall. The temperature may fall up to -20 degrees Celsius.
Food you can try in Sikkim
1.Sael Roti
Sael roti is an authentic Nepali dish specially made for every festival and occasion. Sael Roti is basically bread but is finger millet flour bread served with pickle. Sael Roti is round in shape and like a pretzel, made with fermented rice and deep-fried.
2. Shae phaley
Shae Phaley is another authentic dish and this dish is a very preferred choice for many customers. This dish is prepared with a doe of wheat flour and then stuffed with vegetables and chicken and then it is deep-fried and served with chutney green, red chutney, and soup.
3.Churpey
You can say that chhurpi is more like cheese made in Sikkim. You will get both hard and soft forms. White or brown in shape and slightly sweet in taste, and is made up of yak’s or goat’s milk.
4. Bamboo shoot curry
Baby bamboo is edible and it is very delicious, in Sikkim it is called “Tama sabzi”. This curry is prepared with turmeric, tomato onion, and all the masala that is required to make any sabzi. It is a little bit sour in taste and it has a slightly pungent smell.
