SIKKIM a window of HIMALAYA

SIKKIM is a state in northeast India, and it is bordered with Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal.

Part of Himalayas, SIKKIM has a dramatic landscape that includes India's highest mountain.

SIKKIM is also home to glaciers, alpine meadows and thousands of varieties of wildflowers. 

In modern days it is one of the best honeymoon destinations in India.

The tourist places in SIKKIM are 

Gangtok

Gangtok is the capital of SIKKIM. SIKKIM was established as a Buddhist pilgrimage site in 1840's. 

Today it remains a Tibetan Buddhist centre and a base for hikers organizing permits and transport for treks through Sikkim's Himalayan mountain range. 

Lachung 

Lachung is a mountain village close to the Tibetan border, in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim. It's divided by the Lachung River.

 The village is home to the 19th-century Buddhist Lachung Monastery, surrounded by apple orchards. 

Nearby, the Yumthang Valley's Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary protects many species of rhododendron. The valley is also known for its waterfalls, pine forests and hot springs.

Yuksom 

Yuksom is a historical town in Geyzing subdivision of West Sikkim district Sikkim.

 It was the first capital of Sikkim established in 1642 AD by Phuntsog Namgyal who was the first Chogyal of Sikkim.

Casino Mahjong 

If you want to enjoy the at Gangtok this is the place. It's worth visiting with fun unlimited provided you don't get carried away while playing.

 Entry is Rs. 1500/- per person and includes dinner and drinks. The best thing is that cover charges are valid for 24 hours and you are also provided free drop facility.

Namchi 

Namchi means Sky High in Sikkimese.

Namchi is fast becoming a tourist spot and pilgrimage centre. The Namchi Monastery, Ralang Monastery and Tendong Hill are local Buddhist pilgrimage centres. The world's largest statue (at 118 feet) of the Buddhist Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim, is on the Samdruptse hill (The Wish-Fulfilling hill) opposite Namchi.

It was completed in February 2004. It is also said that the Samdruptse hill is actually a dormant volcano.

 Myths say that the Buddhist monks have been going on top of the hill and offering prayers to the volcano to keep it calm. There is also a Rock Garden a few kilometres from the town on the way to Samdruptse. The area has views of Mt. Kanchendzonga, aka Mt. Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak.

Tso mgo lake 

Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim, some 40 kilometres from the capital Gangtok.

 Located at an elevation of 3,753 m, the lake remains frozen during the winter season.

Lachen 

Lachen is a town in North Sikkim district in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is located at an elevation of 2,750 metres.

 The name Lachen means "big pass". The town is being promoted as a tourist destination by the Sikkimese government. The town forms the base to the Chopta Valley and Gurudongmar Lake. 

Peeling 

Pelling is a small town in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, at the foothills of Mount Khangchendzonga. The late-17th-century Buddhist Sanga Choling Monastery has mountain views. Pemayangtse Monastery features wall paintings, sculptures and a gold-plated statue of Guru Padmasambhava. 

Overlooking a valley, the 17th-century Rabdentse Palace, now in ruins, still has evidence of the king’s bedroom and kitchen.

The founder of Pelling was a man called Freddie (Pelling) who arrived there during the time of the empire.

He organised protection for the townspeople who lived under threat from raiders coming from the north who stole minerals from the mines there. Since then Freddie has become a local hero and each year there is a parade through the town commemorating him and celebrating the changes he made. 

As a token of their renamed the village after him.

Yumthang Valley of Flowers 

The Yumthang Valley or Sikkim Valley of Flowers sanctuary, is a nature sanctuary with the river, hot springs, yaks and grazing pasture on rolling meadows surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim district of Sikkim state in India.

Ravangla

Ravangla or Rawangla or Ravongla is a small tourist town situated at an elevation of 7000 ft in South Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim.

 It is connected by state highway to other major towns in the state and lies between Pelling and Gangtok.

Gurudongmar Lake 

Gurudongmar Lake at a height of 17100 ft., is among the top 15 highest lakes in the world and is the second-highest lake in Sikkim as well as in India, the first being Cholamu lake at a height of 18000 ft, also located in Sikkim. Being the second highest lake in India, the splendid and scenic beauty.

Zemu Glacier

Zemu Glacier is the largest glacier in the Eastern Himalaya. It is about 26 kilometres in length and is located at the base of Kangchenjunga in the Himalayan region of Sikkim, India.

 It may be one of the sources for the Teesta River.

Baba Harbhajan Singh temple 

Captain "Baba" Harbhajan Singh was an Indian army soldier. He is revered as the "Hero of Nathula" by soldiers of the Indian army, who built a shrine in his honour.

 He was accorded the status of the  by belitblithe refer to him as the "Baba".

Teesta River 

Teesta River is a 315 km long river that rises in the eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of West Bengal and Sikkim through Bangladesh and enters the Bay of Bengal.

 Teesta drains an area of 12,540 km². It forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal.

Goechala 

Goecha La is a high mountain pass in Sikkim, India in the Himalaya range.

 The southeast face of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, can be viewed from the pass, which is also a base camp for those aspiring to scale the mountain.

Yume Samdong 

Sikkim’s untouched beauty; Yumesamdong, is a valley on the Lachung River about 15 km ahead of Yumthang. It is situated at 4724 m altitude in the North East of the State, popularly known as the Zero point which means the hindmost frontier of civilization.

 There are no roads further, just the landscapes completely covered with snow offering a majestic view contrasting with the patchy blue sky in between the fresh icy breeze. The place is adjacent to the Chinese border. Thus it demands an Inner Line Permit, which can be obtained from the Tourist Information Center or through any registered tour operator.

Singalila National Park 

Singalila National Park is a national park of India located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

 Singalila national park is well known for the trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it. 

Kanchenjunga falls 

Kanchenjunga falls is nice and big. One can appreciate the purity of natural water falling through the rocks. Cold and clear, it glitters like a diamond when the sun's rays fall on it. 

There is an entrance ticket of Rs.20 to see the main falls which I do not think is justified. Probably Rs.10 will be good enough.

Green lake trek 

A full 10 out of 10 for the Green Lake Trek in Sikkim. ... Green Lake near Lachen is one such hidden gem that allows an  view of the Kanchan viewed other glorious Himalayan peaks.

 Adventurers embark on the famous green lake trek Sikkim, to revel in the beauty of the mountains!

Nathula Pass 

Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in East Sikkim district. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

 The pass, at 4,310 m above mean sea level, forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. Nathu means "listening ears" and La means "pass" in Tibetan.

How to reach SIKKIM? 

1. By Air. The airport nearest to Gangtok is about 124 kilometres away in Bagdogra, West Bengal.
3. By Train. The nearest railway station to Gangtok is about 148 kilometres away in New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri.
5. self-drive