If you are planning a trip to Sikkim with your friends and family, these are the places that you must visit. Yes, Sikkim will leave you speechless since it's a paradise in itself. Each place has its own unique beauty.
Every bit if this state is full of gorgeous landscapes, ultimate serenity, majestic hills, snow-capped mountains, challenging trails and a lot more.
The capital city, Gangtok, is one of the best places to visit in Sikkim. With the hustle & bustle all around, you'll fall in love with this place at the first glance.
Also it's a hub for those who loves shopping and wants to try different types of local food. Momos, Thukpa, Chowmein, Thanthuk, Fakthu, Wanton, and Gyathuk are to give some examples.
Top attractions in Gangtok.
• Hanuman Tok Temple
• Tashi View Point
• Rumtek Monastery
• Nathula Pass
• Tsomgo Lake
Ideal duration of stay: 2-3 days.
Visiting here during the summer season will be great. Zuluk is athe hidden gem of Sikkim and a wonderful place to visit. It is popular for a lot of things and the main attractions that draw the maximum crowd here are: The Silk Route, Kupuk Lake and Yak Golf Course.
Top attractions in Zuluk.
• Thambi View Point
• Nathang Valley
• Kalpokhari Lake
• Nathula Pass
• Tukla Valley
Lachen & Lachung
Lachen (9500ft), a village surrounded by snow-capped peaks and beautiful alpine meadows via Chungthang, another quiet and picturesque hamlet on the higher Himalayas famous for its proximity to the Kanchenjunga National park. Chungthang is a sub-divisional town and the gateway to Northern Sikkim. Also, visit Singhik view point, naga falls falling on the way.
Lachen and Lachung are two integral parts of North Sikkim Trip. Lachen and Lacnhung are two cities that work as the base for the tourists who want to travel to Gurudongmar Lake, Chopta Valley, Yumthang Valley, and Zero point.
North Sikkim is one of those places on earth that redefine our definition of beauty in several ways. While some of us prefer rugged terrains, a majority of us prefers lush green hills and then there are some that marvel at the mesmerizing flowers blooming in the wild.
It is the twin sister of Lachung and both the villages form bases for tours up towards Gurudongmar Lake and Chopta Valley. Situated at a height of 8,838 feet above sea level. Following the North Sikkim Highway, it will take around 6-7 hours to drive up to this place from Gangtok.
Top attractions of Lachen:
Lachen Monastery: Inspiring Architecture.
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary: Enchanting Sanctuary.
Gurudongmar Lake: Sacred Lake.Chopta Valley: Nature's Bounty.
Thangu Valley: Enthralling Nature.
Tso Lhamo Lake: Picturesque Scenery.
Top attractions in Lachung:
Located approximately 120 km from Gangtok, Lachung is located at an altitude of 8610 m above sea level. Lachung is one of those places where adventure junkies and trekkers are found.
• Yumthang Valley.
• Gurudongmar Lake.
• Zero Point
• Kala Pathar
Pelling
Perched at an altitude of 7200 ft, Pelling is a town that offers a wonderful and rejuvenating environment to the tourists. It is also known as the second most visited town in Sikkim after Gangtok.
The highlight of Pelling is the view of the glittering peak of Mt Kanchenjunga.
Top attractions in Pelling:
• Kanchenjunga Waterfalls.
• Khecheopalri Lake.
• Rabdentse Ruins.
• Enjoy the Pelling Skywalk.
If experiencing the adventure of walking on glass skywalks is your travel dream, you need not wait to get an international travel visa to do so.
A wonderful desi glass skywalk has been made in Sikkim’s Pelling. The skywalk in Pelling is located opposite the 137 ft tall statue of Chenrezig, amidst the magnificent Himalayas.
Ravangla
Located at an altitude of 7000 ft in south Sikkim, Ravangla is a place of wonder with all-natural bounties.
The place is covered by hills and mountains is a paradise for both types of people- the one who loves winter wonderland covered with snow and the other who favor green valley shadowed by pine trees, flowing water.
The upper part mostly gets covered with snow during winters whereas in the lower part, named and unnamed flower blooms, creating an aromatic ambiance.
Top attractions in Ravangla:
• Buddha Park
• Rayong Sunrise View Point
• Ralang Monastery
• Bon Monastery
• Temi Tea Estate
Tsomgo Lake
Did you know that there is another lake in India other than Pangong Tso that changes its colors? Yes, Tsomgo Lake is another fine place where you can see this magic of nature. But the only difference is Tsomgo Lake changes color over seasons and not throughout the days.
• Tsomgo Lake is located 40 km from Gangtok
• This glacier lake is situated at 12,313 ft.
• The lake holds special significance in the lives of the locals
• It is better to visit here during the summer season because the lake freezes during winters.
• One needs to obtain the Protected Area Permit to visit here.
Nathu La
Right from the historic times till today, Nathu La is one of the most important places in Sikkim, from the trade perspective as well as tourism, respectively. Every year people tend to visit here with their friends and family to enjoy the thrill offered.
• The permit has to be obtained from Tourism and Civil Aviation Department
• Children below 5 years are not permitted here.
• Even in the peak summer season the temperature of this place remains 10-degree Celsius so wear clothes accordingly.
• Can travel Between Wednesday and Sunday (Other days, it gets closed by 1:30 pm)
Gurudongmar Lake
one of the highest lakes in India at an altitude of 17800 ft (5340 m) is one of the holiest places in Sikkim. Situated in North Sikkim, the lake is only 5 km south of the China border. One can reach the Lake through Lachen and Thangu.
In Buddhist circles, Sikkim has been known as Beyul Demajong or Guru Rinpoche’s Hidden Land. Gurudongmar Lake is considered to be one of the 108 “Tso-Chen” or major holy lakes of the Demajong and is believed to be the abode of the local guardian deities. The lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism.
During the eight century AD, Guru Rinpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) had visited the Tibetan Chogyal (King) Trisong Detsan. He informed the king that in future Tibet’s sovereignty might be subjugated and there might be a decline in Buddhism. The Chogyal requested Guru Rinpoche to search for places where the Dharma might be kept alive. The Guru after completing his spiritual quest selected four different lands around Tibet.
He first arrived at Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim and later went on towards Tashiding in West Sikkim. Here he found his Beyul Demajong or hidden land where he hid his treasure teachings in caves and sacred places to be later revealed when Dharma was in danger.
The lake usually remained frozen for most of the year with no probability of providing drinking water to the local people. Legend has it that the locals prayed to the Guru to help them. The revered Guru then put his hand on a part of the lake which has since then refrained from freezing. Gurudongmar Lake has been revered and respected since then. Guru Rinpoche also saw this as a propitious sign that welcomed him to this land.
Devotees also believe that by offering prayers at the lake and doing a parikrama (going around the lake), one can be blessed with a child.
What is the best time to visit Sikkim?
But before going any further, you should be well aware of the best time to visit Sikkim. There are two times when you can prefer heading to this state, one between March and May which is also the time when Sikkim experiences summers and the other one is between October and Mid- December which is the time between the offset of monsoon and light winter season.
The Zero Point Sikkim is one such beautiful and hidden gem that lies in the northern region of the state.
Only 15 km from Lachung Valley, Zero Point Sikkim is one of the most popular points of interest that offers ample reasons to travellers to visit it right away. It is also known as Yumesamdong in the local language.
A perfect destination for high altitude excursions, Yumesamdong or Zero point Sikkim stands at an altitude of 15,300 feet above mean sea level and offers beautiful sightseeing opportunities. It is the last outpost of civilization and there is no road ahead. Owing to a higher altitude, oxygen levels there are pretty low.
The beautiful confluence of three rivers, surrounding snow clad mountains and marvelous scenic views makes Zero Point Sikkim one of the best places to visit in India. While the roads are quite treacherous, but Zero Point or Yumesamdong is one of Sikkim’s prime tourist attractions.
So if you want to see and enjoy the snow, then visit Zero Point and it will surely bring a nice and chilling experience for you.
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