SIKKIM

As a testimony to the more than 300 years of existence as a Buddhist kingdom, there are no less than 100 monasteries within such a small area of 7,300 square kilometers, most of which belong to the Nyingmapa Sect of Mahayana Buddhism. Although no longer officially a Buddhist state, the monasteries and Buddhist clergy are still supported by the state government funds, a traditional that did not succumb to the ravages of transition. As such, Sikkim’s unique cultural heritage and identity remains intact. The king, although shorn off his temporal powers still remains an important religious personage to the Nyingmapa Sect. His title of Chogyal literally means Religion King.
Buddhist festivals are officially celebrated, and the elaborate ceremo

nies and dances in the monasteries deserve more than a momentary glimpse. Beyond cultural themes, Sikkim offers plenty of natural attractions; The Kanchenjunga Range in it’s imposing grandeur provides a spectacular backdrop to the sights and scenes all around. There are virgin forests that support over 4,000 species of plant life and some rare animals as well. There are more than 600 species of orchids, and over 40 varieties of rhododendron. The rare snow leopard, blue sheep, and the musk deer can sometimes be seen while trekking in the mountains around Dzongri.


D A R J E E L I N G

Darjeeling in 1829 enchanted two British officers Lloyd and Grant. By 1835, it had become a British Sanitarium after the king of Sikkim had gifted it to the British as the treaty says, " Out of friendship." Now at a mellow age of the 150 years since it’s establishment, Darjeeling, Queen of hill stations, entices thousands to its fairy tale environs and leaves none discontented.
Driving up from the plains of Bengal into the lofty green hills, one enters a different domain altogether. Brilliant red rhododendrons, charming white magnolias, and majestic pine trees welcome you to the land of Darjeeling. And all the while, the slopes gently flow down in waves and waves of green tea bushes. All around you are lonely vales and dales, rushing streams and gasping gorges, and tiny lakes that reflect the turquoise hue of the sky. An intoxicating experience to be cherished forever.
You have the choice of traveling uphill by motor car or by the famous Toy Train. The train huffs and puffs its way up the steep incline without the aid of cogged wheels that some other hills trains use. Conceived and completed in 1881 by Franklin Prestage, the Lilliputian locomotives haul their cabins through pendant creepers and dark green ferns, bamboo with feathery crests, golden green alpine shrub, and sweeping scenes of the extensive plains way down below; perhaps the most romantic railroad in the world. The train exerts its way up to Ghoom, the highest point of the railway at 2,258 meters, and then glides down to Darjeeling town, first traversing the Batasia Loop, an engineering marvel of the 19th century, from where the visitors get the first enchanting view of Darjeeling town. Elegant, enduring, the Queen Of The Hills stands, her gaze fixed on the shimmering white countenance of Kanchenjunga which looms impressively on the horizon.
Darjeeling perches among the clouds at 2,134 meters above sea level hugging the crests and slopes of a long ridge. The town’s name shrouded in indistinct origins, is now generally accepted as being derived for Dorje Ling meaning Abode Of The Thunderbolt, which was the name of the monastery on the Observatory Hill. Around this hub grew a town, now a bustling beehive of color, culture, beauty and gaiety.

A R O U N D G A N G T O K


Gangtok - 1,676 meters
Gangtok, Sikkim’s capital lies clasped to a forested hill side overlooking Mt. Khangchendzonga, the protecting deity. It served as the royal and administrative headquarters of the former kingdom from 1894 till 1975 and as such still retains a regal character.

Gangtok
The words "gang" and "tok" mean, "the hill made flat." This is the "Ridge," of the hill top which apparently became the choice property for the setting of the Durbar (palace) of the former king including Tsuk-La-Khang, the Chapel Royal and Tashiling, the State Secretariat.
Every knoll extending from the spurs of Gangtok is the setting of a significant site. Above the Ridge and the palace is the Enchey Monastery, and about a hundred meters below is the main bazaar and commercial hub, the town’s only straight flat street which is about half a kilometer long. And further below the main bazaar is Lall Bazaar, an open air vegetable market. Way down further on another saddle lies Deorali and crowning it’s tip is Sikkim’s most revered shrine, the Dodrul Chorten stupa.

On the next ridge above the ridge of Gangtok is the Enchey Monastery. This 200 year old monastery was built on a site blessed by the Great Tantric Master, Lama Drubtap Karpa who was known for his flying prowess. Following this, we proceed to a higher spot called Ganesh Tok where there is a small shrine, and from where one gets a grand view of Gangtok, the surrounding hills, and of course the spectacular Mt. Khangchendzonga with her range. Drive down from Ganesh Tok for a visit to the Cottage Industries Institute now redesignated as the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom. It is a government institution for promoting and keeping alive the traditional arts and crafts. This a good place to buy souvenirs.

Enchey Gompa
Another downhill descent of one kilometer will bring us to the Lall Bazaar, an open air market place where villagers from the neighboring hills come to sell off their produces. Once again, we proceed downhill along the main highway for about two kilometers before stopping at a lower ridge called Deorali. The Research Institute of Tibetology, Dodrul Chorten, and the Orchid Sanctuary are situated within the vicinity of a tranquil spot in Deorali. The museum of the Research Institute of Tibetology has on display some very rare thangkas, statues and icons. 200 meters southwards on a hillock lies the Do Drul Chorten, one of the most important stupas in Sikkim.

Research Institute of Tibetology
The Orchid Sanctuary is a nursery on the slope the same ridge where there are around 200 species of indigenous orchids. This brings us to the end of the morning sightseeing program after which we return to the hotel for lunch.

In the afternoon we take a drive to the Rumtek Monastery situated on another hill opposite Gangtok is 24 kilometers away. Built by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kargyu Sect, after he fled Tibet in the early 1960’s, the Rumtek Monastery is a replica of his former monastery at Tsurphu in Tibet. With it’s traditional architecture, exquisite paintings, magnificent murals, intricate woodwork, treasures of manuscripts and icons, Rumtek is splendid example of Tibetan monastic art.
On our return from Rumtek, and if there is time at hand, we will drop a few kilometers further down to visit the Orchidarium at the Saramsa Garden.

N O R T H S I K K I M

"Ney Mayal Lyang" is what the Lepchas, the original inhabitants of Sikkim, named their motherland. The term connotes heaven and visit to North Sikkim and its abundant beauty will prove that the Lepchas did not exaggerate. North Sikkim is the home of high passes, glaciers, lakes and of course Mt. Sinioulchu, the prettiest of all Himalyan peaks. The view of Mt. Kanchendzonga that the district offers is also one of the best. The land is full of legends, folklore and myths, and the stories start the moment one heads out of Gangtok and hits the North Sikkim highway.
The North Sikkim Highway meanders through the back-cuttings made along the edges of high hills and deep valleys and passes through villages that are flanked by terraced fields on both sides of the road and at a distance of 22 kilometers is the forest grove of Kabi Lungtsok, the spot where the historic swearing of blood brotherhood between the Lepcha and the Bhutia of Sikkim took place. Stone markers were erected to keep the promise alive, and to this day they stand in solitude surrounded by lush greenery.

Phodang
On the way is the first Karma Kagyu monastery of Phodang built in 1740 by the then monarch, Chogyal Namgyal, for the head of the Kagyupa order, the Karmapa. A half hour walk up the hill leads to the ancient and architecturally unique Labrang Monastery suspended in time and manned by monks who look just about as old as the monastery itself. It literally means "the lama’s dwelling" and was built in 1844.

Singhik
Singhik comes next with its magnificent views of the Kanchendzonga. This small wayside hamlet along the North Sikkim Highway is a vantage point for probably the best view of the Kanchenjunga Range.

Chungthang
After having driven through scars of past landslides on the way comes Chungthang situated just above the confluence of Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu, which is starting point of the Teesta River. It is the nodal junction for the two passes of Lachen and Lachung. It is said that the Chungthang valley was blessed by Guru Rimpoche, and one can visit the Holy Guru Lhedo to see the footprints left behind by the Patron Saint. The place, rich in biodiversity with a large variety of orchids and wildlife, is 95 km from Gangtok, 23 km and 29 km ahead of Lachung and Lachen respectively and is predominantly a Lepcha region.

Lachung - 2,600 m
Lachung is a pretty village nestled in an alpine valley of apple orchards. It has emerged as a popular tourist destination with the soaring popularity of the Yumthang valley, which lies 25 km beyond Lachung. The village spreads across both side of the Lachung Chu, and till today retains its unique culture and tradition. The Lachung Monastery on the slope opposite the highway is the locus of all religious functions.

Yumthang - 11,800 ft (3,620 m)
Only recently opened for foreign visitors, Yumthang in north Sikkim is a paradise for nature lovers with a fascinating variety of alpine vegetation and breathtaking scenic grandeur.. Surrounded by a semi-circular ring of mountains, the Yumthang Valley is a place of pleasant alpine scenery. The hot springs of Yumthang which emit sulphurated saline water is said to have healing properties for the human body especially with regards to skin disorders, gout and rheumatism.

Yumthang
Lying midway on the road between Lachung and Yumthang, Shingba abounds with 24 species of rhododendron that also includes the very rare Rhododendron nivium.

Yumesamdong -15,146 ft (4,646 m)
Another hour’s drive beyond Yumthang takes one to Yumesamdong, an area where the sweet fragrance of wild azaelias permeates the air around. Heady, invigorating and exhilarating, but words still fail to explain the experience of being in Yumesamdong.

Lachen - 8,755 ft, (2,686 m)
Lachung’s sister village, Lachen is situated at an altitude of 8,755 ft, (2,686 m) and from the periphery of which rises the pine clad mountains with their snowy peaks and black cliffs.
Thangu - 11,990 ft. (3,678 m)
Some 30 km beyond Lachen is Thangu at an altitude of 11,990 ft. (3,678 m) The months of May and June sees this valley carpeted with colourful alpine flowers, which are replaced by snow from October through March. Chopta Valley (13,065 ft), (4,008 m) just a 20-minute drive from Thangu, this valley provides one of the few accessible places in Sikkim where a person may actually walk on frozen rivers.

No visit to North Sikkim is complete without making it as far as the Gurudongmar Lake. The blessed water of this lake is said to posses the miraculous power of granting children to barren couples. Situated at an altitude of 16, 840 ft, (5,166 m) the lake freezes during the winter except at one spot which the devout believe to be specially blessed. Interestingly, the myth of Gurudongmar is held in belief also by the Sikhs who associate it with the travels of Guru Nanak as by the local Buddhists who believe that Guru Rimpoche blessed the spot.

W E S T S I K K I M

Pemayangtse - 2378 meters
Amidst the clouds, above Gyalshing town is the monastery of Pemayangtse whose monks above others enjoy the privilege of performing all royal ceremonies. Inside the monastery is the fabulous Santhokpaldri, said to have been revealed in a dream and carved single-handedly from wood. Pemayangtse is the premier Nyingmapa monastery of Sikkim, and like all monasteries, it is situated on a hilltop in the midst of a tranquil forest. Nearby, but higher up on another ridge is the Sanga Choeling Monastery also in the midst of a forest, lying secluded and serene.

Pemayangtse Monastery
Situated 20 km beyond Pemayangtse this small and tranquil lake is a pilgrimage spot for the Sikkimese Buddhists. Not a single leaf can be spotted floating around. Legend has it that every single leaf falling into the water of this holy lake is immediately picked up by the bird of the forests.

Dzongri - 4,022 meters
This is Sikkim's premier trekking zone that leads to the Himalaya. Spectacular close up views of Mt. Kanchenjunga (8545 meters) and her subordinate peaks are the highlight on a trek to Dzongri. Tailor made treks can range from as less as 5 days till as long as 2 weeks.

A R O U N D D A R J E E L I N G

Darjeeling in 1829 enchanted two British officers Lloyd and Grant. By 1835, it had become a British Sanitarium after the king of Sikkim had gifted it to the British as the treaty says, " Out of friendship." Now at a mellow age of the 150 years since it’s establishment, Darjeeling, Queen of hill stations, entices thousands to its fairy tale environs and leaves none discontented.
Driving up from the plains of Bengal into the lofty green hills, one enters a different domain altogether. Brilliant red rhododendrons, charming white magnolias, and majestic pine trees welcome you to the land of Darjeeling. And all the while, the slopes gently flow down in waves and waves of green tea bushes. All around you are lonely vales and dales, rushing streams and gasping gorges, and tiny lakes that reflect the turquoise hue of the sky. An intoxicating experience to be cherished forever.
You have the choice of traveling uphill by motor car or by the famous Toy Train. The train huffs and puffs its way up the steep incline without the aid of cogged wheels that some other hills trains use. Conceived and completed in 1881 by Franklin Prestage, the Lilliputian locomotives haul their cabins through pendant creepers and dark green ferns, bamboo with feathery crests, golden green alpine shrub, and sweeping scenes of the extensive plains way down below; perhaps the most romantic railroad in the world. The train exerts its way up to Ghoom, the highest point of the railway at 2,258 meters, and then glides down to Darjeeling town, first traversing the Batasia Loop, an engineering marvel of the 19th century, from where the visitors get the first enchanting view of Darjeeling town. Elegant, enduring, the Queen Of The Hills stands, her gaze fixed on the shimmering white countenance of Kanchenjunga which looms impressively on the horizon.
Darjeeling perches among the clouds at 2,134 meters above sea level hugging the crests and slopes of a long ridge. The town’s name shrouded in indistinct origins, is now generally accepted as being derived for Dorje Ling meaning Abode Of The Thunderbolt, which was the name of the monastery on the Observatory Hill. Around this hub grew a town, now a bustling beehive of color, culture, beauty and gaiety.

Observatory Hill’s presiding deity is now Lord Shiva even though it still retains it’s original Buddhist shrine. Devotees throng the hill all the year round.
The Natural History Museum has a fine exhibition of Himalayan mammals, reptiles, birds insects and butterflies.
The Lloyd Botanical Garden, is named after William Lloyd who donated the site in 1878. A fine collection of alpine flora including many species of orchids can be seen there.
The only center in India for the captive breeding of Snow Leopards, the Himalayan Zoological Park houses a wide variety of animals and birds some of which are Siberian tigers, Himalayan black bears, Red Pandas and the Llama of the Andes.
The Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center was established in 1959 for the rehabilitation of the Tibetan refugees. It is a major center for production of excellent Tibetan crafts such as carpets and woodcarvings.
Situated below the railway station is the Dhirdham Temple. It is a replica of the famous Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu.
Fifteen images of the Maitreya Buddha lie reposed inside the Yiga Choeling Monastery in Ghoom.

Besides forest reserves and a tiny pockets of farmland, tea gardens occupy the major tract of arable land in hills of Darjeeling district. During tea picking and processing seasons sightseeing of Darjeeling includes a visit to a tea garden.
Thirteen kilometers from Darjeeling at an altitude of around 2,500 meters is Tiger Hill from where one can get a dramatic view of the sunrise across the Himalayan panorama. Peaks visible from Tiger Hill include Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Jannu and Kabru.

D A R J E E L I N G D I S T R I C T

Besides forest reserves and a tiny pockets of farmland, tea gardens occupy the major tract of arable land in hills of Darjeeling district. During tea picking and processing seasons sightseeing of Darjeeling includes a visit to a tea garden.
Thirteen kilometers from Darjeeling at an altitude of around 2,500 meters is Tiger Hill from where one can get a dramatic view of the sunrise across the Himalayan panorama. Peaks visible from Tiger Hill include Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Jannu and Kabru.

Mirik
Mirik, a nest in the hills, is one of India’s newest hill resorts. This beautiful town nestles amidst fascinating alpine setting, perpetual sunshine, a canopy of wild flowers and a glittering lake reflecting the magnificence of the eastern Himalayas is 49 Kms from Darjeeling and 52 Kms from Siliguri.
Mirik is ideal for travellers seeking peace and tranquility. The Sumendu lake at the bottom of Mirik’s spur is the key feature of the new hill station. You can take a leisurely stroll or spend your time boating in quiet solitude. Children can enjoy pony riding along the 3.5 Km cobbled path that meanders around the perimeter of the lake.

Kalimpong
Kalimpong is another picturesque scene of old fashioned colonial houses on a ridge 51 kilometres via road east of Darjeeling on the other side of the Teesta Valley. This town was once a flourishing entrepot when trading with Tibet was open, but that ended in the mid-1950’s when China decided to shut it’s borders to India. Kalimpong now rests quiet in a laid back manner retaining all of her charm. With rewarding walks and trekking trails, the fascinating scenic beauty and wonderful flora & fauna, Kalimpong is the ideal place for a quiet holiday.

Sightseeing Around Kalimpong
Kalimpong is famous for its flowers and nurseries. Entire hillsides are blaze with color during the season. There are some flowers all around the year. Not many places in India have so many nurseries as Kalimpong does, due to its ideal climate for plants and flowers. On offer are hundreds of varieties including orchids, gladioli, cacti, as well as ornamental plants.
Places of interest
Trek to Samco Ropeway on the way to Relli River
Durpin Dara hill
Orchid Nurseries
Kalimpong Arts & Craft Centre
Dr. Graham's Homes
Tongsa Gompa
Mangal Dham-Hindu Mandir
Tharpo Choeling Monastery
Zong Dog Paldri Fobrang Monastery
Pedong Monastery
Lava-Lolaygaon-Rishop
Lava is situated at a height of 7200 ft. and is 101 km from Siliguri via Kalimpong. The beauty of this quiet and romantic place lies in its dense forests of birch, pine and juniper and the variety of orchids. While at Lava, enjoys a day’s outing to the fascinating Chhangey Falls (12 km from Lava) with 2 Sunrise points viz. Ghanti Dara and Tiffin Dara, Lava Monastery, Nature Interpretation Centre. If you are a little adventurous you can take a 12 Km trek to Jelep-la and Rache-la pass situated on the tri-junction of Sikkim, Bengal and Bhutan.
Just 24 Km from Lava, at 7012 ft., Lolaygaon offers wondrous views of the peaks of Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Kabru, Jannu, Siniolchu, Talung, Kumbhakarna, Dome Peak, Jupono, Narsing and Simvo.
Rishop at 8500 ft. is a small hamlet at the Sikkim-West Bengal-Bhutan tri-junction and can be reached via a 9 km jeepable road from Lava. You can also get there by a 3 km trek from Lava.
Overlooking Neora Valley National Park and with spectacular 360 degree views of snow clad peaks & passes (Mt. Khangchendzonga, Nathu-la, Jelep-la), Rishop is a real treat for tired eyes and souls.