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A Rendezvous With
Sikkim ? |
Located
in the eastern Himalayas, Sikkim is surrounded by Tibet in the north, West
Bengal in the south, Tibet and Bhutan in the east and Nepal in the west. The
state is at the foot of Mt. Kanchenjunga ( 8534 m), the third highest peak
in world. The locals worship the mountain as a protective deity. The
elevation of the state ranges from 300 to over 8540 m above sea level. A
journey to Sikkim awakens the senses and discovers the pristine and mystic
beauty of the land. The journey itself is fascinating-a continuum of sights,
sounds, and feelings. It is a state cloaked in the mystery of remoteness,
well perched in the hills in a horseshoe formation, with mountains varying
in altitude and cut off from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
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Things You Can Do
in Sikkim ? |
» Sightseeing : Sikkim is a beautiful
Himalayan state cradled by the snow lapped Himalayan mountain ranges. The
natural surroundings, the inviting people, the peaceful monasteries, the
wildlife, the valleys, the rivers, the lakes adds to the beauty of this
captivating land perched high amidst the Himalayas mountains ranges. The
state is also close to Nepal and Bhutan.
» Shopping : Knotted woolen carpets with the
traditional motifs, wood carvings, Lepcha handloom in traditional designs
and rich colors, leather jackets and handbags, articles of homemade paper,
Thanka (religious scroll paintings), exquisitely-carved 'Chokste', and
Sikkimese Dragon Jewelery, inspired by an age old culture, are some of
things one can look forward to buy in Sikkim.
» Eating Out : The food found is typical north
eastern in style. Momos and Thukpa/Gya-thuk (a typical Tibetan style noodles
in soup) are very common. The usual food is very similar to the one taken by
the Northeast Indians, though it has its own style of making and carry its
own unique taste.
» Adventure Sport : Adventure sports like Trekking,
Rafting, Wildlife Safaris, Mountaineering, Bungy Jumping, Hot Air
Ballooning, Rock Climbing, Para Gliding are very popular among tourists
coming to Sikkim. Bird Watching is another thing which you will love doing
here.
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Sightseeing in
Sikkim ? |
» Gangtok : Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim
has emerged into the mainstream of the Tourism Industry, with large number
of tourists visiting this little Himalayan state every year. Gangtok has
developed into a cosmopolitan flavour where old-world charm and hospitality
exist along with the Internet Age.
» Monasteries : At Sikkim sighting the monasteries
are a must, as they are the most captivating of all the attractions in
Sikkim. There are numerous ancient and modern monasteries, which are places
worth visiting. The Rumtek Monastery, Pemayangtse Monastery, Enchey
Monastery, Phensang Monastery, Phodang Monastery, Tashiding Monastery are
some of the monasteries which you should not miss during your Sikkim visit.
» Yumthang Valley : Yumthang is a valley in the high
reaches of Himalayas also known as the valley of flowers. The Yumthang
valley is situated at an altitude of 1180 ft ( 35564 m) with a close
proximity of Tibet. Yumthang is a beautiful destination, covered with
Rhododendron and Primula flowers.
»
Yuksam : This was the first capital of Sikkim, where according to the
historical records, the first Chogyal of the Kingdom of Sikkim was
consecrated in 1641 A.D. by three learned lamas. The evidence of the
consecration ceremony is still intact at Norbugang Chorten in the form of
stone seats and a foot-print of the Head Lama on a stone. Since the history
of the state began from this place, this area now considered sacred by the
people of Sikkim
» Orchid Sanctuary : The Orchid Sanctuary in Gangtok
is famous for its rare and extensive collection of orchids. The sanctuary's
collection also varies depending on the seasons. This wide spread orchid
sanctuary has almost 454 species of orchid found in Sikkim. This is an
interesting and informative place to visit especially for botanists and
nature lovers
» Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology : The
Institute is at a walkable distance from the main town of Gangtok. The
building accommodating the Institute is an example of Tibetan architecture.
This world renowned institute was established to promote research on the
language and traditions of Tibet as well as the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
There are about 30 thousand volumes, mostly xylographs translations of the
original teachings of the Lord Buddha, and treatises by distinguished
Buddhist scholars from different parts of the world. The museum at the
Institute consists of rare collection of antiques like statues, coins and
thangkas which are scrolls with paintings on them.
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Excursion from
Sikkim ? |
Sikkim is adjacent to the state of west Bengal which offers some
interesting places for the tourists to visit. The various places included
here are Siliguri, Darjeeling, Jhalapada, Kalimpong and Mirik. While you are
in Sikkim, you can include these places in your tour and be rest assured
that your trip will be worth all your time that you will spend there.
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Most Ideal Time to
Visit Sikkim ? |
In Sikkim, the climate ranges from sub-tropical in the south to
tundra in the northern parts. However, the inhabited regions, enjoy a
temperate climate, where temperatures rarely exceed 28°C (82°F) in
summer or dropping below 0°C (32°F) in winter. The state enjoys
five seasons namely winter, summer, spring, and autumn, and a monsoon season
between June and September. 18°C (64°F) is the average annual
temperature for most of Sikkim which receives regular snowfall. The snow
line is around 6,000 meters (19,600 feet). In the northern region, during
winters, temperatures drop below -40 °C in winter.
March to August is the best time to visit this Himalayan state.
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Getting There ? |
» By Air : The nearest airport from Gangtok,
the capital of Sikkim, is in the town Bagdogra ( West Bengal) at a distance
of 124 kms connects it to Kolkata and Delhi by daily flights. Bagdogra also
receives flights from Guwahati and Patna..
» By Rail : The nearest railway stations from
Gangtok are New Jalpaiguri (125 kms) and Siliguri (144kms) connected to
Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and other important cities in India.
» By Road : Gangtok is connected by road to
Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri. The Sikkim Nationalized Transport runs a
regular bus service. Siliguri is the hub for the picturesque drive along the
Teesta River to Gangtok, on NH31A. Owning the road in tour own vehicle is
the best ay to discover Sikkim.
» Private Vehicles : You can contact us for this, as
we are well established with an extensive number of cars and coaches
(ranging from luxury to budget and between) for the tourists from all over.
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Anchoring in Sikkim
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Sikkim
is a destination of its kind which is secluded from rest of the nation and
is famous for its pristine locations, natural beauty and breathtaking views.
People from all across the world come here to spend time amidst its rare
charm and indulge in its various adventure sports. If you love peaceful and
quiet environment then Sikkim is the right place to be in.
The climatic conditions here varies from region to region and during
winters some of the regions experience very low temperature and at some
places temperature drops below 0 degree C and in northern areas it may fall
down to -40 degree C. It is therefore advisable that you carry proper
clothing specially heavy woolens during the winters.
You can also participate in the various adventure sports here by observing
necessary precautions.
Sikkim is reachable via air, rails and roads and to move around one
requires public transport. There are tourist taxis available for visitors to
move around the place with comfort. In addition to this we are here with our
fleet of cars and coaches, which are well equipped to make your journey
excellent. Book with us as soon as you decide to visit the state and be rest
assured for full return for your money.
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Accommodations ? |
Sikkim has a lot of options as far as accommodation is concerned.
The accommodations available are good enough to make your stay comfortable.
Hotel Tashi Delek
Hotel Tibet
Norbu Ghang Resort
sikkim
india
