Sikkim, one of the smallest states of the country is a bouquet of many natural wonders that can help you rewind perfectly in the lap of Sikkim’s exotic nature. Some of the best trekking trails of the country lie in the heart of Sikkim and just sufficient to let your adrenaline go racing. The panoramic vistas consisting of forested vales, shimmering snow White Mountain ranges and colorful Rhododendrons adorning the walking lanes, offer Sikkim with an out-of-this-world charm. It is a perfect destination to commune with nature, forget the stress of your hectic city life and find solace in the midst of virgin nature. When you are in Sikkim there are certain things you could do to make your tour thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling. Here are some of the top things you could do or see when in Sikkim-
Teesta River Rafting
River Teesta is often referred to as Sikkim’s ‘lifeline’ and comes with some very exciting torrents and rapids that avid rafters crave to tame. White water rafting in Teesta will be just enough to give you a sufficient dose of adrenaline rush. The Teesta courses down the rugged slopes and amid the boulders breaking into multiple foamy, frothy rapids, ideal for white water rafting. These rapids range in grade from 2 to 4. The river bank consists in sandy beaches simply ideal for camping purpose.
Don’t Forget the Café Live & Loud
Café Live and Loud is one of the most happening lounge bars of Gangtok. Live rock music, bands, flashy focuses of colorful lights, a fully equipped bar, terrace café and an attractive menu of foods make Café Live and Loud one of the best places to chill out and enjoy the magical nightlife of Sikkim. So, this is one venue you shouldn’t miss at all
Must Explore the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
If you wish to have a sneak peek into the rich Tibetan culture you must visit this Tibetan-style mansion building that houses the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. This splendid museum came into being in the year 1958 and its purpose was to foster the expansion of cultural as well as scholastic research. The ground floor of the museum is stuffed with various amazing artifacts associated with Tibetan culture and Vajrayana Buddhism. Among the artifacts there are Thangkas, Buddhist icons, manuscripts, Kangling, Thopa etc. There is also a library in the institute’s first floor and it preserves many hundreds of year old Buddhist tomes
Must Visit Golden Tips
If you love the aroma of tea, you must visit the Golden Tips boutique style tea store where a vast array of finest quality tea is exhibited and sold. Best quality Darjeeling as well as Sikkimese Temi tea is put up on display for the tea connoisseurs. The teas are sold in attractive packages and before you buy it, you have the privilege to taste it in the store’s café area. In the café area, you can actually taste as many as 48 tea variants
Flower Watching in Sikkim
If you are too fascinated by the beauty of flowers, Sikkim is one place where you could catch glimpse of some very rare and exotic flower species. Seasonal flowers, wild flowers and a variety of Orchids grow in bounties in this region of northeast India and present a mesmerizing riot of colors. If you wish to indulge in flower watching at Sikkim, the best places to visit are White Hall Flower Exhibition Show, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, Deorali Orchid sanctuary.
Must Visit the Famed Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek monastery occupies a significant place in the spiritual map of Sikkim. This monastery was founded around 16th century by 9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje and belongs to Buddhism’s Kagyu school. This monastery exhibits the Buddhist architectural excellence and captivates one with its brilliantly colored and decorated interiors. The chief highlight of this monastery is the golden Stupa encrusted with colorful stones. Apart from the main shrine, there are buildings like nunnery, monastic college, monk quarters etc within the monastery premises. During Saga Dawa, colorful masked Cham dances are organized by the monastery. A visit to Rumtek will definitely allow you to dive into fathomless beauty and ineffable peace
Take a Memorable Yak Ride
Yaks are gentle and hefty beasts that can move in a pretty rough terrain and stand the extremes of weather conditions of high altitude. A yak safari in Sikkim is indeed a must-do activity and will surely give you the thrill of your life. As this gentle, furry beast carries you around slothfully you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery around to your heart’s fill. The yaks are generally decked up with richly colored woolen knitwear, strings and bells that make them look truly adorable. The best yak safari trails of Sikkim are Tsomgo lake region and Dzongri region. The ideal season to enjoy a Sikkim yak safari is between March and May and then again between September and December.
Enjoy the Gangtok Cable Car Ride
If you wish to catch a bird’s eye view of Gangtok and its panoramic landscape from a compelling height, its best for you to take the Gangtok cable car ride. It is a 1km ropeway journey that commences from Deorali bazaar and takes you to Tashiling point within 7 minutes only. Midway there is another intermediate terminal station; the Nam Nang terminal. The ropeway route takes you through an elevation of 3500m. The ropeway timings are from 8.00am in the morning to 4.30pm in the evening. A view of the Kanchenjunga from the ropeway cable car is a sight you’ll perhaps cherish all through your life.
Bird Watching at Kewzing
Kewzing is no doubt a bird watcher’s paradise. The dense woods of Kewzing are home to some very exotic bird species. A sight of these rare birds is indeed a veritable treat for any passionate bird watcher. Some of these birds are native to the region of Sikkim and cannot be seen anywhere else in the whole of the world. To name a few, Satyr Tragopan, Streaked Spiderhunter, Sultan tit, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Puff throated babbler are some of the rare birds of Kewzing. So, when you are heading towards Kewzing, make sure to carry your binocular, your best camera and of course take a bird guide along with you to help you with an in-depth understanding of the various species.
Go on the Goecha La Trek
Goecha La Trek stands out as one of Sikkim’s most fascinating as well as challenging trekking expeditions. Trekking across the splendid North east Himalayan landscapes, you would get to test your endurance each moment. The trek commences from Yuksom base camp and makes you cover a distance of about 90kms until you reach up to a total height of 16, 000ft. As you trek your way to Goecha La, he get to witness some breath-taking marvels of nature such as the colorful Rhododendron forests of Tshoka, the emerald, sprawling meadows of Thangsing and Dzongri, the picturesque, dense woods of Sachen, the silvery strip of cascading Kokchurung and the glittering, sapphire blue Samiti lake. Also, as you walk the trails of Goecha La, the sky scrapping Pandim and Kunchenjungha mountain peaks would inspire your awe every minute. The ideal time to set out on this trek is between months April and June. The months of October-November too would be suitable enough. However, make sure to take a local guide along with you.
Visit the Lush Green Temi Tea Gardens
A visit to the Temi tea gardens of south Sikkim will refresh you thoroughly due to the ethereal ambient beauty of nature and the rich aroma of freshly processed tea. This is the only tea garden in Sikkim and is about 18kms away from Ravangla. The tea estate grows the best quality organically processed tea in the whole of the globe and features hill slopes carpeted with verdant, green manicured tea bushes. The Temi tea gardens offer visitors with a 360 degree compelling view of the majestic Kanchenjunga and the River Teesta. As you walk through the meandering lanes of the tea estate, you’ll indeed feel at complete peace with your own self.
MG Road Shopping
MG Road of Gangtok is a crowded shopping place where the various street stalls exhibit a plethora of many fascinating items and your tour of Sikkim in fact remains incomplete if you haven’t shopped from the bustling MG Road stalls. The items to lookout for include Tibetan handicrafts, Tibetan festive costumes, woolens and woven blankets, Feng Shui artifacts, typical Sikkimese crockery and the like. However, make sure to bargain as much as you can as vendors will generally inflate the prices like anything
Make an Excursion to Nathula Pass
Making an excursion to Nathula Pass will not only introduce you to some heavenly Himalayan vistas but will also give the rush of adrenaline you always craved to experience. Nathula pass perched at an altitude of 14, 140ft ranks as the highest of all motor-able passes in the whole of the world. An excursion to Nathula pass takes you to the historic Indo-China border and also introduces you to the ancient silk trading route between India and China. As you embark on the Nathula pass excursion from Gangtok, the meandering Himalayan route takes you past stunning landscapes studded with the beautiful, azure Tsomgo Lake and the legendary Baba Harbhajan Singh temple. You could even choose to beat the exhaustion of the journey by sipping from a cup of hot fuming tea and freshly prepared snacks served at the military canteen at Indo-China border.
Make an Excursion to Valley of Flowers
Valley of Flowers is the name given to Yumthang valley cradled at an altitude of 3500 meters above the sea level. This beautiful vale consists of undulating green meadows studded with colorful Alpine flowers. Many rare flower species can be witnessed here and they present a true riot of colors that would indeed appeal to you visually as well as aesthetically. A visit to the valley of flowers in north Sikkim will indeed turn out to be an experience you would cherish all through your life. So, make it a point to visit this exotic grassland of heavenly beauty.
Caving in Sikkim
Caving in Sikkim is an adventure you shouldn’t miss at all. Apart from being an adventure trip, visiting the caves is also looked upon as a pilgrimage journey as these caves are considered extremely holy by the natives of Sikkim. The four most visit-able caves of Sikkim include Lha-ri-nying phu, Pephu, Kahdosangphu and Dechhenphu. A visit to these holy caves gives you an opportunity to explore the unique interiors of a dimly lit Himalayan cave and also pay your tribute to the enshrined deity. The ideal time for caving in Sikkim is around months February-March and October-November.
Rinchenpong Leisure Walk
Rinchenpong leisure walk will indeed be a perfect rejuvenating experience for any tourist. This lush green small hamlet of west Sikkim comes with the most suitable trails for an ideal leisure walk. Densely forested trails, tranquil ambiance, ample greenery and freshness of air, crimson sun beams stealing their way in flickers through the dense forested canopies and most importantly the slumberous lifestyle of the village are all just enough to cast a spell on you. So, make sure to visit Rinchenpong and unwind yourself completely through such leisure walks
Explore the Local Sikkimese Lifestyle
To understand the true essence of any new place, you need to mingle with the locals of that place. If you wish to have a sneak peek into the authentic Sikkimese lifestyle and culture, its best for you to visit the Lepcha tribal villages and reside with them instead of staying in a hotel. There are many Lepcha home-stays available around the Dzongu region. These home-stays come with a homely setup and offer you with a glimpse of the simple, Tribal lifestyle of the natives of Sikkim. Walking along the local streets, idling away your time by simply gazing at nature, visiting the local markets and sampling the local home-cooked Sikkimese cuisine plus home prepared indigenous alcoholic beverages are some of the major options you should try out while putting up at Sikkimese home-stay.
Try Out the Adventure of Paragliding
While at Sikkim paragliding is an adventure you shouldn’t miss at all. It will give you the thrill of your life as you glide across the mesmerizing Himalayan landscape. Soar high up in the sky on your glider’s wings and gawk at the mesmerizing views of the hill town below. This gravity defying gliding sport may however be best enjoy when the sky is clear and bright and temperatures are moderate. Both short haul as well as long haul gliding options are available for you to choose from. The short hauls cover a time span of about 20 minutes while the long hauls continue for an hour. Also, you have the option of choosing Tandem flights where you would be accompanied by a certified pilot who guides you through your paragliding endeavor.
Don’t Forget to Taste the Sikkimese Tongba
Tongba is an indigenous drink of Sikkim and is prepared in almost every Sikkimese household. It is a common practice in Sikkim to welcome guests with a tumbler of Tongba as it is considered a gesture of showing respect. This indigenous Sikkimese alcoholic beverage is prepared through an admixture of fermented millets and boiling water and is usually stored as well as served in sturdy bamboo tumblers. Many of the local Sikkim restaurants serve Tongba to tourists on demand and tasting this local drink is indeed one activity you shouldn’t miss while you are at Sikkim
Relish the Native Cuisine of Sikkim
If you are a foodie by heart you would definitely want to taste the authentic native cuisine of Sikkim. Yes, go ahead and do it as it would indeed be a palate pampering experience for you as you would get to taste some really superb indo-Tibetan delicacies smothered in variety of sauces and fresh, aromatic, indigenous spices. The street food stalls, Dhabas and restaurants of Sikkim all sell traditional Sikkimese food items like Gundruk ka Jhol, Sisnoo, pork curry, fermented Soya beans, Momos, Sikkimese lentil soup and chutney, Thukpa, Gyathuk etc. So, make sure to pamper your taste buds with these foods. Gupta restaurant, Taste of Tibet, Gangtok are some of the most reputed eating outlets of Sikkim. However, foodies who wish to get an exotic and classy dining experience should definitely make their way to restaurant 9’INE. Here the dining culture and hospitality complement well the high quality of food served to the visitors.
Gangtok-Rangpo Mountain Biking
If you have a passionate biker within you, don’t forget to try the Gangtok-Rangpo mountain biking trail of Sikkim. As you bike your way through the dramatic and pictorial landscapes, the intriguing biking trail try your tenacity every minute while you get the marvelous opportunity to savor the ethereal beauty of nature around and also to catch a glimpse of the traditional Sikkimese lifestyle of the locals. You swish past many grandiose views of countryside, towering mountain peaks, landscapes enriched with unique fauna and flora as you bike your way ahead. The ideal time to set out on this mountain biking adventure is around months April-May and then again around September-October. Both solo as well as group biking can be practiced on this route.
