Gangtok

Gangtok (population 50,000 and elevation 1,480 m) is the capital of Sikkim. It is a charming, laid-back town straddling a ridge with houses spilling down the hillside.

The places to visit are Enchey Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist lamasery; Institute of Tibetology which houses rare statues, manuscripts, rituals objects and thanka paintings; Do-Drul Chorten, an impressive stupa ringed by prayer wheels; Government Institute of Cottage Industries for fine souvenirs like choktse (carved low tables), thanka paintings and carpets; and the exotic market of Lal Bazar.

Around Sikkim

Rumtek Monastery, a 24 km drive from Gangtok, is the seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa Lama. The sacred Tsomgo Lake (elevation 3,780 m) is situated 38 km to the east of Gangtok amidst picturesque mountains. The famed Nathula Pass 9 4,392 m) on the old caravan trail to Tibet is 20 km further on from Tsomgo Lake.

In north Sikkim, Yumthang (3,782 m) is a mesmerizing scene with yaks grazing on flower-carpeted meadows against a backdrop of towering peaks. The 134 km drive from Gangtok to Yumthang takes you through Kabi Longstok, where Sikkimese history began in the 13th century with the signing of the treaty of brotherhood between Lepcha and Tibetan chiefs; Phodong Monastery, one of the six monasteries in Sikkim; Chungthang (1,586 m), a sacred place blessed by Guru Rimpoche; and Lachung 9 2,684 m), an idyllic valley surrounded by mist-shrouded monasteries.

In Sikkim, Pemayangtse Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist lamasery of the Nyingmapa Order, is a 112-km drive from Gangtok; Sangacholing Monastery, built in 1697, is one of the oldest in the state; Khecheopalri Lake is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists; Yuksum, is Sikkim’s original capital; and Tashiding Monastery, built in 1717, is famed for its stupa.

In south Sikkim, Namchi, a 78 km drive from Gangtok, offers panoramic vistas of snow peaks; Tendong Hill (2,623 m) and Menam Hill (3,141 m) provide unmatched views extending from the Himalaya to the plains of Bengal; and Temi Tea Garden is an opportunity to see how the atomic leaves are grown and processed.

Lachung Yumthang

About 115 km to the north of Gangtok in the picturesque Lachung Valley in a beautiful natural setting with towering hills and snowy peaks surrounding it on all sides, situated at an altitude of 3,500 m., you will be overwhelmed by the peace and quiet found here.

Your adventure begins the moment you set out on the seven-hour journey to Lachung. The winding road passes through Kabi Longstok where the blood brotherhood treaty between Lepcha and Tibetan chiefs was signed in the 13th century, the magnificent Naga and Bhim Nala waterfalls, and the Holy Rock at Chumthang blessed by Guru Rimpoche.

The reason for halting at Lachung for the night is it is on the way to Yumthang – a veritable paradise with its alpine scenery, grazing yaks and hot springs.

While returning from Yumthang in the afternoon, the tour takes you to Lachung Monastery and the Cottage Industry.

Pemayangtse Monastery

Pemayangtse Monastery (about 118 km. From Gangtok), in West Sikkim is held in the highest regard. It is believed that after the Dubdi Monastery, three more were constructed over spots consecrated by Guru Rinpoche in West Sikkim. These are the ones at Tashiding, Pemayangtse and Sangachoeling.

While the monasteries at Tashiding and Sangachoeling are open to all monks, Pemayangtse is special because it is meant only for “ta-sang” lamas (pure monks). Believed to have been conceptualized and designed by the pioneer of Buddhism in Sikkim, Lhatsun Chhembo, Pemayangtse soon became the nucleus of monasteries in Sikkim. To date, it is referred to as the “Premier Monastery” of the state.

While designing the monastery, Lhatsun Chhembo is believed to have described “Pure Monks’ thus; monks of pure Tibetan race, celibate and without any physical deformities. To the present day, it is only monks from Pemayangtse who can enjoy the title ‘ta-sang”. The monasteries importance grew with the time and reached its peak when only monks from the monastery could anoint the reigning sovereign of the land with holy water.

The Pemayangtse monastery draws religious sustenance from the Mindoling monastery in central Tibet. About a century ago, batches of monks from Pemayangtse used to be sent to Mindoling for instructions in strict discipline and rites.

Pemayangtse monastery has a three storied structure filled with wall paintings and sculpture and contains numerous antique idols and objects of worship. The most outstanding feature of the monastery, however, is seven tiered, painted wooden sculpture on the top floor that portrays the Mahaguru’s Heavenly Palace “Santopalri” which was completed single handedly by the late Dungzin Rimpoche in a span of five years.

The annual chaam (religious dance) is held in February every year. Dressed in costumes of rare magnificence, the lamas represent Mahakala and Guru Drag-dmar.

North Sikkim

Ney Mayal Lyang is what the Lepchas, the original inhabitants of Sikkim, named their motherland. The term connotes heaven and the Lepchas, perhaps one of the few hill tribes to boast highly developed linguistic history, were not being extravagant with words when they named Sikkim so. It takes but a visit to North Sikkim and its abundant beauty quickly dispels any doubts one might have of the etymological skills of the Lepchas. Few places can equal North Sikkim’s natural and scenic grandeur.

North Sikkim is the home of high passes, glaciers, lakes and of course, Mt. Siniolchu, perhaps the prettiest of all Himalayan peaks. The view of Mt. Kanchenjunga that the district offers is also one of the best. It would not be a contradiction to say that this region of Sikkim is a “home” for those smitten by wanderlust.  Indeed, North Sikkim is a place that arouses one’s insatiability for explorations – both internal and external. It is just five hours journey from Gangtok – the capital of Sikkim.

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.

Barely 15 minutes out of the capital city and comes to the first halt. The road curves into Tashi View Point from where a superb view of the 8,586 mt. Kanchenjunga as well as a host of other virgin 6,000 m peaks can be taken in. The views are just primers; however, of what North Sikkim has an offer. One can also peek into North Sikkim from here as Phodong and Labrang monasteries can be seen.

The highway meanders through villages and flanked by fields until it hits the forest grove of Kabi Longstok, the place that saw the historic swearing of blood brotherhood between the Lepchas and the Bhutias of Sikkim, an event which underlines ethos of even present day Sikkim. Stone markers were erected to keep the promise alive and stand to this day.

The alpine tinge of Kabi Longstok has barely worn off and you are already gaping at the intricate murals of the Karma Kagya Monastery of Phodong built in 1740 by the then monarch, Chogyal gyurmed Namgyal, for the head of the Karma Kagyu order, the Karmapa. It is also the first Kagyupa monastery to be set up in Sikkim.

Singhik comes next with its promise of one of the most glorious views of Kanchenjunga. For those with time, a half-hour walk uphill takes one to the ancient Labrang monastery suspended in time and manned by monks who look just about as old as the monastery itself. The monastery is also unique in the sense that unlike most monasteries that were razed by fires some time or the other, this one still remains the original structure. Apart from its unique architecture, it is also one of the premier monasteries of Sikkim. Its name literally means “the lamas’ dwelling”. It was built in 1844.

Driving through the North Sikkim district headquarters at Mangan, and having motored through the scars of past landslides on the highway, one arrives at Chungthang straddling the confluence of the Lachen and Lachung rivers. This small town is full of legends. One such legend identifies this to the place from where the word Demozong (the Hidden Valley of Rice as Sikkim is known) first originated. Barely 100 km from Gangtok, has Chungthang still preserved the aura of different time altogether, a conception helped along by the miraculous rock here. Legends hold that Guru Padmasambhav rested on the rock while flying across to Tibet. It displays foot imprints of various animals and birds. A groove in the rock is always filled with spring water and a small patch of land nearby grows paddy every year. The nature defying miracles is believed by locals to be the blessings of Guru Padmasambhav who sprinkled a handful of grain on the spot which has sprouted paddy ever since.

It is evening by the time one arrives at Lachung, one of the most exquisite valleys, resplendent in its crown of snow-capped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls and sparkling streams. Situated at a height of 2,684 m, Lachung has been described as “the most picturesque village in Sikkim” by none other than Joseph Dalton Hooker in his definitive, The Himalayan Journal (1855).

Lachung also provides the base for an exploration of Yumthang (elevation 3,782 m). Very close to the Tibetan border, Yumthang is that unique place where the tree-line ends, but rhododendrons still bloom covering the whole area in a surreal hue.

It also offers view of a stunning array of peaks with Pauhunri and Shundu Tsenpa proving the most majestic. Yumthang is also known for its hot spring where travel sores can be soothed. Depending on what time of the year you go there, you also get to encounter snow in this valley.

Another hour’s drive beyond Yumthang takes one to Yumesamdong (4,660 m), an area where the sweet fragrance of ezilia (a plant used as incense by the locals) permeates the air. Heady, invigorating and exhilarating, but words still fail to explain the experience of being at Yumesamdong.

Lachung’s sister village, Lachen is only recent introduction to tourism. Situated at an altitude of 2,694 m, Lachen stands on a grassy and bush flat from the periphery of which rises the pine clad mountains with their snowy peaks and black cliffs. The village comprises of barely 150 houses, earlier inhabited only during winters by their owners who spend the summer on the alpine pastures along the Tibet border tending to their yaks.

Some 30 km beyond Lachen lays Thangu at an altitude of 3,960 m. The months of May and June see this valley carpeted with colourful alpine flowers which are replaced by snow from October through March.

Wonder never ceases in North Sikkim with each turn, each valley and each rivulet trying to outdo other in the scenic beauty that it offers. Few places come close to the virgin appeal of Chopta Valley (4,020 m.). Just a 20 minutes drive from Thangu, this valley provides one of the few accessible places in Sikkim where a visitor can actually walk over frozen rivers. The riot of colours during spring belies this aspect through.

No visit to the North Sikkim is complete without a visit to the Gurudongmar Lake.The blessed water of this lake is believed to posses the miraculous power of granting children to couples who don’t have any. Situated at an altitude of 5,180 m, the lake freezes during the winter expect at one spot which the devout believe to be specially blessed. Interestingly, the myth of Gurudongmar is believed as reverently by the Sikhs who associate it with travels of Guru Nanak as by the local Buddhist who believe Guru Rimpoche blessed the spot.

North Sikkim has it all – beauty, contrasts, mountains, lakes, frozen rivers, warm people and complete solitude. Little wonder it makes for the perfect from the humdrum and monotony of daily existence.

Kanchenjunga - Sikkim guardian deity

The “Crowning Jewel” of the 112 km long Sikkim – Nepal border, Mt. Kanchenjunga, is one such peak. Floating above the clouds, halfway up the sky, this peak stands the third tallest at 8,586 m.

Revered by the Sikkimese as the abode of guardian deity, the etymology of “Khang – chen – dzonga”, as the Sikkimese know it, means “the sore house of five treasures”.

The power and immutability, and the solitude and beauty that is Kanchenjunga have drawn adventurers since the 1890s. The fact that the mountain could only be scaled for the first time in 1955 is proof of both the resoluteness of the climbers and resilience of the peak itself.

K2 might be known as the “killer mountain”, but climbers acknowledge that Kanchenjunga is the most “technically challenging” of all Himalayan peaks.

When Charles Evans started out for the first successful ascent of Kanchenjunga in 1955, he was allowed to proceed only after he gave a “personal undertaking” to the Chogyal (king) of Sikkim that “in deference to the religious significance attached to the peak, the highest point on it would remain untrodden”. This has been a practice, at least from the Sikkimese side, ever since.

Buddhist legends explain that the peak is the abode of Namtse Dungmar, the “guardian of the north” and “the god of riches”. It is on Kanchenjunga and its five subsidiary peaks that he is believed to have hidden the five treasures (thus explaining the etymology of its name) of gold, silver, gems, grains and holy books. Other legends believe Mt. Kanchenjunga to be the residence of five divine brothers.

Whatever the beliefs, Sikkim’s Buddhists believe that the mountain god played an active role in introducing Buddhism into this former kingdom. The biography of Lhatsun Chembo, the chief propagator of Buddhism in Sikkim, states that divine visions sent by the mountain god guided him to Demajong (the hidden valley of rice), as Sikkim is referred to by the locals. Upon reaching this blessed place, the priest performed elaborate thanksgiving rites which are observed to this day as Pang Lhabsol, a major Sikkimese festival where the mountain god is invoked and prayed upon to continue “protecting” Sikkim.

Perhaps the best (and most elaborately colorful) description of the mountain is found in the works of a divine finder of hidden treasures, Terton Sherab Mebar. Kanchenjunga is compared to a king seated on his throne draped by white silks. The five peaks, clad in eternal snow, resemble a crown, and the seven lakes of crystal clear water lying in front of the mountain are compared to bowls containing water offering to the Buddha. There are white cliffs to the right and left, which look like lions romping up towards the sky, their necks adorned with vultures’ nests.

The Lepchas of Sikkim, who arrived here even before Bhutias, looked up at Kanchenjunga with equal reverence. Following an animistic, nature-based religion, the Lepchas would place a stone, Longstock, in every act of venerating, worshipping and invoking their gods. The “original big stone” for them was Kanchenjunga. Even their legend sees Kanchenjunga and its five peaks as five brothers. The fact that the peak was special can be gleaned also from the fact that Lepcha burials had the body sitting upright and facing Kanchenjunga.

The peak, for the Sikkimese, is the ever watchful deity, involved in every decision, action and direction that its protectorate has taken. The mountain was invoked and made the witness to the blood-brotherhood sworn between the Lepcha chief, The-kong Tek, and the Bhutia leader, Khye-Bumsa. Statewide prayers are conducted each time Sikkim suffers the warth of nature in the form of landslide or drought.

Whether the peak is really the abode of Sikkim’s guardian deity or not is a matter of belief; what is proven fact, however, is that Kanchenjunga makes Sikkim what it is – a biological hot-spot and also the “place of bountiful” (another transliteration of its other name, Demajong).

Kanchenjunga is one of those rare Himalayan peaks which is large enough, not only have its own glaciers and vassal peaks, but also one independent enough to have its own weather system. Kanchenjunga catches the full force of the southwest monsoon rising from the Bay of Bengal. Given its positioning, the mountain not only receives the highest precipitation of snow in all of the Himalaya, but by breaking the force of monsoon, also protects the main watershed to the north from its onslaught. The result is an extraordinary variation of scenery and climate within a small area (the Sikkim horseshoe measures all but 7,000 sq km which packs in flora and fauna from the tropical to the alpine to the cold desert).

While entering range that stretches across the Sikkim-Nepal border inspires a mixture of excitement and desire, it is Kanchenjunga that is centerpiece. The vision of its majesty on a clear day with a spiff of cloud spiraling skyward from the peak lording over all else, as if supported by a plinth of purple foothills, is a sight that defies all description. What is more, the peak appears unique from every vantage point that offers an unobstructed view.

Tsomgo - Picturesque Lake

Lake Tsomgo (pronounced changu), just 38 km north-east of Gangtok, is where everybody heads for that incredible experience. The picturesque lake is frozen during winter, and doesn’t break until mid-May. But even without the snow, a trip to the lake is well worth it. Tsomgo distinguished not only for its stunning alpine scenery, but also for the legends associated with it.

Tsomgo is a restricted area, lying as it does just 20 km from the sensitive Nathula Pass on the border between India and China. A protected Area Permit issued by Sikkim Tourism Department is, therefore, required to go there.

As our sturdy jeep slowly begins climbing out of Gangtok, it soon dawns to us that the trip is not just getting from the points A to B. Rising above the mists, the road passes through towering green hills, rushing mountain streams and some of the most scenic waterfalls that cascade hundreds of feet below in plumes of white.

Some 26 km from Gangtok lies the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, at an altitude of 3,780 m. Spread over 4 sq km, it is home to the red panda as well as many exotic birds, including the blue whistling thrush, redstart, forktail and the black eagle. The sanctuary is especially rich in rhododendrons, with a breathtaking variety blooming from May to August.

Another 12 km drive and we are in Tsomgo. Nestled at an incredible height of 3,780 m, the lake measures about a kilometer long and is about 15 m deep. Tsomgo in the Bhutia language literally means “source”. They say the lake collects water from the melting snow of the surrounding mountains which then flows downhill to form the Lungtze Chu River.

Around the picturesque Tsomgo Lake is woven a rich legend. Folklore has it that the lake was initially at Laten, several km away from its present location. One night, an old woman from Tsomgo had a dream that forewarned the lake at Laten was shifting. As soon she woke up, she went to alert two other herder neighbours. But they paid no heed.

Sensing danger, the old woman milked her dri (female yak), poured the milk on the ground to seek good luck and then decamped for a place called Lhachungkar. As she was leaving, she saw a silver haired woman with fair complexion enter Tsomgo, and immediately the place turned into a lake. In it, the two obstinate herders drowned together with their herd of yaks.

The lake is held very sac red by the local inhabitants. On the lakeside is a small trample of Lord Shiva. Although the lake abounds in trout, nobody goes fishing here. In times gone by, lamas (Buddhist monks) are said to have foretold the future by observing the color of the lake’s water. If the water had a dark tinge, it foreshadowed a year of trouble and unrest in the state.

Up the slippery slope we scrambled, tugging at shrubs and rhododendron branches for support. Finally, after what seemed like hours, we reached the top. A solitary caravanserai stood beside a stone paved mule track in testimony that the ancient caravan route to Lhasa, Tibet passed through here. Indeed Tsomgo lies on the ancient trade route between Gangtok and Nathula Pass, and until 1962, merchants and their mules used to plod up and down their track ferrying commerce to and from Lhasa over the 4,400 m high pass.

As we stood watching, the oval shaped lake below us looked simply mesmerizing in the cold, quiet surroundings. Behind us, the vast expense of Tibet stretches miles on-end on the other side of the barbed wares that demarcate the two territories.

Sikkim - An Adventure Odyssey

The perfect destination for vacationers in quest of enchantment, tranquility or adventure. A jewel embedded in snow clad mountains, Sikkim is a primeval land that is unlike anywhere else. Where one dreamy day blends into the next. A land so rich in culture, tradition and steeped in religion.

ADVENTURE BOUND !
You can wander up lush green mountain trails, in the very footsteps of those early travellers. Marvel at the stupas, monasteries and temples. Acquaint yourself with a culture that is at once bizarre and fascinating. With its endless intriguing rituals and festivals and festivities. Sikkim offers you a holiday that is more than a dream - a voyage of adventure and discovery.

Mountaineering in Sikkim

The first European to explore the Kanchendzonga area was Douglas W. Fresfield who reached its abse in 1899 from the Green Lake Basin area. A German expedition led by Paul Bauer made the first attempt to reach the summit in 1929 followed by another attempt in 1931 and reached an altitude of 26,000 ft. In 1955 Charles Evans conquered Kanchendzonga a few feet below the summit from the Nepal side. In 1977 an expedition led by Major Prem Chand reached a few feet below the summit. In 1987 an Assam Rifles expedition attempted the peak. In 1991 an Indo Japanese expedition led by Hukam Singh and Yoshio Ogata conquered the peak.

The Kabru was first climbed in 1935 by a British C. R. Cooke. The Pyramid Peak was first conquered in 1949 by a Swiss R. Dittert. A British A. M. Kallas climbed the Paunhri in 1911. The summit of Siniolchu was first reached by a German in 1936. It was later again climbed by the famous Sikkimese Everester Sonam Gyatso. Pandim was climbed in 1993 by a team from the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute. Rathong was conquered by an Indian expedition in 1964.

River Rafting

River rafting enthusiasts have two rivers the Teesta and Rangit gushing through paradisiacal country. The Teesta experience takes you rafting from Makha down to Sirwani and Sirwani to Rangpo. The Rangit expedition is from Sikip to Nayabazar to Melli. Beginners as well as experienced adventurers can seek the assistance of the travel agents for arranging river rafting trips.

Teesta Experience: Makha - Sirwani - Bardang – Rongpo
Rangeet Experience: Sikip - Jorethang - Majitar – Melli

Kayaking

Kayaking is undertaken on the Teesta and is arranged for special groups. Some experience in kayaking is required.

Yak Safari

A safari with a difference; Yak Safari is organized from Dzongri onwards by travel agencies on prior booking. Its an unforgettable experience.

Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking is another adventure that has been recently introduced in Sikkim. Most of the roads in Sikkim are negotiable by mountain bikes. This sport is definitely poised to become popular in Sikkim in the near future. This sport is being promoted in most parts of North Sikkim & West Sikkim.