An
Overview :
Located on the foothills of Himalaya, Sikkim always attracts tourists for
its lovely mountains, exotic orchids, lush green valleys, monasteries and
mountain lakes. Sikkim was an independent state ruled by the Chogyal
monarchy from as early as 1642 AD but later in 1975, it became the 22nd
state of Indian Union. This north eastern state of India is surrounded by
Nepal in the west, China to its north and east, Bhutan to the south-west and
West Bengal in its south. Sikkim is also popular among adventure enthusiasts
for different adventure activities like trekking, mountaineering, river
rafting etc. Its capital Gangtok is also a major tourist attraction for its
monasteries, unique buildings, old palaces and the Institute of Tibetology
and the beautiful orchid sanctuary.
Places to Visit in Sikkim :
» Changu Lake - Located at a distance of 35 kms
from Gangtok, the Changu Lake is 1km in long and 50 feet in deep. The local
people consider it is as a sacred place. The lake is also home to several
species of birds including several migratory, especially ducks.
» Yumthang Valley - This beautiful valley is a must
visit places in Sikkim for any tourist. Located at an altitude of 11800 ft,
the Yumthang valley is covered with Rhododendron flower. The valley is known
for its picturesque views of snow-capped mountain peaks and hot springs.
February to June and September to December are the ideal time to visit the
valley.
» Rumtek Monastery - The is the largest monastery
of Himalayan region and belong to the Kagyu order. It was originally built
in 1730 by the ninth Karmapa but later reconstructed by 16th Gyalwa Karmapa
in 1960. There is a school inside the monastery complex teaching Tibetan
language and various aspects of Buddhism.
» Government Institute of Cottage Industry - It was
established in 1957 with an aim to promote the handicraft skills of local
artisans. Traditional handicraft items including furniture, woolen carpets,
hand made paper, hand carved wooden tables, hand painted masks, dolls and
lamp stands are popular among tourists.
Fairs & Festivals in Sikkim :
Sikkim
celebrates almost all the major fairs and festivals of India with much
fanfare. The major Hindu festivals include Holi, Maha Shivaratri, Ramnavami
and Janamastami. As the major religion of the state is Buddhism, there are a
number of Buddhist festivals celebrated in almost every month of the year.
The major ones include the Saga Dawa(May-June), Drukpa Tsheshi(August), Pang
Lhabsol(August) and the Kalachakra Puja. Besides, Sikkim also has various
local festivals like Tihar, Dassain or Durga Puja, Rangey Mela and Sakewa.
Shopping :
Sikkim offers a range of shopping items to its visitors. Major shopping
items include: handicrafts, woolen carpets, jewellery, tea and cardamom. The
Old Market, New Market and Lal Market are some of the main shopping areas
offer range of attractive shopping items. One can also purchase a variety of
handicraft items as souvenirs from the Government Institute of Cottage
Industry and from many shops in Gangtok.
