
Himalaya
nestles within itself many wonderlands and Sikkim is definitely one of them.
You may be simply a tourist interested in sightseeing, an adventure sports
buff or religiously inclined who wants to learn about Buddhism (the religion
that dominates in the state) - Sikkim offers it all. The state is overlooked
by the mighty peak Kanchenjunga whereas the life goes on in Sikkim as you
can see the roaming monks in the busy marketplaces. Although there is no
dearth of means of transportation, yet we'd say that treks are the best way
to experience the destinations of the state as they'll lead you pretty
closely through the pine forests, scenic valleys, mountain lakes etc. The
state is also a popular base for mountaineering expeditions whereas the
nearby river Teesta and Rangeet are excellent for river rafting. The
monasteries here are rich in frescoes and are full of statues of various
incarnations of Buddha.
So far the state has attracted tourists primarily during the summer seasons
although there are a few tourists who come to Sikkim in the winters also.
The rainy season in the state hardly attracts any tourists. The government
however is taking all possible steps to promote the state so as to attract
tourists throughout the year. The leisure tourism here is already in, so the
efforts are on to promote the state for village tourism, eco tourism,
adventure destinations and conference tourism. The hospitality industry of
the state is also being encouraged to attract the corporates to hold their
conferences in the state by offering them discounts.
Location:This tiny state which has neither open valleys nor plains
is tucked away in the eastern Himalayas and borders the Tibetan plateau in
the north, the Tibetan Chumbi Valley and Bhutan in the east, Darjeeling in
the south and Nepal in the west.
Tourist Destinations:
Some of the important tourist destinations of Sikkim are:
» Chortein
It is situated near the orchid sanctuary and you can see the young lamas
here busy in several activities such as working, learning and worshiping.
»
Deer Park
Enjoy the panoramic views of the expansive valleys, by which the city of
Gangtok is surrounded, from the deer park. It is situated on top of a
hillside having a very steep slope that plunges suddenly into the valley.
There is a big open enclosure in the park where different kinds of deers can
be seen. You can also see some native animals of Sikkim such as Red Panda
and the Himalayan Bear kept in cages.
» Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology
This institution is a centre for Tibetan Studies and Research and here you
can find the rarest of books on Buddhism and invaluable manuscripts. The
building itself is an excellent example of Tibetan architecture.
» Enchey Monastery
Enchey Monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa order and is located on a hill
top. When it was first built on the place blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, it
was intended that no other co

nstruction
would come up in the nearby areas. The monastery is now 200 years old and
has images of Gods, Goddesses and other religious objects.
» Hanuman Tok
Apart from the fact that the place has a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman,
it also offers unhindered views of Gangtok and the nearby hills. The temple
itself is maintained by a unit of Indian Army.
» How to Reach Sikkim
Bagdogra, 124 km away from Gangtok has the nearest airport. Guwahatl,
Kolkata and Delhi are connected by regular flights with Bagdogra. The
nearest railway stations are New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri which are about 125
km and 144 km away. These stations are connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati
and many other major cities of India. Gangtok has road connections with
Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri where you can hire cars, luxury coaches
and jeeps or avail the regular bus services to reach anywhere in the
country.
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