Travelling is essential, not just for work, but also for education and leisure. Our country is home to some of the most diverse natural landscapes. From beaches to mountains to temple towns and quaint villages; you find extreme diversity across the country, not just in sceneries but also in food, language, and culture. Tourism in India is huge as people flock to our country from all over the world to be a part of the breath-taking experience called India, it is important that the residents of our country are equally aware of what wondrous and beautiful sites remain unexplored in our country.
People prefer to visit high altitude mountains in all seasons for varied reasons. In summers, to beat the scorching heatwave making it impossible to move out of the house; while in winters, to watch the pristine snowfall over their heads. Despite the government’s best efforts to integrate the North-eastern part of the country with the rest of India, difficulty to reach there has often been a deterrent for people to explore the natural beauty of this area. The north-eastern states boast of unparalleled natural beauty which needs to be explored.
Why should you opt for Sikkim Tourism?
Apart from the seven sisters, as the North-eastern states are known as, there is another jewel. The youngest state to become a part of North-East India, Sikkim, is a breath-taking destination with majestic mountains, stunning waterfalls, high-altitude lakes, gorgeous greens, and beautiful monasteries. It shares its boundary with 3 other countries; with Tibet in North, Bhutan in East and Nepal in the West. It is no wonder that among the various North-East states, tourism in Sikkim attracts a huge footfall of tourists, throughout the year. Before you plan your trip to this majestic state, it is vital that you know some important facts.
- The capital city of Gangtok is located at an altitude of 5,410 ft.
- The state is home to nearly 5,000 varieties of flowers including 400 different types of orchids.
- Wildlife lovers can have a great time visiting the Khangchendzonga National Park in North Sikkim and Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary where you can spot the Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda, and Civet cat.
- Mountain lovers and trekking enthusiasts can enjoy the views of Mt. Kanchenjunga (28,169 ft.), world’s 3rd highest mountain and passes like Nathu La, Goecha La through trekking trips.
- Some of the popular tourist attraction places in the state include Gangtok, Aritar, Lachung, Pelling, Yuksom, and Geyzing.
- The 2nd highest bridge in Asia is in Pelling, Sikkim. At a height of 220m and 198m long, it offers an excellent view of the valley.
- Sikkim is the first Indian state that has become the 1st organic state in India.
Which is the best time to visit Sikkim?
Make the most of your Sikkim tour in the summer season as it is the best time to visit Sikkim. The temperature between March to June ranges between 50C - 250C making it ideal for outdoor activities like trekking, adventure sports, etc. while during monsoon time (July – September) the temperature is around 50C - 200C while winters are quite cold with temperature going remaining as low as -70C during October to February.
Top Travel Destinations in Sikkim :
Sikkim is divided into 4 zones, each of which has its unique attractions. Due to its cultural extravaganza and a serene hideout, it has become the biggest tourist destination in country. Situated in the lap of nature; the breathtaking sight of Khangchendzonga and the neighbouring peaks are some of the major attractions of this small state. There are ample of things in Sikkim that is unexplored and mesmerizing. It gives an opportunity to explore and make of tour memorable for lifetime.
More About Sikkim Tourism
Must-visit places in Sikkim
East SikkimHighlights of this district are the capital city of Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir (dedicated to the Nathu La martyr Baba Harbhajan Singh), Nathula Pass (highest pass, connects Sikkim to China), and Zuluk (part of ancient silk route).
West SikkimPelling is the key attraction here which offers an unrestricted view of Mt. Kanchenjunga apart from the location of Asia’s 2nd highest suspension bridge. Monasteries and presence of a holy lake are other reasons for tourists to visit here. Yuksom which is the base for Goechala and Dzongri trek also lies in this district.
South SikkimThe religious and cultural hub of Sikkim is this zone with Samdruptse Monastery (Namchi) and Ravangla which is home to a scenic Buddha Park with huge statute adorning in its center. The only tea estate of Sikkim is located here apart from Borong which is a bird watcher’s paradise.
North SikkimThe scenic Yumthang valley known for rhododendron flowers and hot springs, Chopta valley, Zero points and Gurudongmar Lake (one of the highest altitude lakes in the world) are the main tourist attractions here.
Entry Permits Required to Visit Sikkim
Sikkim, due to its adjacency to the borders of neighboring countries like China, Bhutan and Nepal, the whole of Sikkim is under restricted area regime. And therefore foreign tourists are required to get first Restricted Area Permit (RAP) earlier known as Inner Line Permit (ILP) issued by Sikkim Tourism Officers in order to explore any part of Sikkim including the capital city Gangtok. The entry permit is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India only on the strong basis of valid Indian Visa. However, Indian tourists do not require such kind of permit or permission.
It gets little more difficult to enter Sikkim for the tourists coming from Pakistan, China, Mynmar or Bangladesh; it becomes little harder to make entry in Sikkim.
How to Obtain Restricted Area Permit?
Restricted Area Permit or Inner Line Permit is applicable for foreigners only. Indian visitors do not require any such permit. It is given free of cost. Make sure that you are travelling with valid passport and visa for India. If you are carrying proper documents, it takes only 10-15 minutes to get the permit across the counter.
How to reach Sikkim? :
Sikkim; small but beautiful is one of the seven states in North East India. Engulfed in the lap of Himalayas, the state is bestowed with unexplored beauty because of its remote location and the hassles to reach there. The state has good transportation facilities in most of its region. When you are planning to visit Sikkim, here we list the best option available to reach Sikkim by road, air and rail.
Getting there by air:
Catering to the large influx of tourists thanks to Tourism India, a small airport, known as Pakyong Airport, opened in Sikkim in October 2018. It mainly caters to domestic flights. Located around 29 km from the state capital Gangtok, it will take you 1 hour and 15 minutes to travel between the two places. However, the primary airport to reach the state remains Bagdogra Airport (IXB) located in Darjeeling in West Bengal. Several domestic flights from numerous cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, etc, as well as some international ones (primarily from Bhutan), are available.
Getting there by road:
Taxi is the preferred way to reach Sikkim from Bagdogra airport. Gangtok is 125 km from the airport which will take 4.5 hours by roads. There are options for pre-paid taxi counters at Bagdogra airport or you could also opt for an online shared taxi. Apart from the taxi, another option for people is the daily Helicopter service that takes only 35 minutes to ferry you from Bagdogra airport to Burtuk Helipad in Gangtok.
Getting there by rail::
If you wish to reach Sikkim by train, the nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal which is just 18 km east of Bagdogra. NJP is well connected to various parts of the country through trains. Both pre-paid and shared taxis are available from New Jalpaiguri to reach Sikkim. You can also reach Gangtok by traveling through a bus. Siliguri SNT bus terminal, daily bus services are available to Gangtok. From Siliguri, buses leave regularly for Pelling SNT bus(10.30 am), Namchi via Jorethang (8 am and 2.30 pm), Ravangla via Namchi (1 pm), Mangan (11 am). Private operators too operate bus on this route. The bus from Siliguri to Pakyong leaves at 2.30 pm while that to Jorethang leaves at 2 pm.
Top Hotels in Sikkim
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