Best Places To Visit In Sikkim
Gangtok
Mahatma Gandhi Marg
Mahatma Gandhi Marg is one of the most prominent tourist spots in Gangtok, and it is a shopper’s delight since everything is available at the market. The name of the market comes from the Mahatma Gandhi statue, which is there in the marketplace. It is half a kilometre long market and always remains crowded since it is the main shopping destination for tourists and locals.
Ganesh Tok
Close to Tashi View point is Ganesh Tok, a temple of Lord Gansha. It’s located at an altitude of 6,500 ft and at a hill adjacent to that of the huge TV Tower. Like Hanuman Tok, tourists come here not only to offer prayers to Ganesh, but also to soak in the views from the viewing lounge and the circular balcony around it.
Tashi View Point
This charming little Tashi View Point is a perfect place to witness the brilliant surroundings like mountains, valleys and Gangtok itself. This famous tourist point is located 8 km from the town and is mostly known for offering some of the best sunrise and sunset views.
Banjhakri Waterfalls
The Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park is a recreation centre and tourist attraction near Gangtok, in Sikkim, India. The park’s statuary and other displays document the Ban Jhakri or traditional shamanic healer who worships spirits living in caves around the falls. The ban means “forest”, and jhākri means “healer”.
Rumtek Monastery
The Rumtek Monastery is one of Sikkim’s largest and most significant monasteries, perched on top of a hill 23 km from Gangtok. Originally called the Dharma Chakra Centre, it belonged to the Kargyu sect of Buddhists in Tibet in the 12th century. Verdant green mountains surround the monastery and thus serves as a visual treat besides being a focal point for spiritual solace.
Ropeway/Cable car
The starting point of the ropeway is Deorali Bazar which is situated in the heart of the city and easily accessible by most. Built in the year 2003, it connects to the Tashiling Secretariat via Sikkim Legislative Assembly. The visitors can have a panoramic view of the full Gangtok city while taking a ride in this ropeway. The ropeway also serves to de-congest the city, as people can traverse two parts of the city using the ropeway alone.
Tsomgo Lake
Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the capital Gangtok. Located at an elevation of 3,753 m (12,313 ft), the lake remains frozen during the winter season. The lake surface reflects different colours with changes of seasons and is held in great reverence by the local Sikkimese people.
Baba Mandir
Baba Mandir is a distinguished sightseeing place of Sikkim. This “mandir” or shrine is dedicated to “Baba” Harbhajan Singh, who was a soldier of the Indian Army. He died near the Nathula Pass in eastern Sikkim, India. Two shrines have been built to show reverence to Baba Harbhajan Singh. The old one has been built at the site of the bunker, where Baba Harbhajan was posted during his tenure in the Indian Army. The new one has been built at close proximity from Changu Lake.
Nathula pass
Nathu La, one of the highest motorable roads in the world, is a mountain pass in the Himalayan peaks that co-joins Sikkim and China. Situated on the Indo-Tibetan border 14450 ft. above sea level, Nathu La is one of the most important Himalayan passes in the country. Nathu means ‘listening ears’, and La means ‘pass’. Nathu La is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China and is famous for its picturesque beauty and beautiful environment. The temperature here remains low for most parts.
Namchi
Char Dham
It is situated at Solophok hill, 5 km away from Namchi town. It is believed that a visit to the place is enough to wash away one’s sins. The 108 feet statue of Lord Shiva is encircled and supported by a girdle of twelve Jyotirlingams Chardham, which is situated in India in four different places like East Jagannath, West as Dwarika, South as Rameshwaram, North as Badrinath Dham, where especially Hindus consider the main pilgrimage.
Samdruptse
The tallest statue of Guru Padma Sambhava in the world with a height of 135 ft built above Namchi town. It is the place where ones wishes can be fulfilled. It is located below the Tendong hill facing Namchi. The view from Samdruptse hill is something to be cherished and enjoyed. The hilltop offers a view of Namchi town, Darjeeling, Kalingpong, Mt Kanchendzonga and eastern part of Nepal.
Ravangla Buddha Park
The Buddha Park of Ravangla, also known as Tathagata Tsal, is situated near Ravangla in the South Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It was constructed between 2006 and 2013 and featured a 130-foot-high (40 m) statue of the Buddha, erected to mark the 2550th anniversary of the birth of Gautama Buddha as its main attraction. The statue, built of 60 tonnes of copper, is a repousse work.
Temi Tea Garden
The only tea estate existing in the State produces one of the top quality teas for the international market. The tea garden spread out on a gentle hill slope originating from Tendong Hill provides a magnificent view of the surrounding villages. The visit to the factory could be an eye-opener for those wanting to know about tea processing methods.
Lachen
Gurudongmar Lake
One of the most beautiful, pristine lakes in Sikkim, Gurudongmar lake sits in close proximity to the Tibetan and Chinese border in the north. Nested amidst the mountains at 5,183 meters, the freezing alpine lake is amongst the major sources of the river Teesta. The lake takes its name after the eminent guru Padmasambhava, who is believed to have traversed this region during his visit to Tibet.
Lachung
Yumthang Valley
The Yumthang Valley or Sikkim Valley of Flowers sanctuary, is a nature sanctuary with river, hot springs, yaks and grazing pasture on rolling meadows surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim district of Sikkim state in India. It is at an elevation of 3,564 metres (11,693 ft) above msl at a distance of 150 kilometres (93 mi) from the state capital Gangtok.
Pelling
Skywalk / Chenrezig
Nestled in the beautiful Himalayan town Pelling, 137 ft long Chenrezig statue is an engineering marvel. One can see beautiful mandalas here, and the breathtaking view of the Kanchenjunga is the plus point of this place.
Pemayangtse Monastery
Occupying a small section of beauty at the higher end of western Sikkim, a renowned monastery of Pemayangtse is located. The word Pemayangtse mean ‘Perfect Sublime Lotus’ and it is a famous tourist attraction and widely visited by many travellers all year round. With a mere distance of 2 kilometres from Pelling, this attraction is an easy walk. You can unravel Sikkim’s prime beauty by visiting during the spring-summer season when the sky clears.
Rabdentse Ruins
This was the second capital of the erstwhile Kingdom after Yuksom, and till the year 1814 A.D., the King of Sikkim ruled from this place. Today, the ruins lie hidden from the main road at a walking distance from the Pemayangtse Monastery. The scenic view from the top of the ruins scanning across the valley to the mystic heights of the Khang-Chen-Dzonga range is something to be cherished and etched in memory.
Yuksom
33 kms from Pelling, Yuksom, literally meaning the ‘meeting place of three lamas’ is of great historical importance to the Sikkimese. It was here that the first Chogyal was crowned in 1642. The throne made of stones is even today considered sacred as is the footprint of Lhatsun Chenpo, which can be seen close to the throne. 2 km uphill from Yuksum is Dubdi monastery, the oldest in Sikkim.