Sikkim

Sikkim an erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom, has been a state of India since it’s merger in 1975. It is wedged in between the Kingdoms of Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the east. With an area of 7,096 sq kms, it has a rectangular shape measuring about 114 km. from the north to South and 64 km. from east to west.    

The topography and location of Sikkim manifests in a diverse range of flora, which is tropical in the low-lying areas and alpine in the high reaches of the mountains. The human population throughout history has been very low, which has helped this place to maintain a high percentage of forest cover, even now. `A journey to Sikkim necessarily involves awakening the senses and discovering the pristine and mystic beauty of the land. Sikkim is a dreamland that one can realize and enjoy, now that the area is open to all.  

The state offers a wide range of adventure sports opportunities as well including mountaineering in the Himalayas. For trekking, one can follow any of the four trek routes: the Monastic Trek, Rhododendron Trek, Kanchenjunga Trek and Coronation Trek. River rafting is possible in the rough waters of the Teesta and the Rangit. Kayaking is arranged on the Teesta only for special groups. Yak safari is arranged from Dzongri onwards. In north and west Sikkim, mountain biking is very popular these days. Jorethang, in west Sikkim, and certain parts of north Sikkim are popular locales for gliding. As per regulations foreigners should be in a group of 4 persons or more for trekking in Sikkim.

Sikkim is bounded by Tibet (China) in the north, West Bengal in the south, Tibet and Bhutan in the east and Nepal in the west. The state is spread below Mount Kanchenjunga (8,534 m), the third highest peak in the world. The locals worship the mountain as a protective deity. The elevation of the state ranges from 300m to over 8,540m above sea level. The nearest airport is Bagdora (120 km. from Gangtok). There are regular flights connected to Calcutta, Delhi and Guwahati. There are also regular train services to other parts of county.   

Climate
Due to the extreme altitude, there is an immense variation in climate and vegetation. With a rainfall of about 140 mm in Gangtok, the climate is tropical up to 5,000ft, temperate between 5,000ft–13,000ft, alpine at 13,000ft, and snow at 16,000ft and above.

The best time to visit Sikkim is between mid-March and June but especially, April and May, when the rhododendrons and orchids are in bloom. However, temperatures can be high, especially in the valleys. During the monsoons, from the end of June until end September, rivers and roads become impenetrable, though plants nurtured by the incessant rain erupt again into bloom towards the end of August. October, when orchids bloom once again and November tend to have the clearest weather of all. As December approaches, it gets bitterly cold at high altitudes, and remains that way until early March, despite long periods of clear weather.  

The best time to visit this zone is from mid September to mid December, although it gets pretty cold by December. The high seasons again starts from mid-march & continues till mid June. During monsoon months i.e, from June to September, the view of the mountains gets obscured & rainfall is pretty heavy (270 mm annually)  

People & Religion

Sikkim is the least populated state in India. There are three principal communities of Nepalese (75%), Lepchas (20%), and smaller proportions of Bhutias and Limbus. The Bhutias are Buddhist and so are most of the Lepchas. The Nepalese are chiefly Hindus. Lepchas or the Rong appear to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim as no legends of their migration are available. In the 13th century, the Bhutias from Kham area of Tibet came to the state. They believed in Buddhism of the Mahayana sect. The Nepalis were the last to enter Sikkim, in the mid 19th century.   

All communities live in perfect harmony sharing each other’s cultures, ethos and traditions with the result that there is now a Sikkimese culture, which is composite of all the three prominent communities. Most of the people speak Nepali, which is also the state language. It is the harmony of the place that provides justification to the name of the state derived form Sukhim, meaning “happy home, a place of peace.”  

Though Hinduism is equally followed, Buddhism is entrenched in the tradition of the state. The people have faith in the Buddha, the dharma (his teachings), and the sangha (assembly of monks) where religious texts are studied, taught and preserved. Soaked in the religious tradition, the land has a spiritual ambience where prayer flags with inscriptions of Buddhist texts flutter around the boundary of the village to ward off evil spirits, prayer wheels rotate to the currents of water, and chortens and lucky signs are common sights.  

Entry formalities

Foreigners require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) in addition to normal Indian visa to enter Sikkim and can visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodong and Pemayangtse. No permit is required to enter & stay in Darjeeling & other parts of North Bengal including Kalimpomg.

All foreigners intending to visit Sikkim can avail of 15 days inner-line permit with a further 15 days extension available in Gangtok. Re-entry into Sikkim is not possible within 3 months of leaving Sikkim. Restricted area permit for individuals & groups for restricted areas i.e., Gangtok. Rumtek, Phodong, Pemagyantse can be obtained in advance from all Indian missions aboard, Sikkim tourism offices at Delhi, Calcutta, Siliguri & Gangtok, after furnishing requisite documents. A standard Permit allows one to visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodong and Pemagyantse. The permits are checked and the visas stamped while entering and leaving Sikkim.  

Foreigners without a valid passport and permit are not allowed to enter Sikkim. The best and the easiest way to get the permit is when the individual/group is getting their Indian visa stamp on their passport. All they have to do is express their desire to visit Sikkim & the Indian missions abroad endorses the permit while granting the India visa.    

Festivals
The people celebrate the anniversaries relating to birth, enlightenment, and nirvana of the Buddha, besides the Buddhist New Year and the harvest festivals. Several festivals are celebrated in Gangtok and its adjoining areas. The Buddhist festival of Bumchu is held in the Tashiding Gompa during January. The festival of Chaam is held in Enchey Gompa during January–February and is marked by dancing. Kagyat Dance is a mask dance held every month at Gangtok, Pemayangtse and Phodong. Losar marks the Tibetan New Year and is celebrated during February–March at Pemayangtse and Rumtek. Tse Chu is a Buddhist dance held in May at Rumtek. Saga Dawa (held in Gangtok during May) and Drukpa Teshi (celebrated statewide during July) mark Buddha’s first teaching. Phang Lhabsol is a mask dance celebrated statewide during August. Dasain, the biggest Hindu festival is celebrated during October, is marked by gift exchanges and animal sacrifices

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARIES – SIKKIM

Darjeeling & Kalimpong (4 days/3 nights)

Day 01:	Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (1 hr). Upon arrival, transfer to Darjeeling. Check in at hotel.
Day 02:	Early morning visit Tiger hill. After breakfast visit Zoo and Refugee center. After lunch, train ride or free.
Day 03:	After breakfast, drive to Kalimpong. After lunch visit around Kalimpong town. Check in at hotel.
Day 04:	After breakfast, drive back to Bagdogra Airport or to Bhadrapur Airport (Nepal)

Sikkim (5 days/4 nights)

Day 01:	Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (1 hr). Upon arrival transfer to Gangtok. Check in at hotel.
Day 02:	After breakfast, visit to Rumtek Monastery and Institute of Tibetology. After lunch visit to Enchey Monastery, flower show, handicraft.
Day 03:	After breakfast, drive to Pemayangtse. Check in at your hotel.
Day 04:	Visit Pemayangtse Monastery. After lunch walk for about 45 minutes to Shangacholing Monastery.
Day 05:	After breakfast, drive to Bagdogra Airport or to Bhadrapur Airport (Nepal)

Darjeeling, Sikkim and Kalimpong (6days/5 nights)

Day 01:	Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur Airport (1hr). On arrival, drive to Darjeeling. Check in at hotel.
Day 02:	Early morning tour to Tiger Hill and Ghoom monastery. After breakfast visit the Zoo, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tea gardens and Refugee center. Overnight in your hotel.
Day 03:	Late morning depart for Pemayangtse. Check in at your hotel.
Day 04:	Morning visit monastery and depart for Gangtok. Check in at your hotel.
Day 05:	Morning visit Rumtek monastery, institute of Tibetology. Drive to Kalimpong. Check in at hotel.
Day 06:	After breakfast, return to the plains along the highway through Assam to reach the Bhutan (Phuntsoling)

Sikkim & Kalimpong (7days/6 nights)

Day 01:	Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (1hr). On arrival meet and drive to Gangtok. Check in at hotel.
Day 02:	In the morning, visit Rumtek Monastery, situated 24 km. This magnificent monastery was built by the late Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyupa sect. Afternoon visit Enchey Monastery, Deer Park, Government institute of Cottage Industry, Dodrul Chorten, Research Institute of Tibetology.
Day 03:	Excursion to Tsongu Lake or Phodong Monastery and Labrang Monastry. PM: Free.
Day 04:	After breakfast drive through semi tropical forests, cardamom plantation and villages to Pemayangtse  In the afternoon, visit the Pemayangtse Monastery, situated adjacent to the hotel. This is a premier Nyingmapa monastery of Sikkim built in the 17th century. Check in at your hotel.
Day 05:	After breakfast drive to Khechopalri lake, which is also known as the wishing lake, and is considered very sacred and no water sport or other activities besides prayer and worship are allowed around it. Afternoon, a short trek to Sangachholing Monastery (2km/45 min) located on a hillock above the hotel. On a clear day the view of the mountain range is breathtaking.
Day 06:	In the morning, drive to Kalimpong. Afternoon, visit the Durpin Monastery and flower nursery. Check in at your hotel.
Day 07:	After breakfast drive to Bagdogra Airport or to Bhadrapur Airport (Nepal)

Darjeeling, Sikkim & Kalimpong (7 days/6 nights)

Day 01:	Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (1 hr). Upon arrival transfer to Darjeeling. Check in at hotel.
Day 02:	Early morning tour to Tiger hill, Ghoom monastery. After breakfast, visit to Zoo, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tea garden and Refugee center.
Day 03:	Drive from Darjeeling to Pemayangtse. Check in at your hotel.
Day 04:	Drive from Pemayangtse to Martam via Pemayangtse Monastery.
Day 05:	Drive from Martam to Gangtok via Rumtek Monastery. In the afternoon, visit Tibetology, Enchey Monastery, Handicraft and flower show.
Day 06:	Drive from Gangtok to Kalimpong. In the afternoon, local sight-seeing tour. Check in at hotel.
Day 07:	Drive from Kalimpong to Bagdogra Airport or to Bhadrapur Airport (Nepal)

Darjeeling & Sikkim (7days/6nights)

Day 01:	Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur Airport (1hr). On arrival meet and drive to Darjeeling. Check in at your hotel.
Day 02:	Early mountain tour to Tiger Hill (around 4 am) to view sunrise over Kanchanjunga (subject to clear weather). On way back visit Ghoom Monastry, Batasia loop. Afternoon; visit Japanese temple, Peace pagoda, Lakothi, Dhirdham temple, Ava art gallery and Natural History museum.
Day 03:	Visit Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological park, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Ropeway Tenzing & Gomba Rock, Tibetan refugee self-help center, Tea estates and Labong race course.
Day 04:	Transfer to Gangtok. Check in at hotel.
Day 05:	Take an excursion to Tshangu lake. (12,000 ft, 35 kms/02 hrs). Check in at hotel.
Day 06:	Go for a day sightseeing covering Directorate of Handicraft & Handloom, Enchey Monastery, Research Institute of Tibetogoly, Chorten and Orchid Sanctuary and world famous Rumtek Monastery. Check in at your hotel.
Day 07:	After breakfast transfer to Bhadrapur airport or to Phuntsoling border.