Arghadipa Chakraborty

A proverb goes-

‘Good things come in small packages‘

Sikkim, the land of mystique, is a personification of the proverb, I think. From the first class view of snow covered Mt. Kanchenjunga to the beautiful winding hill roads, & from a Tibetan Buddhist center to a base for hikers, Sikkim has everything to make successful its meaning – ‘paradise’ according to the Lepcha people who are the original inhabitants of Sikkim. Be it Indians or the exotics, everybody has enough affection for this gem of Northeast India for some obvious reasons. Have a look upon them –

1. Mesmerizing Mountains :-

Sikkim has been named one of the ‘top visiting regions‘ in the world and one of the important reasons of it is its mesmerizing mountain ranges which allure each and every traveller and provide fascination and romanticism into their hearts. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak, lies in the state of Sikkim and here one can scale its terrains and experiment with his/her astrophotography skills.

2. The Cleanest & Least Populous State in India:-

Sikkim is the least populous state in India and here the locals are the performer of the proverb ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’. That’s why, Sikkim has won the crown of ‘the cleanest state of India‘ on its head in 2012. The small hidden state of India belongs to the group of a few states that have banned plastic completely.

3. Natural Splendour :-

The red fire ball is playing hide and seek behind the mountain ranges, the lush green vegetation covers the downward of the mountain, the glimpse of reddish orange light is decorating the top of the peaks and there is no hurry scurry for you to your daily mundane routine leaving the surreal scenario alone, neither the screaming of people nor honking of cars and nor any sort of dirt can spoil your calm and quiet mood in a beautiful sunny morning – if you dream of such a destination to travel, believe me, Sikkim is calling you in her lap. Starting from eye soothing water bodies such as Gurudangmar & Changu lake to the wonderful waterfalls, from a valley of zillion mountain flowers to the complete snow covered land, Sikkim has everything to attract tourists like a magnet.

4. Rich Culture and Festivals :-

Sikkim has a history dating back to thousand of years and it is one of the oldest inhabited regions in Northeast India. Hence, Sikkim has a rich culture and age-old traditions and if you can be a part of the festivals at least as a spectator, your Sikkim trip is going to be a unforgettable memory.

Home to the three ethnic groups, that is, Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali, Sikkim boasts of its unique cuisines, vibrant clothing and majestic festivals. I have curated a list of the foremost festivals of Sikkim below to take a bird’s-eye view –

• Losoong Festival
• Sonam Lhochhar Festival
• Losar
• Bhumchu
• Saga Dawa
• Annual Sikkim Paragliding Festival
• Tihar
• International Flower Festival
• Tendong Lho Rum Faat
• Mangan Music Festival

Most of the festivals are celebrated either in Gompas or in Monasteries of Sikkim where the citizens of Sikkim participate in vibrant dance and music. “Cham“, the most fascinating form of ritual dance, involves colourful masks, sparkling jewels and amazing musical instruments.

5. Friendly Behaviour of Locals :-

The locals of Sikkim are very friendly and their heart warming behaviour will give you a homely feeling even when you are far away from it. This is really magical. Be it either homestays or hotels, you will be welcomed through caring and memorable conversations everywhere as if you are familiar from a long time ago.

I was astonished to see in a hotel of Lachung that a baby of the hotel manager welcomed us during dinner by shaking hands and some sweet words which he learned from the elders. It was very entertaining and enjoyable after all, I must say.

6. Home to Beautiful Monasteries :-

If your soul wants to get lost in the world of divinity & composure, Various monasteries in Sikkim must be your stoppages. The beautiful aura & the unusual birds inside the monastery complexes will bound you to visit Sikkim again and you will realize why Sikkim is called the home of peace. The most popular monasteries are- Roomtek Monastery, Lachen Monastery, Pemayangtse Monastery, Phodong Monastery etc. Roomtek monastery incorporates a school within its complex to teach about the Tibetan culture. The monasteries are appreciated for their peaceful surrounding which is appropriate for meditation. So, the monasteries are a must visit place for the tourists who savor spirituality.

Also read :- https://arghadipachakraborty.travel.blog/2019/06/29/my-experience-in-the-himalayan-kingdom-sikkim/

7. Palatable Cuisine :-

Sikkim is the state where you can get authentic Nepali foods which will appease your taste buds. some other special dishes such as Gundruk & Sinki (vegetarian dishes) and Dhindo are very famous among the tourists who like to taste local foods beside rice.

8. Rich Diverse Wildlife :-

In India, Sikkim is one of the few states which has 50% dense green forest of the whole state and accounts rich diverse wildlife unargueably. Many indigenous and migratory birds have taken shelter in the green forest & some species of red panda & uncommon orchids are found here. This orchids are used to bring the fragrance of perfumes. So, it is an unavoidable spot for them who like wildlife, photography and making perfumes.

9. Paradise for Adventure lovers :-

If you have an adventure seeking heart, the undulating towering hills covered with lush green vegetation is sending you an invitation letter on behalf of Sikkim. Sikkim is a base for hikers and in its capital city Gangtok, all the arrangements and transport provision for trekking has been completed. People prefer to spend nights in camps on the way of trekking whenever they find a place bathed in the moonlight & witness a panoramic view for which they have waited a long time.

” Travel does not become an adventure until you leave yourself behind.”

– Marty Rubin

10. Namgyal Institute of Tibetology :-

If you are avid to learn about authentic Tibetan culture, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology of Sikkim will show you the best collection of Tibetan culture within the whole India. Established in 1958, it has started to attract tourists by its grand stock of Tibetan artifects. So, if you want to taste Tibetan culture and Mahayana Buddhism keeping yourself within the borders of India, Sikkim is the ultimate stoppage for you.

The hustle bustle of the city life, the never ending honks on the road and while at this, just close your eyes and feel the serenity hidden within the dawn’s Kanchenjunga, sun bathed vegetation and peaceful monasteries and do give Sikkim a try. Sikkim will absorb you, nourish you and will leave you wanting for more.

Happy Travelling!! 🎒🏔🗻