Sikkim the Land of Mystic Splendor

Himalayan environment, gurgling streams, Snowcapped Mountains, Richness of culture and Monasteries; the most alluring features of Sikkim makes you want to visit this energetic and refreshing place. I also made up my mind to enjoy the untouched natural beauty and freshness and headed for Sikkim holidays. On arrival at the Bagdogra airport, I was driven to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim state. The first place was the beautiful Tsomgo Lake, which is literally known as source of the lake.

Rumtek Monastery Sikkim

It is situated at a height of 12000 ft on Gangtok Nathu La highway and falls in the restricted area for which a permit is required. A small temple of Lord Shiva is forged on the lakeside. Going upwards the hills, the next destination is Nathu La Pass. Also known as the Silk Route, Nathu La is situated on the borders of India and China. It is at an elevation of 14450 ft and one of the highest motor able routes. One needs special permit to visit this Pass. The place is extremely cold and temperature drops below freezing point.

After this Sikkim attraction, coming down the Pass way lays the legendary Baba Mandir. It was built in memory of a soldier in the 23rd Punjab regiment. The temple is believed to have wish- fulfilling powers and the water kept in the shrine gains healing property. It is believed that he is still doing his duty on borders even after his death some 3 decades back!! The whole roadway has a picturesque backdrop of Kanchenjunga range. After this tour, my next on itinerary was Sikkim monasteries; the 1st being Rumtek monastery.

It is one of the largest monasteries in Sikkim built in the 16th century. The main temple is 4 storied with a golden sculpture and is decorated with traditional colorful murals. The shrine hall stands on strong red pillars with silk banners and ancient thankas suspended from them. Next in Sikkim tour was Bakthang Waterfalls- the most beautiful falls in Sikkim. It is along the national highway 31A. It is a completely crowd free place to enjoy the scenic views; ideal for picnicking and photography.

Ganesh Tok Gangtok

Then next place to visit was Ganesh Tok. It is a very small temple located on the Gangtok- Nathu La road. The temple is devoted to Lord Ganesha. It is so small that it can just accommodate only one person at a time; one must crawl to get into the temple. Being situated at a height, one can get a clear view of the whole town.

My trip concluded with a shopping spree in M G road, which is the most famous in Sikkim. Lined with bustling shops and colorful activities, one can find a wide range of items here to choose from. With this my Sikkim tour came to an end. Though small but beautiful, Sikkim is a prominent destination for every travel enthusiast. Steep heights and plunging gorges, stretches covered in snow- this is what sums up Sikkim.

Sikkim Tour- Exploring the Treasures of Nature

Sikkim, the destination which conjures up the images of immense natural beauty, old monasteries and romantic hills in my mind. With my husband, I had planned it several times but every time we left in lurch. This time when I got to know about 1 week break of my husband, I too applied for leaves. I was feeling myself fortunate enough when I got the approval and we packed our bags for Sikkim Travel.

Rumtek Monastery Sikkim

Leaving from Delhi, we reached Bagdogra Airport from where Sikkim was a six-hour jeep ride away. On being reached theres, I found it among the most beautiful places which I had even seen in my life.The moody weather, the pristine purity, colourful flowers and beautiful peaks just enlighted my mood the moment I entered the place.

We stayed in a comfortable resort lodge in Gangtok which was situated in the outlying areas. The modern facilities and a good view from our room just made it a really refreshing experience for us. The home like atmosphere and scrumptious food allowed us to enjoy our tour without worrying anything. We used to get awake in the early morning as soon as the cool wind entered the room.

Endowed with wondrous natural resources, Sikkim is nestled in the Himalayas and offers an impressive scene with each turn of the road. We found people of Sikkim was very warm and welcome tourists with a big smile on their face which helped us to be friendly with them.

I had heard a lot about the attractions of Sikkim and among those, one was the Rumtek Monastery so I was eager to visit the place. Unwillingly my husband accompanied me to the monastery, which lies about 24 km from Gangtok. This monastery houses a number of sacred things and Golden Stu-pa is worth to mention. Visiting the monastery was to fulfill my much awaited desire to experience the spirituality at a monastery.

On our day trip, we visited Tsomgo lake which is an alpine lake with many rainbow trout. Considered as a sacred lake of Sikkim, it is a must visit attraction. Along with it, we also went Nathuala pass. It used to be a gateway to Tibet and prior to Chinese aggression, it was the only silk route to Lhasa.

Tsomgo Lake

We also visited a 17^th century monastery, known as Pemayangste Monastery. Belonging to the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism, the monastery is known for its majestic sculptures. While seeing their decorated paintings on first floor, I was completely mesmerized.

How can I forget to mention the amazing view of mount Kanchendzonga which we enjoyed during our trip? Believe me, it seems like beckoning you with its spectacular views and to experience it, really enthralled me.

Being a passionate adventure, my husband decided to go for trekking in Sikkim and soon he was there. The thrill and excitement made me hold my breath till the time he was back. I wished to be with him but being scared of heights, I could not make it. After coming back from trekking, my husband told me that trekking through its dense forests, frosty waters and rocky trails is an amazing experience in itself. Next day, we woke up early morning, especially to visit Tiger hill. It was simply awesome and the best part of our Sikkim tour.

I love shopping and the charm becomes double when I am on any tour. The popular shopping items like handicrafts, the wall hangings and Tibetan carpets were just grabbed my attention and I could not help myself from buying them. At the end of our tour we drove to Bagdogra from Darjeeling to come back.  Our Sikkim tour ended with lots of photographs which we clicked with Sikkimese people.