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Sikkim Travel

Himalaya nestles within itself many wonderlands and Sikkim is definitely one of them. You may be simply a tourist interested in sightseeing, an adventure sports buff or religiously inclined who wants to learn about Buddhism (the religion that dominates in the state) - Sikkim offers it all. The state is overlooked by the mighty peak Kanchenjunga whereas the life goes on in Sikkim as you can see the roaming monks in the busy marketplaces. Although there is no dearth of means of transportation, yet we'd say that treks are the best way to experience the destinations of the state as they'll lead you pretty closely through the pine forests, scenic valleys, mountain lakes etc. The state is also a popular base for mountaineering expeditions whereas the nearby river Teesta and Rangeet are excellent for river rafting. The monasteries here are rich in frescoes and are full of statues of various incarnations of Buddha.

So far the state has attracted tourists primarily during the summer seasons although there are a few tourists who come to Sikkim in the winters also. The rainy season in the state hardly attracts any tourists. The government however is taking all possible steps to promote the state so as to attract tourists throughout the year. The leisure tourism here is already in, so the efforts are on to promote the state for village tourism, eco tourism, adventure destinations and conference tourism. The hospitality industry of the state is also being encouraged to attract the corporates to hold their conferences in the state by offering them discounts.


Location:This tiny state which has neither open valleys nor plains is tucked away in the eastern Himalayas and borders the Tibetan plateau in the north, the Tibetan Chumbi Valley and Bhutan in the east, Darjeeling in the south and Nepal in the west.

Tourist Destinations:
Some of the important tourist destinations of Sikkim are:

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Chortein
It is situated near the orchid sanctuary and you can see the young lamas here busy in several activities such as working, learning and worshiping.



Deer Park
Enjoy the panoramic views of the expansive valleys, by which the city of Gangtok is surrounded, from the deer park. It is situated on top of a hillside having a very steep slope that plunges suddenly into the valley. There is a big open enclosure in the park where different kinds of deers can be seen. You can also see some native animals of Sikkim such as Red Panda and the Himalayan Bear kept in cages.



Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology
This institution is a centre for Tibetan Studies and Research and here you can find the rarest of books on Buddhism and invaluable manuscripts. The building itself is an excellent example of Tibetan architecture.





Enchey Monastery
Enchey Monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa order and is located on a hill top. When it was first built on the place blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, it was intended that no other construction would come up in the nearby areas. The monastery is now 200 years old and has images of Gods, Goddesses and other religious objects.



Hanuman Tok
Apart from the fact that the place has a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, it also offers unhindered views of Gangtok and the nearby hills. The temple itself is maintained by a unit of Indian Army.



How to Reach Sikkim
Bagdogra, 124 km away from Gangtok has the nearest airport. Guwahatl, Kolkata and Delhi are connected by regular flights with Bagdogra. The nearest railway stations are New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri which are about 125 km and 144 km away. These stations are connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and many other major cities of India. Gangtok has road connections with Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri where you can hire cars, luxury coaches and jeeps or avail the regular bus services to reach anywhere in the country.

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