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Before we start exploring this exotic land filled with natural beauty, let us
know some intriguing facts about our destination.
A state might have one official language or two, but Sikkim has
eleven state languages including Hindi, English and even Nepali!
Sikkim is India’s first organic state with around 75,000 Hectares of
agricultural land dedicated to organic farming.
This small state is the second largest manufacturer of Cardamom
in the world after Guatemala.
This state’s beauty is enhanced by the fact that it is India’s first and
only open defecation free state.
Sikkim is India’s least populated state.
Khangchendzonga, which is in Sikkim, has been termed as India’s
first mixed heritage site by UNESCO. It is home to 18 glaciers,
lakes, mountain peaks, Waterfalls, 18 sub forest types, 124
species of Mammals and 300 species of Birds.
Styrofoam Products and plastic water bottles are banned in Sikkim
Sikkim is home to Mount Kanchenjunga, which, at 8586 meters is
the World’s third biggest mountain peak.
Here are more than 200 Buddhist monasteries in this tiny state.
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WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
Know that we know a teensy bit about Sikkim, let us pinpoint its
geographical location.
We all know that Sikkim is a part of North East India, but it is not a part
of the famed ‘Seven Sisters’ states. It borders Tibet in the north and
northeast, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the
south.
Lachung: This incredibly beautiful place is one of the best places in India
to see snowfall. In the season, the colourful rhododendron bloom is truly
a sight to watch.
Nathula pass: The rugged beauty of this pass attracts a large number of
tourists every year and is considered as one of the most crucial passes
on the crossroads of the India-China border.
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Now that we have grasped some information about Sikkim. A tour there
is all one needs.
A visit to Nathu La pass during the latter part of the day is something to
look forward to. Considered as one of the most crucial passes on the
crossroads of the India-China border, this place also has a shrine built in
the memory of an Indian army personnel. The temple has a fascinating
history attached to it and is a popular sightseeing spot in Sikkim.
Tsomgo Lake located nearby offers extremely idyllic scenery. The lake’s
colours change according to the season and is usually frozen during the
winters.
You can stop over this viewpoint on your way to Rumtek Monsatry. It has
beautiful Gangtok city view. To have a bird’s eye view of the stunning
mountains and tiny villages of Sikkim in the middle of lush green
vegetation is simply awe-inspiring. That’s the reason why a newly
introduced adventure sport here; paragliding is becoming increasingly
popular and it is something everyone should undertake while still in
Gangtok.
Driving on, one would reach Thangu check post. Chopta valley is just a
fifteen-minute drive from there where the true hikers find out the word
“Hidden Paradise” is just absolute and the hiking trails is just awesome
where one can spend a easy 2-3 hours hiking around the valley.
Drive early to Yumthang Valley. The place is also called the ‘valley of
flowers’ as the valley itself offers a much varieties of seasonal flowering
plants to the many species of rhododendron bushes and the tall pine
trees. The valley is a open meadow with a small chilled river flowing
making a kind of mesmerizing sound.
Lachung itself is pretty vast. The largest Buddhist shrine of Lachung
Gompa is also situated in this town. The beauty and the unending charm
of Lachung Monastery and Village are hard to be missed.