Sikkim Tourism Information

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Sikkim is an Indian state which is landlocked by the Himalayas and is bounded by countries such as Bhutan, China and Nepal.

Where is Sikkim

The capital city of the state is Gangtok and the languages widely spoken are Dzongkha, Tibetan and Nepalese.

About Sikkim

English is used as the official language of the state and Hindi is used as the second language. Sikkim has the lowest population in the country and is also the second smallest state in terms of area after Goa. There is an open borderline between China and India.

Sikkim has a picturesque landscape and is popular for its scenic delights. Kanchenjunga, which is the third highest peak in the world, is located in the state. The Buddhist Guru Rinpoche visited Sikkim in the 9th century and gave birth to Buddhism in the state. The eleven languages in the state that are given the official status are Bhutia, Nepali, Newari, Lepcha, Limbu, Rai, Gurung, Mangar, Sunwar, Tamang and Sherpa.

Exploring the State

The culture in Sikkim is ...
... greatly influenced by the Nepalese culture. Some of the popular festivals celebrated in the state are Maghe Sankranti and Bhimsen Puja. The popular Buddhist festivals celebrated in the state are Losar, Sagar Dawa, Loosong, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu. Muharram and Eid-ul-Fitr are celebrated by the Muslims in the state. Christmas is also promoted aggressively by the tourism department in the state to attract more number of tourists during the off season.

Sikkim has a variety of tourist spots and a large chunk of the state's revenue comes through tourism. The state has many esoteric and remote monasteries and a cluster of natural marvels. The Institute of Tibetology and the Enchey Monastery are located in Gangtok and are popular tourist destinations. Many "Gampas" are located in the state; these gampas are Tibetan-Buddhist temples where devotees offer their worship. An important Gampa in the state is the Do-Drul Chorten. Many devotees come here to offer their worships.

Located at a height of 12400 ft above the sea level, the Changu Lake is a beautiful place to visit. The Dzongri treks are famous among adventure lovers. The major monasteries in the state are Tashiding and Pemayangtse Monastery and that of Pelling. Towards the northwest of Pelling lies the Khecheopalri Lake, this is also known as the Wishing Lake and is considered to be sacred by the Lepchas.
The Menam hill and Rhododendron Sanctuary are embedded with natural beauty. Lepcha village located at Chungthang offers a magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga peak and the Himalayas. This place is frequented by trek enthusiasts who like trekking on difficult terrains.

Getting There
There are no airports in Sikkim. The nearest airport to the state is the Bagdogra Airport located in Paschim Banga. An important international airport near Sikkim is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, which has flights to all the major destinations in, USA, South East Asia, North America and Europe.

The New Jalpaiguri Station is the nearest railway station to Sikkim. This place is located at a distance of 125 km from Gangtok.