Places of Tourist interest in Sikkim

The Rumtek monestry is the largest in Sikkim and is an example of fine Tibetan architecture.It is situated at an distance of 23 km from Gangtok. The present monastery was constructed by His Holiness, the Gyalwa Karmapa in 1960.Gyalwa Karmapa was the sixtenth Karmapa and came to settle in Sikkim in the late fifties when the Chinese invaded Tibet. The Kargyugpa Sect of Buddhism has its origins in Tibet in the twelfth century. It is said that after the first Kaarmapa spent many years meditating in a cave, ten thousand fairies came to congratulates him and each offered a strand of hair. These strand of hair were woven in to a black hat. this black hat came to be passed down and is still at the Rumtek Monestry. It is said that unless held with the hand , or kept in a box, it will fly away. it was worn by the karmapas on the ceremonial occasions. A flight of stairs from just outside the main Monestry complex takes you to the Nalanda institute of Higher Buddhist studies. About half a kilometer uphill from the aviary is a hermitage in which monks go in to complete seclusion for meditation for periods up to 3 years. A fifteen minutes walk downhill from the main Monestry takes one to the old Rumtek Monastery, which was first built in 1730 by the ninth Karmapa but was destroyed due to aa fire and had to be reconstructed to its present state. The main puja or dances of Rumtek also called the Tse-Chu Chaams are held on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calender around June. There is a regular bus service to Rumtek and taxis are also abundantly available. Cheap accomodation is offered in the few hotels around the monestry.

Khecheopalri lake, which is also known as the 'wish fullfilling lake' is situated at an altitude of about 6,000 ft is located on a bifurcation on the road between Gyalshing and Yuksam. The water in this lake is placid and crystal clear. Not even a leaf can be seen floating on the water surface although there is a beautiful dense forest above the lake. It is said that if a leaf drops on the surface of the water it is picked by a bird.

pemayanste monastery located at an altitude of about 7,000ft, is situated about 6 kms from Gyalshing town. it is the most important monastery of the Nyingmapa order and was first built as a small temple in the late seventeeth century by Latsun Chembo. Later during the reign of the third Chogyal Chakdor namgyal, Jigme pawo who was the third reincarnate of Latsun chembo extended and rebuilt the structure in the form of a big monastery. the main hall of the monastery has an area of about 1,500 square feet. Themonestry houses numerous religious idols and other objects of worship, most of which are priceless because of their antiquity. On the top floor of the monastery ther is a wooden sculpture portraying the Mahaguru's heavenly palace Sangthokpalri.The main festival of the monestery is on the 28th and 29th day of the 12th month of the tibetan calender, normally corresponding to the month of February. daily bus and zeep services are available from Gangtok to geyalshing. Just adjacent to the Pemayangste Monestary is Mount pandim Hotel suited for the upper class tourist. For tourists on a low budget, cheap but comfortable accomodation is available at the Gyalshing bazar.

Changu one of the most beautiful lake of Sikkim situated at an altitude of 12,400 ft is situsted 35 kms away from Sikkim on the Gangtok-Nathula highway which forms a part of the old trade route from India to China. Changu lake, which is hardly 20 kms away from the famous nathula pass and about 400 kms from Lhasa, falls i the restricted area and hence an Inner Line permit, which can be obtained from the police through the Tourism Department or travel agent, is required by visitors to visit the place. Foreign nationals are also permitted to visit this lake. The cool,placid water harmonises with the scenic beauty around which is doubled by its reflection in the lake. A small temple of Lord Siva is constructed in the lakeside. Primula flowers and other alpine vegetation grow around the lake, which has an average depth of 50 ft, lend a pristine beauty to this place. a footpath along the lake takes one to a resting shed a walk of about half a kilometer.during the winter months the lake becomes frozen.

The lake itself derives its water from the melting snow on the mountains around. During the olden times,lamas used to study the colour of the water of the lake and forecast the future. If the water of the lake had a dark tinge, it foreshadowed a year of trouble and unrest in the state. Rides on yaks and mules are also offered at the lake site. Tea and snacks are available at the dozen of temporary stalls during the tourist season only. Some of the stalls even keep film rolls and offer jackets, snowboots and gumboots on hire. because of the high altitude, heavy woolens are required to be worn here throughout the year.There is no facility of accomodation for the tourist. It is advisable to visit the lake before noon as usually during the afternoons the weather becomes inclement. Those with breathing problems should avoid exerting themselves too much because of the scarcity of air at this altitude.

Photographs of the natural scenes of Switzerland and Yumthang valley look so similiar that it is difficult to distinguish between them. Yumthang which is at an altitude of 12,00ft is situated about 135 km from gangtok in North Sikkim.But going there is like travelling 135 years back in time--it is so remote and almost untouched by the vagaries of civilisation. It is well known for its hot spring to reach which one has to walk a few hundred yards from the road and across a pedestrain bridge on the river Lachung. For the convineance of the bathers a hut with two pools in which the hot spring water collects has been constructed. Hot water rich in sulpher, emanates from a spring just behind the hut and is diverted to the pools. It is difficult to imagine that water is so hot in its natural form could

be found in a place so cold. Although Yumthang itself is located on a flat valley and is near the tree-line, the surrounding mountains seem to touch the heavens. the route to Yumthang from Lachung-adjoining the Singba Forest reserve-has a very picturesque landscapes and is lined with rhododendrons which blooms at their best at May.What is particularly interesting about the rhododendrons of the Yumthang valley is that they bloom in different colours unlike those in other parts of Sikkim which are usually red. Tourist require an inner line permit which can be obtained with the help of the travel agent to visit this place.

Yuksam-Dzongri Trekking Corridor

Yuksam And Dzongri are two places in West Sikkim between which there is a proper well beaten trekking track in the form of a bridle path. The best time to venture on a trek on this route is April to June and September to November. Tourism Department organizes treks during autumn and spring. Till Yuksam there is a motorable road. Till Yuksam there is a motorable there is a motorable road. To reach Yuksam, one must first come to Gyalshing from Gangtok or Jorethang from where regular bus services are available. From Gyalshing Yuksam, one can either travel by bus or taxi. If traveling by own vechile, one may opt to reach Yuksam via Tashiding taking the bifurcation road from Legship. Besides having many trekkers' huts, Yuksam also has a private hotel, which provides both boarding and lodging. Guides, porters and pack yaks are readily available at Yuksam. Tents, sleeping bags and other trekking equipment are also available for rent at Yuksam. Yuksam was the first capital of Sikkim and it was here that the first Chogyal was consecrated by the three holy Lamas.

The spot where this ceremony took place in 1642 (Norbugang) can still be seen here. Overlooking Yuksam and about half an hour walk uphill is the Dubdi monastery, one of the oldest in Sikkim. The walk to Dzongri begins with the track skirting meadows and meandering past huts. After an hour of a flat track which is crossed by small foot or two wide streams whose waters seem to be in a hurry to meet the river below, the climb begins. A walk of another four hours on a path lined with sky embracing trees and carpeted with leaves falling from the surrounding vegetation takes you to Bakhim, which has a trekkers' hut. Tshoka itself is a small village consisting of about a dozen houses and a monastery. To cater to the tourists, most of these houses offer accommodation and food at a nominal cost.

Enchey Monastery

This monastery is located just adjacent to the Tourist lodge (Siniolchu Lodge) and the TV tower about a kilometer up hill from the white Hall. The monastry is located in a dense wood and one can see the Kanchendzonga range over the crown of trees. Lama Druptod Karpo is supposed to have built a small hermitage at this spot after he flew here from Mawnam Hill more than two hundred years ago. During the reign of Sidkeong Tulku, a monastery was built here in l90l in the from of a Chinese pagoda. The monastry follows the Nyingma order and the main puja and dance are held here on the l8th and l9th of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar, which normally corresponds to the month of January.

Ganesh Tok & Pinetum

Ganesh Tok is located on the hill adjoining the TV tower. A small temple of God Ganesh nests on the hilltop at an altitude of 6,500ft. The temple is so small in size that it can hardly accommodate one person and one has to crawl to get inside it. A panoramic view of Gangtok town and the Raj Bhawan complex can be obtained from here. All the snowy peaks on the western border including the nightly kanchendzonga are visible from here and present a breathtaking scene. During the tourist season, a small cafeteria is opened for the convenience of the visitors. Just adjoining the Ganesh Tok is Pinetum garden containing pine trees. A walk on the footpath among the pine trees is refreshing.

Himalayan Zoological Park

The park is located exactly across the road opposite Ganesh Tok and covers an area of 205 hectares. This area is also known as Bulbuly and extends almost up to Hanuman Tok. Although a 3 kms long jepable road runs right through the park, vehicles are not allowed in. There is paved cement path that passes by fenced open-air enclosures housing the red pandas, barking deer, bears in a semi natural habitat. As enclosures encompass a huge area the animal are sometimes not easily visible and one has to be patient to get a sight of then. Making noise drivers away the animals to take refuge behind bushes.