Sikkim is a small hilly state of the Republic of India and is located on the Eastern Himalayan Ranges. The state is home to hundreds of natural treasures. There are hundreds of splendid tourist attractions in this small Indian state of Sikkim. The state is home to several mountains which remains wrapped with snow during the winter season every year. Moreover, the state is home to several high altitude lakes, rivers and glaciers which are so majestic in look. If you want to spent some quality time in harmony with nature then Sikkim can be the best option for you. Also, Sikkim is one of the most famous honeymoon and holiday destinations in India. Needless to say, the state of Sikkim is a paradise for trekking and hiking enthusiasts and for the winter sports lovers also. Here, we have brought to you the list of the top 10 tourist attractions in Sikkim in order to help you select the best of the best tourist places in Sikkim on your next trip to the hilly state of India -
1. Gangtok
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Gangtok is a picturesque city located on the Himalayan foothills in the state of Sikkim, India. It is also the capital city of the Indian state of Sikkim located in the north-eastern part of the country. Being located at an elevation of 1650 meters above the sea level, Gangtok is home to several natural beauties (sceneries) and remains snow-cladded during the winter season.
MG Road, located at Gangtok is the most popular shopping street in Sikkim. Gangtok is also home to Namgyal Institute of Tibetology where you can see different Buddhist Statues, Lepcha Tapestries, Masks etc. There are several small and big Buddhist Monasteries in Gangtok and with this it has become a major Buddhist Pilgrimage site. The most notable and famous monastery, 'Rumtek Monastery' is located on the outskirts of Gangtok city in Sikkim. Also, the Himalayan city of Gangtok has several budget friendly and luxury hotels where you can have good stay and can have a taste of the local cuisines of Sikkim. Among all the major tourist places/attractions in Gangtok, the Gangtok Ropeway is the most popular one. Taking a ride on the Gangtok ropeway, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Gangtok city in Sikkim.
Some important information about Gangtok, Sikkim -
How to reach Gangtok, Sikkim - The city of Gangtok can be reached by roadways and by flight. As of now, the state of Sikkim has no rail connectivity with other states of India. Though, the state of Sikkim is expected to get railway connectivity by 2023 if everything goes well in time. The nearest airport to Gangtok is Pakyong Airport, which is located at a distance of 31 kilometres from Gangtok.
Hotels in Sikkim - There are so many budget hotels as well as some luxury hotels located in the city of Gangtok, Sikkim. Some of these hotels are listed below -
- Summit Golden Crescent Resort & Spa
- The Maple Residency Hotel
- Hotel Dew Pond
- Hotel Ninamma
- The Elgin Nor-Khill, Gangtok
- The Crown Inn
- Muscatel Bellevue etc.
- Bakthang Waterfall
- Gonjang Monastery
- Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary
- Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden
- Ban Jhakri Falls Park etc.
2. Kanchenjunga Base Camp
Mt. Kanchenjunga is the 3rd tallest Mountain peak in the world with a height of 8,586 meters. Trekking is prohibited to the top of Mt. Kanchenjunga as it is declared as a Buddhist sacred place. Though, trekking is allowed till the base of the Mt. Kanchenjunga in Sikkim. So, if you are a trekking enthusiast, you can enjoy trekking to the base of rhe 3rd tallest mountain peak, ' Kanchenjunga' in the Indian state of Sikkim. Also, you can enjoy the aesthetics of the Mt. Kanchenjunga staying at the Base Camps on Kanchenjunga.
3. Zemu Glacier
With a total of around 26 kilometres in length 'Zemu Glacier' is the largest and the longest glacier in the entire eastern Himalayan range as well as in the whole state of Sikkim. The Zemu Glacier is very spectacular in look and is one of the major tourist destinations in Sikkim. You can enjoy the beauty of the Zemu Glacier from both side of it. The splendour of the Zemu Glacier attracts thousands of tourists every year from across the country.
Some important information about the Zemu Glacier, Sikkim -
Location - The famous Zemu Glacier is located in the North Sikkim District of the Indian State of Sikkim to the eastern side of Mt. Kanchenjunga. The North Sikkim District is now known as the Mangan District.
How to reach Zemu Glacier, Sikkim - The Zemu Glacier can only be reached by roadways from the major cities/towns of the Indian state of Sikkim.
4. Khangchendzonga National Park
Khangchendzonga National Park is the only national park located in the Indian state of Sikkim on the eastern Himalayan range. It is huge biosphere reserve which covers a to all area of 1,784 sq. km. The Khangchendzonga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was declared as so back in July, 2016. The Khangchendzonga National Park is very rich in natural biodiversity as well as there's a presence of some old/ancient Buddhist monasteries or statues. And because of this vary fact, the Khangchendzonga National Park has earned the Mixed Heritage site badge from the UNESCO.
There are several varities of animals, plants and birds found in this national park. Some important animals/fauna found in the Khangchendzonga National Park are - Snow Leopard, Dhole, Mask Deer, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Tahr etc. And some important plants/flora found in this national park are - Maple, Oaks, Fir, Willow etc. The Khangchendzonga National Park is home several birds/avifauna eg, Osprey, Blood Pheasant, snow pigeon, green pigeon, satyr tragopan, cuckoo etc. So, if you visit the Khangchendzonga National Park, you can enjoy the rich natural beauty of the park as well as you might get a glimpse of most of the animals, plants and birds inside the national park.
Some important information about the Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim -
Location - The famous Khangchendzonga National Park is located in the North Sikkim District of the Indian state of Sikkim. On 21st December 2021, the North Sikkim district was renamed as Mangan District.
Timings - The Khangchendzonga National Park remains open on all the days throughout the year. And the daily timing of the park is from 10 AM in the morning till 4PM in the evening everyday.
How to reach the Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim - The Khangchendzonga National Park can only be reached by roadways. You can reach the Khangchendzonga National Park from different parts of the state by bike, car and taxi etc.
Entry Fee - Yes! You will be in need to buy ticket to get entry into the Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim. The entry fees are as follows -
- For the Indian citizens - ₹350 per person
- For the Foreigners - ₹560 per person.
Parking - Yeah! There's a dedicated parking parking lot/garage inside the Khangchendzonga National Park for the tourists visiting the park.
5. Tsomgo Lake
The Tsomgo Lake is relatively a small lake located in the East Sikkim district of Sikkim, India. The surface area of the lake is roughly about 60 acres in total. And the Tsomgo Lake remains frozen during the winter season.
The Tsomgo lake is hugely popular among the local Sikkimese people. And the reason behind it's huge popularity lies behind in its special phenomenon of reflecting different lights on different seasons. And the Tsomgo Lake is also a venue of the much celebrated Raksha Bandhan festival in Sikkim. Also, it's a very romantic place & is the reason why lakhs of people's visit this lake every year.
Some important information about Tsomgo Lake, Sikkim -
Location - The popular Tsomgo Lake is located in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. The Tsomgo Lake is located at a distance of about 40 kilometres from the state capital, Sikkim. The East Sikkim district is now known as the Gangtok District.
How to reach the Tsomgo Lake - You can reach the Tsomgo Lake by different mode of road transports from Gangtok as well as from the others parts of the Indian state of Sikkim.
Hotels nearby - There are no hotels located near the Tsomgo Lake in Sikkim. Though, there are several budget friendly hotels located in Gangtok which are located about 30-40 kilometres away from the lake. Some of these hotels are listed below -
- The Royal Demazong
- Noble Heritage Hotel and Resort
- Summit Norling Resort & Spa etc.
6. Pelling
Pelling is a beautiful small hill station or town located in the district of West Sikkim, Sikkim. The whole town of Pelling is located at an average elevation of about 1800 meters above the sea level. In the recent times, Pelling has emerged as one of the biggest tourist places in Sikkim because of creating attractions for tourists here in this hilly town of Pelling in Sikkim. Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Pelling are - Pelling sky walk, Chenrezig Statue, Singshore bridge, Pemayangtse Monastery, Rimbi Waterfall etc. Moreover, you can have a spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayan Ranges as well as the Mt. Kanchenjunga from this hilly town of Pelling Sikkim, India .
Some important information about Pelling, Sikkim -
Location - The beautiful town of Pelling is located at the West Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is located at a distance of 10 kilometres from the district capital 'Geyzing'. And for your information, the West Sikkim district was recently renamed as the Gyalshing District.
How to reach Pelling, Sikkim - The spectacular town of Pelling is well connected with the district capital, Geyzing as well as with Gangtok, the state Capital of Sikkim.
Hotels in Pelling, Sikkim - There are several budget friendly hotels located in the beautiful town of Pelling in Sikkim. Some of these hotels are listed below -
- Pelling Hotel
- The Sunrise Regency
- Hotel the Golden Ice
- Khi Gha Thang Retreat
- Green Leaf Resort
- Magpie Pachhu Village Resort
- Chumbi Mountain Retreat & Spa
- Hotel Himalayan Retreat & Resort etc.
7. Lachung
Lachung is a spectacular hill station located in the Indian state of Sikkim. The beautiful town of Lachung is located at the confluence of Lachung and Lachen rivers, which meets river Teesta here. The famous hill station Lachung is located at an elevation of 2900 meters above the sea level and remains wrapped with a blanket of snow almost all around the year. If you love nature and tranquility and want to enjoy snow sports then Lachung should be in your next visit list. And for your information, Lachung is one of most picturesque hill stations in India.
Some important information about Lachung, Sikkim -
Location - The beautiful hill station, 'Lachung' is located in the North Sikkim district near the Tibetan border. The North Sikkim district is now renamed as Mangan District.
How to reach Lachung, Sikkim - The only way to reach Lachung is via roadways. Lachung is well connected with most of the cities/towns of Sikkim through roadways.
Hotels in Lachung, Sikkim - There are several budget friendly hotels located in the town of Lachung in Sikkim. Some of these hotels are listed below -
- Hotel Golden Key Lachung
- Hotel Lachung Dynasty
- Magellan's The Golden Bridge
- Himalayan Residency
- Klifton Dokham Lachung etc.
8. Bakthang Waterfall
The Bakthang Waterfall is a majestic waterfall located on the outskirts of Gangtok at about 7 kilometres away from the state capital of Sikkim. The Bakthang Waterfall is fed by the Ratey Chu river, which originates from the great eastern Himalayan Ranges. The beauty of the Bakthang waterfall is very appealing and it's splendour attracts thousands of tourists every year. The Bakthang waterfall is a very easily accessible because it is located just by the side of Singtam Chungthang Road.
The Bakthang waterfall is a great destination for the tourists to get a selfie clicked, take a shower on the waterfall or take a dip at the shallow pool created the Bakthang waterfall. Overall, visiting the Bakthang waterfall can be a very pleasant experience while you are on a tour to the beautiful state of Sikkim in the northeastern part of India.
Some important information about Bakthang Waterfall, Sikkim -
Location - The famous Bakthang waterfall is located at Swastik, a place located on the outskirts of Gangtok at a distance of about 7 kilometres from the state Capital. The Bakthang waterfall falls under the Gangtok district of the Indian state of Sikkim.
Timings - To enjoy the splendour of the Bakthang waterfall, it is suggested to visit the waterfall at any time in between 7AM in the morning till 6PM in the evening.
How to reach Bakthang Waterfall, Sikkim - The beautiful Bakthang Waterfall is well connected via roadways with Gangtok, the capital city of the Indian state of Sikkim as well as with the other towns of the state. You can reach the Bakthang Waterfall by private car, bike, taxi etc.
Hotels nearby - There are several budget friendly hotels located in the close proximity to the Bakthang Waterfall, Sikkim. Some of these hotels are listed below -
- Udaan Hotels & Resorts / Woodberry Hotel& Spa
- Delight the Fortuna
- Cardamom Residency
- Chlorofeel The Z Retreat & Spa
- Hotel Mystic Valley etc.
9. Zuluk
Zuluk Or Dzuluk is a very tiny village located at the eastern part of the Pakyong district in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is located at a height of 9,400 meters above the sea level. Only a few hundred people's live here in this hamlet of Zuluk. It was earlier used as a transit point by the traders of Tibet and Nepal before the Sino-Indian war in 1962.
From the tiny village of Zuluk you can have a spectacular view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain Range as well as the Mt. Kanchenjunga. You can enjoy the ride through the switchsback roads while on your visit to Zuluk. In short, if you want to enjoy nature at its best, please visit Zuluk Or Dzuluk in Sikkim, India.
Some important information about Zuluk, Sikkim -
How to reach Zuluk, Sikkim - The Hamlet of Zuluk is easily accessible by roadways. So, you can reach Zuluk by private car, bike, taxi etc.
Hotels nearby - There are some budget friendly hotels and resorts located in the famous hamlet of Zuluk in Sikkim. Some of these hotels and resorts are listed below -
- Snow Lion Resort, Zuluk
- Hidden Paradise Resort Zuluk
- View Valley Homestay
- Ganga Sagar Homestay etc.
10. Rumtek Monastery
The Rumtek Monastery is the most popular and the biggest Buddhist Gompa in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is located on the outskirts of Gangtok at a distance of 24 kilometres from the state capital of Sikkim. The Rumtek Monastery is also known as the 'Dharma Chakra Centre' and is located on a hilly area at an elevation of 1500 meters above the sea level.
The Rumtek Monastery is spectacular in look and is located around a majestic surroundings. You can enjoy the beautiful view of the snow-cladded mountain range in the front from the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim in the winter season. The Rumtek Monastery is a very significant place for the Buddhist people's and is often frequented by them. If you are a nature lover and want to explore Buddhist art and architecture then Rumtek Monastery should be in your visit list on your next trip to Sikkim.
Some important information about Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim -
Timings - As Rumtek Monastery is a religious place so it remains open for 24 hours a day. Though, it is suggested to visit the monastery in the day light to have a spectacular view of the Monastery as well as its surroundings.
How to reach Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim - The Rumtek Monastery is connected via roadways with Gangtok as well as with other towns in the Indian state of Sikkim. So, you can reach the Rumtek Monastery by different modes of road transports e.g, bike, car, taxi etc.
Entry Fee - Yes, there's a need to buy ticket to get entry inside the famous Rumtek Monastery campus in Sikkim. And the entry charges per head is only ₹10.
Hotels nearby - There are some budget friendly hotels located in the close proximity to the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. Some of these hotels are listed below -
- Bamboo Retreat Hotel
- Teen Taley Eco Garden Resort
- Plato Home Stay
- Hotel Rumtek Dzong etc.
Nearby tourist attractions - There are several other popular tourist attractions located near the Rumtek Monastery. Some of these tourist attractions are listed below -
- Shanti Viewpoint
- Do Drul Chorten
- Hill Point, Namin
- Ban Jhakri Falls
- Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden
- Flower Exhibition Center - Ridge Park
- Namnang View Point etc.
Also Read:
Sikkim is the largest producer of Cardamom in India and is ranked 2nd in the whole world for the same. To know more such unknown and interesting facts about Sikkim, please visit the following link -
PlaceAesthetics/Top 10 most interesting facts about Sikkim
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