Must Visit Tourist Places and Attractions in Sikkim
Colourful valleys, misty hills, semi-frozen lakes, stunning Buddhist shrines, smiling faces, and enormous snow-clad peaks of Himalayas guarding these dreamy landscapes – no wonder all the top things to do in Sikkim are on everyone’s Travel Wishlist. From paragliding, river rafting, cable car rides, challenging treks, shopping, sightseeing, to birdwatching, there is no dearth of activities in the breathtaking realms of Sikkim for all kinds of travelers. While browsing customised Sikkim tour packages, make sure you include as many of these activities as you can in your Sikkim itinerary to make the most of your holiday.
Visit charming monasteries
Reveling in the unmatched beauty and calming demeanor of monasteries in Sikkim is one of the top things to in Sikkim. Out of the numerous monasteries in Sikkim luring travelers with unmatched beauty, the most prominent ones include Rumtek, Enchey, and Pemayangtse Gompa.
See the wild side of Sikkim
A scenic amalgamation of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers, snow-capped mountains, ancient forests, and more, the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Sikkim are some of the finest in the country. Kewzing and Khangchendzonga are two outstanding national parks in Sikkim that showcase an unsurpassed range of sub-tropical to alpine ecosystems.
Go rafting at Teesta
Meandering through the beautiful landscapes of Sikkim, Teesta is the lifeline of the state, and one of the best spots in Sikkim to try adventure sports like rafting. The great rapids of this ferociously gushing river are can be tamed only by the most experienced and crazy of rafters. One of the best things to do in Sikkim in December, river rafting in Teesta are the perfect spot for all thrill seeking souls and adrenaline junkies who think they can take on the rough and rugged rapids (2, 3, & 4) of this mountain river. Other than rafting, adventure seekers also have the opportunity to camp on the banks of Teesta.
Ride a yak
Riding on a yak is an altogether exhilarating experience. Yaks are adorable and friendly wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns found mostly in North-east India, Nepal, and Tibetan regions. In Sikkim, one can find amusingly decorated yaks with colourful woollens, strings, and bells near the scenic Tsomgo Lake, where they can be hired for a ride on the outskirts of the half frozen lake. Owing to their peculiarity and adorable nature, riding a yak is among the top things to do in Sikkim for kids on a visit to Tsomgo Lake.
Have a delightful cable car ride
Witness the stunning beauty of Sikkim while soaring in the sky in one of the delightful gondolas. It’s one of the top activities in Sikkim for families with kids, honeymooners and adventure seekers as it lets one take bird’s eye views of the city gliding down from the highest points in the city. Covering a distance of 3 km in a whopping 20 minutes, the ride starts from 3 terminal stations in Gangtok, namely the Deorali Market (lower station), Nam Nang (intermediate terminal), and Tashiling (upper station), and one can enjoy a ride from any of these stations.
Tame the skies with paragliding
Feel the thrill associated with jumping off a cliff and flying over snowy mountains. Paragliding is the perfect answer for ‘what to do in Sikkim’ for those looking for adventure and adrenaline pumping activities in the state. Behold the surreal beauty of this enchanting land as you glide at an altitude of 2,200 meters over snow-capped hills, lofty mountains, green pastures, and remote fields for about 20-30 minutes. For the best paragliding experience, one should visit Sikkim during the Annual Sikkim Paragliding Festival held in Gangtok during the month of October and November when the weather is favourable.
Buy handicrafts from sikkim’s thriving markets
Other than adventure seekers and nature lovers, Sikkim is also the heaven of all shopaholics. The prominent markets of Sikkim, like MG Road in Gangtok, is flooded with sikkimese handicrafts and Tibetan goods like Chinese Feng Shui items, idols of Laughing Buddha and Dragons, New Year lamps, traditional dresses worn during Tibetan festivals, Tibetan cups, hand woven blankets, carpets, wooden and bamboo items, and more. Such artifacts are sure to make excellent gifts, souvenirs, and home decor items. While shopping may be one of the most exciting things to do in sikkim, it is best enjoyed when one respects the hard work put behind making these goods and doesn’t bargain unreasonably!
Savour North-eastern cuisine
How can we miss out food when talking about the top things to do in Sikkim. And when it comes to that, the North East never disappoints. Sikkim, in fact, boasts of the most finger licking variety of culinary delights found anywhere else in North East. The state houses some of the best multi-speciality restaurants where you can take your taste buds on a stimulating ride. When in Sikkim, foodies must not miss out on dishes like sisnoo, gundruk ka jhol, fermented soyabean chutney, and some scrumptious pork curry with a mouth watering aroma of fresh spices, to name a few.
Drive over the ancient Silk Route to Nathula Pass
When talking about what to do in Sikkim that’s both adventurous as well as scenic, one can’t miss out on the ancient Silk Route that leads to the phenomenal Nathula Pass, a prominent icon representing the Indo-China border at an elevation of 14,140 ft above sea level. It’s also one of the highest passes in the world. The silk Route that leads up to it lets visitors enjoy the most scenic journeys in Gangtok with views of hidden lakes, diverse flora and fauna, and even endangered species like snow leopards, Tibetan wolf, and the golden eagle if one is lucky. One needs to acquire a permit for entering Nathula Pass from the Tourism And Civil Aviation Department of Sikkim.
Seek Buddha’s blessings at Do Drul Chorten
The pearl white stupa of Dro Dul Chorten sits snugly atop a hillock in Gangtok, minutes away from the Research Institute of Tibetology. One is required to climb the steep uphill pathway from the stupa’s base in order to reach the main shrine. The stupa was built in 1946 by the celebrated lama Trulshik Rinpoche in order to drive away evil spirits. The stupa draws travelers from around the world with the ancient Buddhist relics that it houses and a shimmering golden top dome that is visible from different corners of Gangtok. It’s remarkably divine and spiritual aura is the reason visiting this place is one of the most fulfilling things to do in Sikkim for seekers of peace and enlightenment.
Visit the breathtaking lakes of Sikkim
Where else do you find Instagrammable striking blue lakes bordered by snow clad mountains than Sikkim? That’s right! The state boasts of some of the most picture perfect lakes in India including Gurudongmar and Tsomgo, the favourite abode of all travel and landscape photographers in the country. Turning into a bewitching spectacle of blue, green, and white, offer some of the best things to do in Sikkim in December to nature lovers and photographers.
Embark on the Goecha La Trek
The Goecha La trek is the one true love of every trekker visiting Sikkim. Tucked away in the magnificent Kanchenjunga National Park amidst the most colourful flora and fauna, Goecha La at an elevation of 16,000 ft is one hell of a destination with utmost beauty and astounding scenery. The trek commences from Yuksom before taking hikers through breathtaking landscapes filled with meadows and jungles of rare, exotic flowers. The trek eventually ends at the appealing Rathong Chu River, the final, yet mesmerising stop bordered by the Kanchenjunga peaks. Trekkers can go one step ahead and turn this expedition around with some camping, bonfire, and stargazing at the banks of this charming river. Trekking at Goecha La is among the best things to do in Sikkim in October and it takes about 10 days to cover the entire 90 km distance of the trek.
Take a steaming dip at the Yumthang Hot Springs
Out of some well known hot springs in North Sikkim, the Yume Samdong Hot Spring at Yumthang Valley is considered the best. Believed to possess enough healing powers to fix physical ailments like joint and back pains, taking a bath at this natural jacuzzi is among the best things to do in Sikkim in December, especially for people with arthritis. The hot springs are located few hundred yards away from Yumthang village and though one has to walk all the way across a pedestrian bridge on River Lachung to reach it, they’ll find it worth the effort after a scintillating dip. For the convenience of bathers, the place has been developed and now has a hut with two pools, each containing the hot spring water. The water from the natural spring is diverted to this pool where one can take a refreshing dip to rejuvenate their senses.
Visit the lush Temi Tea Gardens
The only tea estate in Sikkim, the picturesque Temi Tea Garden is set in along the West Sikkim highway with the snow covered Mt Kanchendzonga in the backdrop. The road to these uniform fields of green are lined with cherry blossom trees. Walking through these trees makes one feel like walking through a pink forest when these flowers are in full bloom. Spread across an area of 453 acres at an altitude of 1,200 to 1,800 meters, Temi produces about 100 metric tonnes of organic tea annually and conducts regular Tea Factory tours for tourists. So the next time you sit down to sip on some fresh organic tea, you’ll know where it originated!
Immerse yourself in flower-filled valleys of Yumthang
Owing to the fact that it’s home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Yumthang is sometimes popularly known as the ‘Valley of Flowers’. A kaleidoscope of colours, the valley houses over twenty four different species of rhododendron, the state flower. Trekking to the Valley of Flowers in Yumthang to witness this stunning paradise is undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Sikkim. With its breathtaking blend of flora and fauna apart from unmatched scenic beauty, the place is an ideal retreat for all nature lovers and photographers.
