Tourism in Sikkim India

Sikkim is the smallest state I the northeast. It covers the area of 112 km from north to south and 64 km from east to west. The elevation of the mountains rises from a mere 244 m in the Teesta River Valley to 8,540 m at the Mt. Kanchendzonga. Beyond Yumthang, is the high altitude desert in the extreme north of Sikkim.

Gangtok, the capital of the city of the state, offers picturesque view of the mountain ranges. The Tsomgo Lake is a glacial lake at a distance of 40 km from Gangtok. It is an ideal location for basking in the beauty of the nature. At a distance of 118 km is the Pemayangtse Monastery, which is the oldest monastery of Sikkim. The Emchey Monastery is the second oldest monastery of Sikkim. It is 200 years old.

Pelling, 2 km from the Pemayangtse Monastery, Ravangla and Ghezing are the unexplored towns worth visiting. These towns now have well-developed infrastructure for tourism. On the way to Pelling via Ghezing, you will come across the ruins of Rabdantse, which is an ancient capital. There is a short trekking route to Menam peak and Tendong from Ravangla. The sacred place of the Lepchas, the Khecheopalri Lake is at a distance of about 33 km from the north of Pelling. The mountains and thick forests surround the lake, which is also known as the 'Wishing Lake'.

Mangan is the headquarters of the North Sikkim. The places to visit in north Sikkim are Chungthang, deep in the valley, Lachung, Lachen, on a grassy flatland and Thangu, at a height of 13000 ft from where the high-altitude desert begins.

The Changu Lake at an altitude of 3,780 m is 35 km to the northeast of Gangtok. Only 20 km from the border of Tibet is the Nathu La Pass. You can visit the Kyongnosia Alpine Sanctuary on the way to Nathu La Pass where a riot of colors can be seen between the months of may and August when the wild flowers are at its full bloom.