SIKKIM
A Himalayan wonderland, Sikkim is settled in the lower regions of the eastern Himalayas and nature has presented this state with unique beauty.
The state is gifted with a more prominent assortment of vegetation and undisturbed valleys, five climatic zones, a peaceful environment and a rich social legacy that is unequaled and would be elusive anyplace else.
Among its mountains is the spectacular Kanchenjunga is the third most elevated mountain on the planet. Sikkim is additionally the least crowded state in the Indian association. Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim is located at a height of more than 5,000 feet above sea level
Neighbours
It shares its domestic borders with West Bengal and its international borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet.
West Bengal
Nepal
Bhutan
Tibet
Must Visits
Tsomgo Lake
38 km from Gangtok and at an elevation of 12,400 ft, the beautiful Tsomgo lake is located. Of unbelievable beauty, the lake appears to be unique at different seasons. In winter the serene lake stays frozen with the zone around it canvassed in snow. In late spring the abundance of flowers blossoms around the lake
Yumthang
Yumthang Valley is amazingly picturesque, with green slopes covered with trees, yaks nibbling in the blossom radiant grass fields beneath, and a river streaming directly through the valley. The peaceful and serene quality of the Valley can't be portrayed in words
Rumtek Monastery
The lavish green hilly landscape, amazing geology and misty mountains make Rumtek a perfect spot for some tranquil time. The Rumtek Monastery is the largest monastery in Sikkim it exhibits the best of Tibetan engineering and is the closest replica of the original monastery in Tsurpu in Tibet.
Nathu-La Pass
Situated around 56 kms from Gangtok at an elevation of 14450 ft, the way to Nathula goes through the Tsomgo lake. It is one of the highest motorable roads on the planet and is lavishly encompassed by snow-capped verdure. Tourists are permitted to go near the international border from where you can see Chinese warriors on the opposite side of the security fencing.
Festivals
The Sikkim festivals are celebrated with a ton of ceremonies and pomp. it is mainly celebrated according to the Buddhist calendar. All through every one of these celebrations, the residents of Sikkim enjoy dynamic and vivacious dance and music.
Chaam, one of the most intriguing type of ritual dance performed by the Lamas, which includes brilliantly colored masks and musical instruments and happens at the different monasteries across Sikkim while these celebrations are on
Losar
Losar festivity is one the happiest times of the year and is observed with a great deal of religious, cultural and merrymaking for up to 14 days. Losar festivity is the point at which one could observe and taste the best of the Tibetan culture and cuisines. Men, ladies, and youngsters are in the best of their traditional clothes.
Saga Dawa
The Saga Dawa Festival commends the birth, demise and enlightenment of Buddha, and it is accepted that all positive and negative activities are multiplied subsequently. For Tibetan Buddhists, the period of Saga Dawa is the most auspicious time for exemplary activities. Exemplary acts incorporate journeys to sacrosanct places.
Pang Lhabsol
Pang Lhabsol, Sikkim's most significant indigenous festival, comprises of a progression of ceremonies and religious moves held out in appreciation for Sikkim's mountain deity, Kanchenjunga, and all the land's guardian deities.
Loosong
Loosong celebrated all over Sikkim at the end of the tenth month of the Tibetan Calendar denotes the end of the harvest season. Thanking for a good harvest and appealing to God for an even better yield next year, the celebration is set apart by religious masked dances in Enchey Monastery. The dances symbolize the exorcising of evil spirits and the inviting of the good spirits for the new year.
Bhumchu
Bhumchu is a yearly celebration in Sikkim held at Tashiding Monastery. A holy vase utilized by Guru Padmasambhava himself is as yet kept inside the monastery. The degree of water contained in the jar is measured every year. The level of water predicts the future for the coming year. A small fraction of the holy water is distributed among the disciples.
Cuisines
Consolidating the nearby impacts and the ones from the nations around, the Sikkim cuisines and made of plenty of layers of flavors. The Sikkimese food has significant impacts from Nepal and Tibet.
Sha Phaley (Non - Vegetarian)
Sha Phaley is bread stuffed with seasoned pork or chicken and cabbage. Fashioned into semi-circular or circular shapes and is either deep-fried or pan-fried
Churpi Ningro (Vegetarian)
Churpi Nigro Curry gives your taste buds a delicious Sikkimese experience. This is made with cow or yak milk cottage cheese and fiddle head fern.
Phagshapa (Non - Vegetarian)
Phagshapa is a Nepali Pork dish from Sikkim. It is strips of pork fat stewed with radishes and dried chillies
Kinema Curry (Vegetarian)
Kinema is a traditional fermented soybean food having a characteristic stringy property with unique flavor, commonly served along with rice
Thukpa (Non - Vegetarian)
Thukpa is a Himalayan noodle soup, usually served with meat and is really delicious with lean chicken
Masauyra (Vegetarian)
Masauyra is a fermented black gram, ball-like hollow product consume as spicy condiment. It’s curry is enjoyed thoroughly in Sikkim
Dessets
Like all, desserts are the favorite part of the meal in Sikkim. Cakes, pastries, sweet breads are loved all over Sikkim
Dhan ki Kheer (Sweet)
This is exactly like a normal rice pudding but in place of rice millets are used.
Sel Roti (Savoury)
A savoury rice bread & resembles a large thin puffed-up doughnut and has a crispy texture with a reddish-brown color.
