PLACES TO SEE IN SIKKIM

Gangtok is the capital and the largest town of Sikkim. It is nestles between Eastern Himalayan range. This headquarter of the East Sikkim district was built at an elevation of 5,500 feet above sea level. When the clouds clear, it is possible for one to to see all the way to Khangchendzonga's floating peaks. The city is refreshingly clean and is also well organized. Most tourists spend a couple of days here, make travel arrangements and go for sightseeing. Some of the popular sights include, Tashi View Point, Namgayal Institute of Tibetology, Enchey Monastery and man more. It is also a famous spot for those people who are heading off on treks.

The Tsomgo Lake, which is also known as the Changu Lake, is a water body made of a glacier. This makes it one of the best places to visit in Gangtok. It is located at a height of 12310 feet above sea level. The Tsomgo Lake is one of Sikkim’s top tourist attractions. The lake is 35 km away from Gangtok, en route to the Nathula Pass. Tsomgo lake is one of India’s highest lakes above sea level. It is famous for its natural beauty among the tourists. The sight of the snow cover hills, which surround this beautiful reflecting on the Tsomgo Lake is one memory that you can adore forever. The lake is almost 1 kilometre in length and it is shaped like an egg.

It is located in northern parts of Sikkim. These wavy meadows, the grazing yaks by the banks of wild Teesta river and the numerous hot springs in the middle of the towering mountain peaks make Yumthang valley among the top places to visit in Sikkim. The valley of flowers is located at a height of more than 11,000 feet above sea level and is around 150 kilometres away from Gangtok. In late February to March the locals celebrate the Losar festival which is focal points for tourists from all around the country. During the months of April and June, the Rhododendrons bloom and surround the valley in their full glory.

Lachung is a small town that glimmers like a morning star at a height of 9,610 feet above sea level in North Sikkim. Lachung is located at a distance of 118 kilometres from Gangtok and throughout your drive from Gangtok, the river Teesta will follow you alongside in its winding course. It is surrounded by apple orchards, pine forests, and many waterfalls. Lachung is a beautiful snow-capped Himalayan village. The convergence of two very important tributaries of river Teesta- Lachung and river Lachen is also a point of interest en route in Chungthang, from where the road bifurcates into two routes: one which goes to Lachen, and another to Lachung.

This temple is located on a staggering height of 13,123 feet above sea level, Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple, also known as Baba Mandir, is nestled right between Nathula and Jelepla Pass. Baba Harbhajan Singh was an Indian Army soldier who had gave his life while on duty. His soul is said to roam the surrounding mountains for almost 50 years now.  Many have stated stories of the sightings of Baba Harbhajan, who has been spotted carrying a constant vigil at night, and warning the patrolling soldiers against future attacks. Over the course of time, the spot has turned into a pilgrim destination, and prayers are offered here regularly.

This beautiful park unwraps some unparalleled views of the Himalaya. Especially the views of of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest peaks. Singalila National Park spreads on the Singalila Ridge at about 7000 feet above sea level.  It was declared as a National Park in 1992. A huge area of this park can be covered on the way to Sandakphu and Phalut trek which are also the two highest peak of Singalila. Both stand with a proud height of more than 11,000 feet.  It easily finds its name amongst the places to visit in Sikkim. Here, the trails are covered with carpets of a wide range of rhododendrons, and orchids blooming in a variety of unique colours.

Green Lake is still an unexplored and a relatively lesser known destination in Sikkim. If you want to fix your eyes to the emerald green lake surrounded by snow-covered glaciers and mountains, make sure to visit this unexplored place. It serves as a spot to those people who are willing to climb Mount Kanchenjunga and Zemu glacier. Starting from Thangu village, the trek to Green lake passes through the alluring Kanchenjunga National Park and also brings forward the scenery of the convergence of the Zemu Chu and Lachen Chu which are two very important rivers of the region. To start your trek, from Gangtok you can drive to Lachen via Mangan and then Thangu. You should keep your eyes open for wildlife, especially for the rare specie of Red Panda found in the region.

Ravangla is a village at a height of around 8000 feet above sea level with magnificent landscapes painted by  Kanchenjunga and its sister peaks of Kabru,  Pandim,  Siniolchu. Embark on a journey to discover an unpopular quaint village nestled in the middle of the high mountains of Eastern Himalayas in South Sikkim. Rayong sunrise viewpoint, Temi Tea Garden, Relang hot spring and Ralang monasteries are few local attractions that can pique interest among travellers and tourists. The winding roads which take you to these places and Ravangla are full of scenic views too.