Image Source: Hindustan Times
Sikkim is one of the North-Eastern states and is considered one of the most beautiful states in the seven sisters. It is one of the most sought-after tourist places in the northeast region of the country, popular for its unique culture. The land is bestowed with beautiful landscapes, high lying lakes, rolling lush green mountains, colorful rhododendron groves, milky waterfalls, Azure rivers, beautiful Buddhist monasteries, and unparalleled views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. The state capital is Gangtok, popular for its cleanliness, music and impeccable fashion scenes. Since the state has so much to offer, we decided to list out some of the best places to visit in Sikkim that perfectly encapsulate the beauty and culture of this place. Keep on reading to know all about these places.
The Tsomgo Lake is a water body made of a melting glacier making it one of the best places to visit in Sikkim. Located at an altitude of 12310 feet, Tsomgo Lake is one of Sikkim’s major tourist attractions. It is located 38 km from the state capital Gangtok and it is en route to the Nathula Pass.
This is one of India’s highest natural lakes and is well known for its natural beauty. The view of the surrounding snow cover hills reflecting on Tsomgo Lake is something that will leave you mesmerized. The lake is about 1 km wide and it is oval-shaped like an egg. During the wintertime, the lake remains frozen and offers a beautiful view of the winter season.
Nathula Pass is situated at an altitude of 14140 feet and this is one of the best places to be if you are a trekking enthusiast. The place is famous for its border trade market, Sherathang where tourists can buy different kinds of Tibetan items at a reasonable price. There is a place near Nathula pass named Kupup which stays covered in clouds and is popular for its Elephant Lake.
Yumthang valley or the valley of flowers is situated at an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level at about 128 kilometers from the state capital Gangtok and is one of the best places to visit in Sikkim, especially if you’re a flower lover.
The best time to visit the valley is from late February to March, during this time the locals here celebrate the Losar festival. During the month of April and June, the Rhododendrons bloom, engulfing the valley to its full glory.
Cradled at an altitude of 17,800 feet, Gurudongmar Lake is a high altitude lake in the lap of the Himalaya offering a very scenic and soothing experience to its visitors, one that will forever be etched in your memories. Encircled by snow-covered mountains, this lake stays frozen during the winter season, and during the summer season, the lake water reflects the sky and the mountains like a mirror creating a view that unparalleled to anything else you have ever seen before.
It is one of the highly sought after places to visit in Sikkim. And, is situated on the Northern side of the Kanchenjunga mountains which is located about 174 kilometres from the capital. As the place is close to the Chinese Tibetan border you have to take permits to visit the lake.
Standing tall at an altitude of 4,940 m above sea level, the high laying mountain pass of Goechala (Goecha La) is one of the best places to visit in Sikkim. Being close to some of the highest mountains of the Himalayas, the pass is one of the best destinations for all trekking enthusiasts in Sikkim. One of the best things about Goechala is the breathtaking view of Mt. Kanchenjunga’s southeastern face it offers.
Another interesting thing about this place is that the view of Goechala is so breathtaking that it was featured on the back of the 100 Rupee note of India.
Pelling is a small town located in the western hills of Sikkim at 7,200 feet above sea level. Being one of the lesser-known towns in this area, it is slowly catching the attention of travelers who like to explore the lesser-known parts of the country and see the true beauty of the place.
Pelling is a dream destination for trek and nature lovers. The city is blessed with heritage structures like centuries-old monasteries and beautiful waterfalls like the Kanchenjunga falls, Changey Waterfall, and the Rimbi Waterfall. The Pemayangtse Monastery and the Sanga Choeling Monastery are two of the main monasteries in this area that one should visit for their heritage and architectural significance if they are in Pelling.
So these were some of the best places to visit in Sikkim, spanning through lakes, falls, pass and cities offering something unique and worth remembering to its visitors. Make sure to add them up in your itinerary, whenever you’re planning to explore the beauty of North-East India.
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