Sikkim
"Home to the Kanchenjunga"
Best time: : March to June, September to December
Hills & Valleys | Rivers & Lakes :
"Home to the Kanchenjunga"
Best time: : March to June, September to December
Hills & Valleys | Rivers & Lakes :
Gangtok the capital of Sikkim lies at an altitude of 5,400 feet (1,640 m), facing Kanchenjunga. The most important building in the southern part of the city is the Choegyal's Palace, usually closed to visitors except for the Tsuklakhang Royal Chapel, where festivals and ceremonies are held. The palace itself opens once a year, during the last week of December, for the Pong Labsal festival during which masked lamas perform a dance to Kanchenjunga around a banner pole. The Government Handicraft Centre (open 10 am to 4 pm) was instituted with the aim of promoting and keeping alive the state's traditional art and crafts. The Cottage Industries is a storehouse of hand-woven woolen carpets with traditional motifs, blankets, shawls in Lepcha weaves and exquisitely carved choktse tables. The Research Institute of Tibetology the most prestigious one of its kind built in 1958 by the last Chogyal to preserve Tibetan culture, houses a library of more than 30,000 books on Buddhism, astrology, medicine and philosophy as well as a collection of thangkhas (Tibetan religious paintings on cloth).Today it is a renowned worldwide centre for the study of Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Rumtek Monastery, lies 14 miles (23 km) west of Gangtok, a 45- minute drive away. The monastery belongs to the Red-Hat (Karmapa) sect, a reformist branch of Tantric Buddhism, founded in the 15th Century. Built in the 1960s, it is traditional in design and is a replica of the original Kagyu headquarters at Tsurpu gompa in Tibet destroyed at the time of the Chinese takeover. The monastery houses some of the most unique religious art objects and is the largest one of its kind outside Tibet. The annual festival is held on the 28th and 29th days of the 10th month of the lunar calendar.
Enchey monastery situated 3 kms from Gangtok is a 200 year old monastery first built as a hermitage by the great Tantric master Lama Druptab Karpa known for his flying powers. Later during the reign of Sidyong Tulku (1909-1910) the present monastery was built in the shape of a Chinese Pagoda. It follows the Nyingma Order and has around 90 monks. The annual festival is celebrated with dances on the 18th and 19th days of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar which normally corresponds to the month of January.
After breakfast drive to Phodong monastery, situated 38 kms from Gangtok in North Sikkim. The original monastery, which belongs to the Kargug-pa sect, was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal in the first quarter of the 18th century. It has old mural paintings and has around 260 monks. The annual festival is performed on the 28th and 29th days of the tenth month of the Lunar calendar when the religious Chamms (dances) are performed. continue on to Labrang monastery, situated a km uphill from Phodong. Built about 100 years later than Phodong, it belongs to the Nyingma-pa sect. Just below the road betwen Phodong and Labrang are the ruins of the third capital of Sikkim - tumlong. In the beginninf of the 19th century, the capital of Sikkim was shifted from Rabdanste to Tumlong, which remained the capital for almost 90 years.
Pemayangtse (6840 feet/2085 meters) which has a Red Hat Nyingma-pa monastery, and is of the original sect built in 1705. It lies 140 kms from Gangtok and commands an impressive view of Mount Kanchenjunga. All other Nyingma monasteries in Sikkim are subordinate to it. The monks of Pemayangtse are usually from the leading Bhutia families in Sikkim. There are about 100 monks in this monastery. The monastery houses numerous religious idols and other objects of worship, most of which are precious because of their antiquity. On the top floor of the monastery there is a wooden structure depicting Sangthakpalri, or the Mahaguru's Paradise. This masterpiece was completed by the late Dungzin Rimpoche, who took five years to craft it single-handed. The main festival is on the 28th and 29th day of the twelfth month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, normally corresponding to the month of February.
Pelling, From here trek to Sanga Choeling monastery which was founded by Lhatsun Namgkha Jigme in the year 1697 AD. It is situated at about an hour's trek from Pelling. Climbing up towards the monastery come across the ruin of Pemalingpa monastery, Shukingte (Stone Throne) where Lhatsun Chenpo is believed to have sat and meditated. A "Shapji" - prints of horse hooves, described to the horse belonging to Guru Rimpoche can be seen on the stone. Like other monasteries it is located at a very commanding site.
Tashiding Ningma Monastery in the north. The drive is about 3 hours on a rough road, after which a 1 hour trek leads to the monastery. This beautiful monastery is an important place of pilgrimage and according to ancient belief, pilgrims are cleansed of all their sins if they pay homage to the great sacred chorten of Tashiding (Thongwa Rangdot). The monastery was built at the spot on top of a hill between Rangit and Ratong rivers, where a rainbow emanating from Mt. Kanchenjunga came to an end. At first a small lhakhang was built by Ngadak Sempa Chenpo in the 17th century. The main monastery was built by Pedi Wangmo during the reign of Chakdor Namgyal and some of the statues built then still exist. The sacred objects of worship in Tashiding are the chorten Tongwa Rangdol and Bhumchu, a sacred pot containing holy water blessed by Ngadak Sempa Chenpo after he had performed the Mane Mantra prayers five billion times. The holy water does not dry up nor spoil and continues to have the fresh smell even 300 years later. The sacred Bumpa containing the holy water is kept under seal and open for public viewing once a year on the 15th day of the 1st Tibetan month. The monastery houses about 60 monks and belongs to the Nyingma order. Return to Gangtok..
Pemayangtse (6840 feet/2085 meters) which has a Red Hat Nyingma-pa monastery, and is of the original sect built in 1705. It lies 140 kms from Gangtok and commands an impressive view of Mount Kanchenjunga. All other Nyingma monasteries in Sikkim are subordinate to it. The monks of Pemayangtse are usually from the leading Bhutia families in Sikkim. There are about 100 monks in this monastery. The monastery houses numerous religious idols and other objects of worship, most of which are precious because of their antiquity. On the top floor of the monastery there is a wooden structure depicting Sangthakpalri, or the Mahaguru's Paradise. This masterpiece was completed by the late Dungzin Rimpoche, who took five years to craft it single-handed. The main festival is on the 28th and 29th day of the twelfth month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, normally corresponding to the month of February.
Yoksum. visit Tso-Shuk- tso or Khechoepairiri Lake situated at a distance of 33 kms (2 hours drive) from Pemayangtse. It is a very serene and sacred lake. If one looks down from the top of the ridge the entire ridge complex around the lake looks exactly like the shape of Goddess Tara Jetsun Dolma with her right leg stretched and left leg bent with this sacred lake in her lap. Despite the face that this lake is surrounded by a forest, not a single leaf can be seen floating on the water. It is believed that one gets whatever he or she wishes at this lake. Visitors are requested not to smoke or do anything that might disturb the sanctity of this holy spot.
Yoksum, situated 40 kms (2 hours drive) from Pemayangtse is where in 1641 AD the first Choegyal Phuntsok Namgyal was consecrated by the three learned lamas; Lhatsun Namkha Jigme Kunzang Namgyal, Nadak Sampah Chenpo and Kathak Ringzin Chenpo. Yoksum literally means three Lamas in Lepcha as these three Lamas met there. Huge stone thrones where they sat and conducted the ceremony can still be found here. Norbugang chorten where Lhatsun Chenpo has buried all his belongings as being offered by the people commands the whole area. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is also located here.
Distance - 122 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 9800 ft.
This small town is located at an alt of 2735m, which is 123 kms from the capital. The journey takes almost 6-hrs drive and it is also a base for the Green Lake trek most of the mountaineering activities.
This new destination of the millennium, only opened on the 20th of December 2000, for domestic and foreign tourists. It's a natures gifted wonderland- infact words will fall short to describe the glory of this place. The people, culture, monasteries ,valleys flowers zone. The famous Yak race is Thangu, Chopta Valley and Domestic Tourists can also visit Gurudongmar Lake and Cholamu Lake, the source of river Teesta. Since this is a new destination ,the infrastructure is bare minimum and there could be some difficulties but all troubles are compensated by the beauty of the place. Its just too good.held annually at Muguthang, visitors can visit
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
The route continues from Lachen to gradual ascend of 28 kms through the mountain ridge leads to Thangu. Its alpine meadows are dotted with wooden houses and army camps. The calm water of Teesta flowing through the valley presents a fantastic contrast
At 24 kms from Lachung lies Yumthang, the rightfully called the Valley of Flowers as in Flowering season there blossoms vivid colours of variety of Rhododendrons, chimals and blue poppies. Yumthang is located on a flat valley and is near the tree line, the surrounding mountains seems to kiss the heavens. The journey from Lachung to Yumthang has a very picturesque landscape and is lined with Rhododendrons & 108 other types of Orchids which bloom in different colours from April to May. "Come as a visitor for a life-time experience." April and May promises colourful flowers, where as November end to March usually sees snows. Simple village folks spread scarcely admit the virgin landscapes is a food forever. Another peculiar feature of the valley is that, the valley totally covered with snow during the winter. Hence, while you see the flower bed in summer, you see snow bed in the winter.
A natural hotspring is another attraction of the tourist who are said to have had relief of their skin ailment after having bath there. The visit is on the passing of Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.
Yumthang valley is a mesmerizing scene with yaks grazing on flower - carpeted meadows against a backdrop of towering peaks. It has breathtaking views where one can become a part of a timeless scene without any kind of intrusion
