Sikkim
Discover Sikkim
Sikkim (Nepali: सिक्किम; Sikkimese: སུ་ཁྱིམ་) in East India, is a mountainous border state in the Himalayan foothills. It is bounded by China (Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan to its north, west and east respectively, with West Bengal forming its southern border. It is a place of great natural beauty. The steep, snow-capped mountains will take your breath away, not just figuratively because of the view, but also literally due to their altitude. Through its deep valleys flow two important rivers, rapidly in the north, getting somewhat sluggish in the south. Streams and waterfalls that will have you reaching out to your camera can be found at every turn of the winding ghat roads. Apart from its natural beauty, Sikkim has much to offer with its monasteries offering a glimpse of Tibetan Buddhist culture, while its food reflects Tibetan and Nepali cultures.
What to Experience in Sikkim
This grand park is also known as Tathagata Tsal. The Buddha statue is the fourth-tallest statue in India.
Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world and in India, located at an altitude of 5,430 m (17,800 ft). Located in the state of Sikkim in India, It is considered sacred by Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.
Fresh Water And Sunshine Reflection Beautiful Nature
a scenic view of a winding mountain road
snow covered mountain near body of water during daytime
Tathagata Tsal - Ravangla, Sikkim, IN
Tathagata Tsal - Ravangla, Sikkim, IN
lake near snow covered mountain under blue sky during daytime
practicing with their drum
a scenic view of a valley with mountains in the background
Taste of Sikkim...
Delicious momos stuffed with meat (also known as 'Dumpling'). For vegetarians, veg momos are also available along with Thukpas (noodle soup). Phagshapa is a strip of pork fat stewed with radishes and dried chillies.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Sikkim into what it is today.
For a long time, Sikkim was a Buddhist kingdom, isolated in the Himalayas, populated by Lepchas and Bhotia, two tribes of Tibetan origin, and governed by the Namgyal Dynasty from Tibet. Sikkim was declared a British protectorate in 1861. The British government encouraged the immigration of Nepalese workers, and today about 75% of the population is Nepalese. Sikkim was an Indian protectorate from 1947 until 1975, when after a couple of years of unrest, a referendum criticized by some resulted in overwhelming approval of a proposal to abolish the monarchy (which had continued to rule during Sikkim's years as a protectorate), and Sikkim later that year became the 22nd federal state of India. Though it had long been the subject of a territorial dispute between China and India, in 2003, China a...
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAn Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required and provided upon arrival for foreigners. Upon arrival, have your passport, a photocopy of it, of your visa to India and passport photos ready at the check post. When entering and exiting Sikkim, your passport will be stamped much in the same manner as when crossing national borders. Obtaining a permit is a pure bureaucratic formality and usually takes a few minutes. You will need to fill in an application form and provide a few passport photos (3 to visit ...
Regions
Explore AreasTill December 2021, Sikkim was divided into 4 administrative districts, rather imaginatively called North, South, East and West. The last two have been sub-divided since, forming two new districts. Th…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Most travel in Sikkim is done by bus or jeep on road. Trekking is also a popular option. There are many adventure activities possible to do in Sikkim. Tourists can go for trekking, rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, mountaineering Para Gliding and yak safaris. Trekking is a popular adventure activity in Sikkim. Some of the popular trek routes are: Large stretches of the two major rivers of Sikkim, Teesta and Rangit are suitable for rafting. The experience of dangerous, yet exciting, sports l
Language & Talk
The official language and lingua franca of Sikkim is Nepali, though Sikkimese is the most common native language of locals. Many other languages such as Dzongkha and Tibetan are also spoken by smaller numbers. However, Hindi is also widely spoken as a second language, and all educated people are able to speak English. An Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required and provided upon arrival for foreigners.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Sikkim
This grand park is also known as Tathagata Tsal. The Buddha statue is the fourth-tallest statue in India.
Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world and in India, located at an altitude of 5,430 m (17,800 ft). Located in the state of Sikkim in India, It is considered sacred by Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.
Fresh Water And Sunshine Reflection Beautiful Nature
a scenic view of a winding mountain road
snow covered mountain near body of water during daytime
Tathagata Tsal - Ravangla, Sikkim, IN
Tathagata Tsal - Ravangla, Sikkim, IN
lake near snow covered mountain under blue sky during daytime
practicing with their drum
a scenic view of a valley with mountains in the background
This grand park is also known as Tathagata Tsal. The Buddha statue is the fourth-tallest statue in India.
Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world and in India, located at an altitude of 5,430 m (17,800 ft). Located in the state of Sikkim in India, It is considered sacred by Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.
Fresh Water And Sunshine Reflection Beautiful Nature