Travel to Sikkim, the Jewel in India's North-East: Top 10 Places to Visit in Sikkim That Will Leave You Spellbound (2019)

The history of Sikkim is much like its landscape: peppered with peaks and valleys, or metaphorically ups and downs. It is also as interesting as the mysterious expanses of the yet unexplored high altitude mountains. But standing tall among these excerpts of history is the tale of the founding of Sikkim. In the 13th century, a Tibetan prince by the name of Guru Tashi received a divine vision that instructed him to travel south and seek his fortune in the “valley of rice” or Denzong. He did so and took his family along with him. On their travels, they came across a kingdom called Sakya. The people there were trying to erect pillars to build a monastery but were unsuccessful. The eldest son of Guru Tashi single-handedly raised those pillars and got the title of Khye Bumsa or the “chief of 10,000 heroes”. The Sakya king offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to Khye Bumsa and thus began the glorious empire of Sikkim.

The ancient and deep-rooted history and culture of the place has given rise to one interesting phenomenon. The lore and narratives of the various mountain tribes of Sikkim have given birth to many legends and myths that got associated with important landmarks of the state. Though some might complain that those are nothing more than deluded fantasies, yet nobody can deny that they bring alive the rich history of the place. Here are 3 popular myths associated of Sikkim.

Baba Harbhajan Singh was an Indian soldier who died in a tragic accident in 1968. A search for his body went in vain and all hope of ever finding it was lost until one fated day when Baba Harbhajan Singh himself led the search party to his body. Before you start imagining apparitions guiding the soldiers, let me inform you how that mysterious event occurred. One of Baba Harbhajan’s fellow soldiers had a dream where he came and informed him that he had an accident and gave him the exact location where his body was. Lo and behold, the search party found the body in the exact spot mentioned. Whether this story is true or not, it sure gives the chills to anyone hearing it. Baba Harbhajan Singh also expressed in that dream, his wish to have a Samadhi made in his honour and the Indian Army fulfilled it. A temple was built with all belongings a person usually requires like bed, furniture, water, etc. There are many accounts even now of army men seeing a man riding about on a horse at night as if keeping a vigil. Many believe that to this day, Baba Harbhajan Singh warns the soldiers of any impending danger or attack by appearing in their dreams. The Samadhi of Baba Harbhajan Singh is open throughout the year for visitors to pay their respects or visit it just out of curiosity.

The legend of Yeti is a universally famed myth. It is said that the Yeti is a 10 feet tall hairy creature that resides in the high altitudes of the Himalayan region. Apart from being unlike any other creature on this planet, the Yeti can vanish into thin air. The legend of Yeti has drawn many travellers from across the globe to the Himalayas and inspired many books and films. The local people call the Yeti by the names Bon Machi and Migou. Though there has not been any conclusive scientific or rational evidence of the existence of the Yeti yet the local population ardently believes in it. They even claim to have heard it whistling.

The Khecheopalri Lake is famous for its beauty, its ambience and the belief associated with it which gives it the credit of fulfilling wishes. Many legends are surrounding this lake. One says that it was the spot where Lord Shiva used to meditate and so the place is divine which allows the lake to have wish-fulfilling properties. Another legend attributes the magical properties of the lake to the presence of a divine gem belonging to the Lake Goddess. This legend speaks about a Lepcha girl who was gifted a gem by the Lake Goddess but unfortunately, she lost the gem in the lake and it has been there ever since. This divine gem makes your wishes come true. Whether you believe it or not, that is up to you, but it sure gives the lake a narrative that goes with its remote and tranquil setting.

Mountains rank very high among travellers in terms of tourist destinations. Not only are mountains beautiful but they also possess a mysterious charm that makes them all the more attractive. Most parts of a mountain are not habitable thus you can find unadulterated nature there. Also, the topography gives rise to many waterfalls, and opportunities for trekking, rafting and other adventure sports. Sikkim is one such destination where you get the best of mountain experiences. Starting from the mesmerizing natural beauty to the interesting lore of the local culture, Sikkim will not fail to enthral you. There are many popular destinations in Sikkim. Follow this BP Guide to plan your itinerary so that you may get a complete experience of the place.

Nathu La Pass is an important location politically, geographically and for travelling. Politically because it is one of the three open trading passes between India and China and is located on the Indo-Tibetan border, geographically because it is one of the highest motorable roads in the world and for travelling because it is a picturesque location surrounded by beautiful, snow-covered mountains. Nathu La Pass records extremely low temperatures for the most part of the year except in the summer season and so you would find it flocking with tourists at that time. People visit it to enjoy the scenic beauty and do some intermediate to expert level trekking. Nathu La Pass is also home to Himalayan wildlife. You can spot Tibetan gazelle, yaks, snow leopards, Tibetan wolves and other regional wildlife in the area.

Lachung is a small town situated in North Sikkim and is a tourist hub for its scenic beauty. It is a place where you relax in the lap of the mountains while getting a glimpse of daily life in a mountainous abode. The town is situated at a spot where the tributaries Lachung and Lachen meet. This coupled with its mountainous geography gives rise to many waterfalls. Thus, this town is situated amidst unparalleled scenic beauty surrounded by snow-capped mountains, gushing waterfalls and a variety of local fruit orchards like apricots, peaches and apples. Lachung’s local market sells exquisite tribal handicrafts like rugs, blankets, etc. You can buy some souvenirs from this market for your friends and family back home.

Pelling is a small town situated 6,800 ft above sea level in the aesthetic west district of Sikkim. It is the second most visited place in the state after Gangtok, Sikkim’s capital. There are two main attractions of the place, one is a wide view of the Kanchendzonga Peak and the other is the Pemayangtse Monastery. It is also a site for many mountain adventure sports like mountain biking, rock climbing, etc. The presence of the monastery also makes it a magnet for people looking for meditation sessions and trying to unravel the mysteries of the soul. Village tours are also conducted in the area and Pelling is also a base for trekkers aiming for the lofty crags of the Himalayas.

Namchi is another prosperous town situated in the south district of Sikkim. Due to the presence of quite a few monasteries, this town is quickly becoming a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists. There are two gigantic statues in Namchi which draw tourists throughout the year. The specialty of the statues is that they are on two separate hillsides that face each other, so the statues are like two sentinels overlooking the town of Namchi from opposite sides. You can get exquisite views of the Kanchenjunga, and Rangit Valley from the town and get to see several monasteries as well. There is also a Rock Garden just outside the town that houses unique flowers and plants which are a sight to behold in the spring season when they are in full bloom.

There are many lakes in Sikkim and there is no doubt that all of them are beautiful but Tsongmo Lake deserves a special place amongst them. Popularly known as Changu Lake, it is on the itinerary of every traveller and rightly so. It is located along the Nathu La- Gangtok Highway at a dizzying height of 12,400 ft above sea level. It is a glacial lake, the waters of which change colour according to the seasons: in the monsoon, it is aquamarine blue, in winters the lake freezes and sports a pale white look and in summer it is a clear blue that reflects the vibrant colours of the surrounding foliage. This lake has immense cultural and religious significance for the Bhutia people. There was once a time when Buddhist monks used to predict the future based on the changing colours of the lake. But there is more to Changu Lake than just this impressive narrative. It is set amidst a dense alpine forest and is enveloped by snow-capped mountains. When nature is in its full bloom, the area looks like a painting made by a divine hand.

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim and is one of the most popular hill stations in India. The city is perpetually nestled in clouds and surrounded by mountain ranges and pristine beauty. Only in Gangtok can you see the harmonious blend of urbanization and natural beauty. This is a base to many trekking camps in the lofty Himalayas and the access point to many popular destinations of Sikkim. The cable car service gives a bird’s eye view of the city. The winding roads, the houses on the side of the hills, the intermittent cloud obstruction, the culture of the native people and the surrounding beauty makes Gangtok nothing short of paradise on earth.

The Gurudongmar Lake is considered a holy lake whose waters are said to have healing powers. Situated at a height of 17,100 ft above sea level, it is the second-highest lake in Sikkim after Cholamu Lake and one of the 15 highest lakes in the world. River Teesta, an important river in eastern India, is fed by this lake. The lake is surrounded by unparalleled scenic beauty with exquisite views of the Kanchenjunga range and Mount Siniolchu. A “Sarva Dharma Sthal” is located near this lake where people from all religions can worship and pay respect to their Gods.

The Rumtek Monastery is an important place of worship for Buddhists in Sikkim. Perched on top of a hill just outside Gangtok, the Rumtek Monastery was founded and is run by the Kargyu sect of Buddhists who had originated from Tibet in the 12th century. It houses a shrine, a golden stupa and other relics that were owned by the 16th Karmapa. There is a walkway around the stupa where devotees can perform the kora. Besides having an immense religious significance, the monastery is also the focal point of natural beauty. It is surrounded by verdant and lush green mountains and the entire city of Gangtok can be seen from the top of the monastery.

A trip to Sikkim is incomplete without a trekking tour. Trekking is the specialty of any mountain destination and if your health permits then you must not give up this opportunity. Goecha La is a mountain pass situated on the south-eastern face of the Kanchenjunga range and is the base camp to many peaks on that side of the mountain. It is at a height of 4940 metres above sea level and can be accessed via Yuksom after a trek of about 4 days. Goecha La-Yuksom is a popular trekking trail for intermediate level trekkers or people who want to experience trekking. The trekking trail is comparatively benign and doesn’t require you to be adept or skilled in mountain climbing.

Thangu Valley is a small village that is usually treated like a stop-over on the way to high altitude attractions of Sikkim like Gurudongmar Lake, Cholamu Lake, etc. Trekkers and tourists start early from Gangtok, reach Thangu by nightfall, stay the night and continue on their journey the next morning. This quaint rural region is perfect for a relaxing getaway. The village is a cozy nest amidst beautiful nature and is pollution-free thus allowing for a therapeutic escape should you find yourself in need of that.