North East India Tourist Destination
  
Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas, Sikkim the 22nd state of India
came into existence with effect from 26th April, 1975. It is considered a Himalayan
wonderland with its lovely views and exotic orchids, and its forest-trails. A
virtual Shangrila overlooked by Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak,
Sikkim is attractive equally for the sightseer, the adventure sports enthusiast
and those interested in Buddhism and Tibetology.
Sikkim has been divided
into four districts and each district has further been bifurcated into two sub-divisions
for administrative purpose. Sikkim state being a part of inner mountain ranges
of Himalayas, is hilly having varied elevation ranging from 300 to 8540 meters.
A Brief History of Sikkim
 Sikkim
was inhabited in pre-historic times by three tribes namely Naong, Chang and the
Mon. The Lepcha who entered Sikkim sometimes later absorbed them completely. The
origin of Lepchas is shrouded in mistery but it seems that they belonged to the
clan of the Nagas of the Mikir, Garo and Khasia hills which lie to the south of
the Bramaputra valley. Some believe they came from somewhere on the borders of
Tibet and Burma. According to their own tradition they came to Sikkim from the
east in company with Jindaxs, who went to Nepal and shared their tradition. The
Lepchas were a very peace loving people, deeply religious and shy, which characteristics
they still have retained. They were in fact the children of nature, and worshipped
nature or spirits of nature. These Lepcha lived quite close to the nature by way
of leading sustenance. Some of them practiced shifting cultivation and raised
grains like maize and millets. They led a tribal life at the beck and call of
their tribal leader.
Location
Sikkim is a very small hilly
state in the Eastern Himalayas, extending approximately 114 Kms from north to
south and 64Kms from east to west, surrounded by vast stretches of Tibetan Plateau
in the North, Chumbi Valley of Tibet and the kingdom of Bhutan in the east, Darjeeling
district of West Bengal in the south and the kingdom in Nepal in the west . The
state being a part of inner ranges of the mountains of Himalayaa has no open valley
and no plains but carried elevations ranging from 300 to 8583 mtrs above means
sea level consisting of lower hill, middle and higher hills, alpine zones and
snow bound land, the highest elevation 8583 mtrs. being the top of the Mt. Kangchendzonga
itself.
Climate
The climate of the state has been roughly
divided into the tropical, temperature and alpine zones. For most of the period
in a year, the climate is cold and humid as rainfall occurs in each month. The
area experience a heavy rainfall due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal. The
rainfall in north district is comparatively less than of the other districts.
The general trend of decrease in temperature with increase in altitude holds good
every where. Pre-monsoon rain occurs in April-May and monsoon (south-west) operates
normally from the month of May and continues up to early October.
TREKKING IN SIKKIM
North
Sikkim trekking expedition to Green - Lake
Perhaps the most beautiful
of the districts, the north offers an exquisite experience for the lover of nature
and alpine scenery. Yumthang alone is enough to satiate the most demanding, with
it's panoramic valley of flowers. During springtime the lush meadows abound with
delicate wildflowers that carpet the valley floor in a rich riot of colors. A
must-see here are the hot springs and the vibrant Sikkimese tribal culture and
customs.
Rhododendron Trek
This trek takes one through Darjeeling
, its tea plantation and on to exciting Goecha-La in Sikkim. Here one traverse
at the base of Kanchenjunga. In this trek one walks through verdant tropical and
alpine forests where a great variety of orchids and Rhododendrons and Primuleas
carpet the alpine terrain. The valleys are warm and one can expect temperatures
around 350C while night temperature drop below 0 C
Yoksum To Dzongri
& The Guicha La
If one is in search of adventure, the west is the
district to visit. The west district lives up to its proverbial name as being
wild and free as it is the base from where all treks into the wilds of the majestic
Himalayas begin. Whether it's white water rafting down the frothing waters of
the Teesta and Rangit, or trekking through the beautiful and dense Rhododendron
forests, the west district has it all.
READ
MORE ABOUT SIKKIM TREKKING
River Rafting in Sikkim
River rafting enthusiasts have two rivers the Teesta and Rangit gushing through
paradise country. The Teesta (also spelt as Tista) experience takes one rafting
from Makha down to Sirwani and Sirwani to Rangpo. The Rangit (also spelt as Rangeet)
expedition is from Sikip to Nayabazar to Melli.
Beginners as well as
experienced adventurers can seek the assistance of the Department of Tourism and
travel agents for arranging river-rafting trips.
READ
MORE ABOUT RIVER RAFTIN IN HIMALAYAS
Kayaking in Sikkim
Kayaking is undertaken on the Teesta and is arranged
for special groups. Kayaking is for the more experienced and requires some expertise.
Fibreglass kayaks of international standards are available on hire.
Yak Safari in Sikkim
A Safari With A Difference .Yak Safari is organized
from Dzongri onwards by Sikkim Tourism or organized Sikkim Travel agencies on
prior booking. An unforgettable experience!
Mountain Biking in Sikkim
Mountain Biking is another adventure that has been recently introduced in Sikkim.
Most of the roads in Sikkim are negotiable by mountain bikes. This sport is definitely
poised to become popular in Sikkim in the near future. The sport is being promoted
in most parts of North Sikkim & West Sikkim. For further details please contact
- Sikkim Tourism.
Facilities are also available for Mountain Biking
and Rock Climbing with instructors from the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute
in Gangtok.
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