If your heart is set on unlimited adventures in an uncrowded, unpolluted space, the great outdoors of Sikkim will draw you in with its intense natural beauty imbued with a mystic aura. For culture buffs, its ancient legends and myths and colourful history make Sikkim the perfect holiday destination for all age groups.
While people are familiar with the fact that Sikkim is a great adventure hub, few are aware that it officially became the full-fledged 22nd state of the Union of India on May 16, 1975, in the wake of a referendum that abolished the monarchy.
For the unaware Sikkim used to be a hereditary monarchy ruled by the Chogyal dynasty from 1642 to 1975. It had managed to maintain its autonomy during British colonial rule and post Indian independence through several treaties. In 1950 Sikkim became an Indian protectorate, with India controlling defence, external affairs, and communication, while Sikkim retained internal autonomy. It’s been a little over 50 years since its merger with the Indian Union.
Bounded by Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, this mystical ‘lost horizon’ is now an integral part of what we know as the “Seven Sisters’ of India’s Northeast, comprising Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram. ‘Brother’ Sikkim has added an unfailing glitter to the splendour of these lesser visited but gorgeous ‘Seven Sisters’ in the Northeast.
Sequestered in the magical vistas of the Eastern Himalayas Sikkim is an alluring destination for its history and heritage, myths and mysticism. From its stunning snowclad pinnacles to its sacred lakes, from its virgin forest lands to its exotic wildlife it offers visitors a calendar full of adventures all year round.
Going Organic
In 2016, Sikkim transformed into the world’s first fully organic state, ridding itself of chemical pesticides and proving that it is possible for farming to be clean, profitable, and planet-friendly in one go.
What eco-conscious visitors have also loved is that their innovative bamboo water bottles, which have replaced plastic alternatives, are biodegradable, reusable, and handcrafted. While they are eco-friendly, these bottles also support Sikkim’s artisanal heritage. The bamboo bottles are a symbol of responsible tourism and sustainable living.
Back in the day a culinary journey in Gangtok, first introduced to visitors to bamboo tumblers foaming with the local brew, Tongba or Chhaang, traditionally made by fermenting finger millet. The beer would arrive with a straw, also made from bamboo! The state has decided to expand the footprint of the bamboo tumbler by coming up with bamboo water bottles which now lead the way for the Sikkimese to chuck out plastic bottles.
Just Heaven
For the neighbouring Nepalese who arrived here it was Sukhim - ‘The New Place’; but it was quite simply ‘Nye-mae-el’- or ‘Just Heaven’, for its original inhabitants, the Lepchas.
From its checkerboard tracts of terraced paddy fields to its glittering snow peaks, dominated by Mt Khangchendzonga, searing the blue sky, the animist Lepchas were at one with nature in the truest sense. All of nature was held sacred. The primordial beauty and wonder which can still be endlessly still amidst those vast tracts of pristine peaks and valleys, lakes and rivers, sends poets and writers, photographers and painters into rhapsodies over Sikkim’s timeless magic.
Mystic Magic
The venerable Mt Khanchendzonga in the Singalila Range, is the world’s third highest peak at 8596 m. No mountaineer has set foot on its great snowy summit—so sacred and forbidding is that snowbound pinnacle. At best, visitors may trek to tourist designated sections of the Khangchendzonga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marked for its wealth of botanical beauty and wildlife.
The misty, fairytale village of Pelling, much beloved by visitors, offers superb views of the holy mountain. The prayer flag encircled Khecheopalri Lake, a tranquil wish-fulfilling waterbody, considered highly sacred by the Sikkimese, lies close by.
Glorious Adventures
A trek to the Goechala Pass at 5000m will blow you away as you feast your eyes on the great valley spread out at your feet. Punctuated by sparkling waterways and terraced slopes of paddy offer a landscape of emerald and sapphire backed by pristine white snow peaks glittering in the sun, it is truly magical. The valley is home also to the stunning Zemu Glacier, the largest in the Eastern Himalayas. From the Cholamu Lake here rises the feisty Teesta River, which begins its long journey, as a mere trickle before joining the mighty Brahmaputra. Today rafters revel in glorious white water rafting adventures on the Teesta, which is also accessible from Siliguri, en route to the hill town of Darjeeling— another great base for treks into the Singalila Range.
Gangtok, the state capital of is an excellent base for your forays into Sikkim’s great outdoors. A multi-dimensional holiday destination for all age groups, Sikkim offers an alluring mix of holy lakes, ancient monasteries, orchid nurseries, heli -tours and stunning trekking routes to explore.
In Gangtok itself you can enjoy a visit to the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, shopping at the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom and the local bazaars, and culinary adventures. A short distance away lies the ancient Rumtek Monastery, a huge draw with visitors for its splendid traditional architecture, carved and painted woodwork, magnificent murals and treasures of manuscripts and icons. The nearby Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden is set in a tract of virgin temperate forestland. The snowy drive to the mystical Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La, a pass located on the old trade route between India and China, are unforgettable experiences.
Bakkhim, the base for the beautiful Dzongri trek, is a banquet for the senses with over 20 varieties of rhododendrons. Dzongri is renowned for sightings of the cute red panda and black khaleej pheasant. Pemayangtse is Sikkim’s second oldest monastery and an ideal base for trekking to Yuksam where the Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism was established. Sikkim’s first Chogyal was crowned here in 1641. Yuksam is also the entry point to the Khangchendzonga National Park. Tashiding Monastery, built in 1717, is Sikkim’s most revered shrine.
Culinary adventures
What makes a Sikkimese meal so alluring for eco-conscious travellers is that the people prefer to source organic raw materials for their dishes and drinks.
Did you know that rural households across Sikkim have traditionally maintained their own breweries? While Tonga beer is very familiar to most travellers, another interesting option is rhododendron wine or Guras ko raksi. This is made from the showy rhododendron flowers, which abound in its forest lands from February to April. The kick comes from the crushed flowers being fermented with rice or millets. Imbibed on special occasions it’s also supposed to be good for easing headaches, cough and fever.
A Sikkimese meal is a wonderful mix of both veg and non-veg offerings. Typically, you would get servings which are drawn from Tibetan, Nepali and Lepcha culinary traditions. Rice can be paired with Ningro (Fern), Baas ko Tusa (Bamboo-Shoot), Cheuw (Mushrooms), etc. Organic vegetables options include Iskus (Chayote/ Squash), Pharsi (pumpkin), Pharsi ko Munta (Pumpkin leaves), Kinema (Fermented Soyabean), and Dalle Chillies (Hot Fire Balls).
Sikkimese love their meat with both fresh and processed mutton, beef, pork, chicken and fish being served at most meals. Beverages like the local Arra (homemade whiskey), and Chaang typically compliment these offerings.
Looking for a shining back-to-nature, organic holiday experience? Look no further, as Sikkim beckons.