The travel hub to the beautiful snow-capped mountains has always been the top priority for tourists to rejuvenate their busy cacophonous urban life to a refreshing mood. Sikkim, one of India’s smallest states wedged between Tibet, Bhutan and West Bengal, encompasses a staggering array of pristine natural beauty from the mighty Himalayas. A traveler is always entrenched by exploring Sikkim through its various tourist destinations nestled in the lap of the beautiful Himalayan city to get a heavenly feel. Perhaps Sikkim is destined to be the richest cultural state in our nation as it inherits a wide range of heritage and simplicity till now for all the tourists who come here to witness the beauty of the Himalayas as well as the Buddhist philosophy to through its various heritage monasteries. .

A traveler’s itinerary through Sikkim passes through many places and the most famous is Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim situated at an elevation of 5500 feet. The clear sky over the city offers a clear view of the high peaks of Kanchenjunga. Gangtok is connected through Siliguri by four drives by car or bus or through the nearest airport in Bagdogra. The coolness of the city connects many tourists from all over the world to refresh their mind and also make this place a popular base camp for their trekking adventure to various places in Sikkim by youngsters. Other than that, Pelling is another destination point in West Sikkim at an altitude of 2100m and 120km from Gangtok. Although the place certainly appears to be a cluster of hotels due to the large number of tourists flocking there in recent years, the unparalleled views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks certainly make it charming. Pelling is famous for its destinations like Pemangyatse monastery, an ancient city and also ruins of the ancient capital of Sikkim like Rabdentse. The testament to the fact that Sikkim is found as a place to meditate as it consists of some ancient and famous monasteries on its divine peaks. Rumtek Monastery is the most famous monastery in Sikkim, which is located 24 km from Gangtok.

Sikkim is a state that continually connects with nature’s ultimatum and picturesque destination as you climb higher altitudes. Among many other places to visit, Ravangla is defined as one of the most picturesque cities in West Sikkim, which is located on a ridge between the Maenam and Tendong hills. The serene views of Mount Narsing and the stunning scenery of the snow-capped peaks of the Eastern Himalayas make this place an ideal destination for tourists. As one can find extremely interesting drive from Gangtok to Tsomgo lake, Baba mandir and Nathula Pass. Tsomgo Lake or popularly known as Changu Lake, almost 40 km from Gangtok, is situated at an altitude of 3780 m. The lake is mainly a glacial lake in the eastern part of Sikkim with many exotic birds that can be spotted here along with the famous Brahminy ducks. Yak rides are considered to be one of the most attractive lakeside rides on Changu Lake. The Nathula Pass, located at an elevation of 14,140 feet, is the only pass left to connect India, China, and Tibet, as this route was considered part of the Silk Road. There is a permit requirement to travel on this Pass which is available in Gangtok. Tourists can travel on this pass from March to October. Travelers at such a high altitude encounter breathing problems and can certainly feel calmness and at the same time the ferocity of nature while traveling through the Nathula Pass. While traveling to Nathula Pass, you can come across a famous temple in Sikkim, known as Baba Mandir, situated between Jelepla and Nathula Pass at a height of 13,123 feet. While traveling to Changu lake and Nathula pass, you have to cross through Baba mandir. The Sikkim Silk Roads are certainly considered the highest place of attraction for visitors throughout the year. The beautiful curve of the roads makes the traveler think of winding streams and witness some of the best picturesque scenes that evoke eternity. Namchi, in the southern part of Sikkim, is a must-see place where a mix of Hindu and Buddhist culture can be found through various temples like Siddheswara dham and monasteries like Namchi, Ralang and Tendong Hill. Zuluk stands as one of the top travel destinations as it winds through the Silk Roads and is situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet in East Sikkim. From Zuluk, the Thambi viewpoint, about 14 km away, is an excellent place for nature lovers to witness the best sunrise on Earth.

Lachung and Lachen were made up to be two prominent travel destinations in North Sikkim. Lachung is a village studded around the bank of Lachung Chu river at an elevation of 2600m and is also considered as the gateway to Yumthang and also one can feel the last place on earth like Zero Point or Yumesamdong which is about 4600m m. One can feel the beautiful waterfalls full of Chungthang Roads – Lachung Roads while traveling to Lachung. The famous and picturesque Gompa monastery built in 1880 is a renowned place for sightseeing in Lachung. Lachen is a traditional village famous for its alpine appearance. The place attracts tourists for its authentic Tibetan foods and dives for local drinks like Tongba. Most tourists stay in Lachen to travel further to Gurudongmar Lake. While traveling higher in altitude, one must witness the beautiful picturesque beauty of the Yumthang Valley due to its wide variety of hot sulfur springs while passing through the roads connecting Lachung to Yumthang. In addition, the various species of flowers that bloom with their varied ranges of colors make Yumthang a perfect solitary accommodation for the tourist to travel. As you go beyond the altitude of Lachen, you can find Sikkim’s largest lake, Lake Gurudongmar, by driving for four hours; which is also considered a holy water resource for both Hindus and Buddhists. The steep slopes of the roads and the variation of the landscapes during the journey from Lachen to Gurudongmar certainly fascinate the extreme passion for adventure of the traveler and also his quest to lie down in the middle of the snowy mountains.