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States of
India- Sikkim |
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Introduction :
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Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas, Sikkim is 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. Buddhism is the predominant religion here, with
many fine old monasteries rich with frescoes, religious paintings on
silk and statues of the Buddha’s various incarnations. In Gangtok, the
delightfully quaint capital, are pagoda like roofs of many buildings and
the presence of crimson robed monks in the bazaars. The Institute of
Tibetology, the only one of its kind in the world, was set up by the
erstwhile ruler to promote research on Mahayana Buddhism. Lower down the
hill is the famed orchid sanctuary where 500 species of orchids
indigenous to Sikkim are cultivated. Sikkim offers several treks that
lead through pine forests, through picturesque valleys, monasteries and
to mountain lakes. It is also the base for mountaineering expeditions
and the rivers Teesta and Rangeet offer excellent river rafting. A
number of good hotels and lodging houses exist in Gangtok. |
| Capital |
Gangtok |
| Area |
7300 Sq. km |
| Temperature |
Summer : Max 21 °C, Min 13 °C.
Winter : Max 13 °C, Min 0.48 °C. |
| Language |
Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, Tibetan,
English, Hindi |
| Best Time to Visit |
October to December |
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How to get there :
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Air: Nearest Airport is Bagdogra- 124 kms.
Rail: The nearest railway stations are Siliguri- 114 kms, New
Jalpaiguri (NJP) 125- kms.
Road: Siliguri- 114 kms, Calcutta- 725 kms, Darjeeling- 139 kms and
Guwahati- 589 kms. |
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Major Cities : |
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Gangtok |
Phodong |
Rumtek |
Mamchi |
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Accommodations : |
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