21 Tourist Attractions and Places to Visit in Sikkim

Sikkim state is part of the Eastern Himalaya and known as only brother of seven sister states. Sikkim is second smallest state of India notable for its biodiversity, Kanchenjunga peak, orchid flowers and rich diversity of arthropods.

The state has 11 official languages, is the second largest producer of the Indian spice and also among the fastest growing north east states.

Kanchenjunga Peak

Kangchenjunga is the highest mountain peak in India, rises at an elevation of 8,586 m and worshipped by the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim. Mount Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain peak in the world and second highest mountain of the Himalayas.

Nathu La Pass

Nathu La mountain pass connects the Indian state of Sikkim with Tibet region at an elevation of 14,140 ft. Nathu La is located 52kms from Gangtok and an official Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route.

Yumthang Valley

Yumthang Valley in Lachung is a nature sanctuary with hot springs,grazing pasture and rolling meadows. The Valley of Flowers is also home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.

Lake Tsomgo

Lake Tsomgo also known as Changu Lake is situated some 40 km from the capital Gangtok. Changu Lake is surrounded by steep mountains and remains frozen during the winter season.

Gurudongmar Lake

Gurudongmar Lake is the highest lakes in India, located at an altitude of 17,800 ft and considered sacred by Buddhists and Hindus. The lake remains frozen during winter months and fed by glaciers.

Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek Monastery is located at an altitude of about 4,900 ft near the capital Gangtok. The monastery is largest in Sikkim and a must see place in Sikkim state along with Lingdum Monastery,Enchey Monastery and Phodong Monastery.

• Ranka Monastery
• Enchey Monastery
• Phodong Monastery
• Dubdi Monastery
• Ralang Monastery
• Pemayangtse Monastery
• Sanga Choeling Monastery

Gangtok

Gangtok is the main base for tourism in Sikkim and important region for activity such as trekking, mountaineering and river rafting in River Teesta. The market in Gangtok host casinos and also provides online lottery Playwin.

Lachung

Lachung is the most popular hill station at an elevation of about 9,600 feet border with Tibet. It is the starting point for Yumthang Valley and the Lachung Monastery also described as the most picturesque village of Sikkim.

Pelling

Pelling nestled at an altitude of 7,200 feet and a base for trekkers and adventurer lovers. Places to visit in and around Pelling include rock garden,Khecheopalri Lake,archaic quaint Singshore Bridge and Pemayangtse Monastery.

Namchi

Namchi is situated at an altitude of 5500 feet at a distance of 78 km from capital Gangtok. Namchi is becoming a major tourist spot for important Buddhist pilgrimage centres, world’s largest statue of the Buddhist Padmasambhava,Temi Tea Garden and statue of Lord Shiva at Siddhesvara Dhaam.

Zuluk

Dzuluk or Zuluk is located at a height of 10,000 feet in lower Himalayas of East Sikkim. Zuluk was the transit point to the Silk Route and have become an offbeat destination in East Sikkim as well as fast emerging new tourist destination in Sikkim for excellent view of Himalayan mountains.

Rabdentse Ruins

Rabdentse Ruins are located close to Pelling and offers superb views of the Khanchendzonga ranges. The monument of Rabdentse are part of Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit and has been declared as of national importance.

Buddha Park at Ravangla

Buddha Park of Ravangla is situated near Rabong in South Sikkim district, features a 130-foot high statue of the Buddha.

Kanchenjunga Falls

Kanchenjunga Falls is the major tourist attractions in the Pelling region of Sikkim, located half an hour drive from Pelling towards Yuksom.

Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple

Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple at Legship in West Sikkim is located on the banks of River Rangeet. The temple is one of the most popular temple of Lord Shiva in India.

Do Drul Chorten, Gangtok

Do Drul Chorten stupa is one of the major tourist attractions in Gangtok along with Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok. This huge stupa is located on a hillock near the Research Institute of Tibetology.

Khecheopalri Lake

Khecheopalri Lake is a sacred lake and part of Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit along with Dubdi Monastery in Yuksom,Tashiding Monastery and Pemayangtse Monastery.

Orchids

The state has a wide variety of flowering plants and home to 515 rare orchids flowers and 36 species of rhododendron. Dendrobium Nobile is the official state flower of Sikkim, occurs in lowland and mountain forest of Sikkim.

Arthropods

Sikkim has a rich diversity of arthropods, There are 1,438 species of butterfly found in the Indian subcontinent. Three endangered species of butterfly found in Sikkim are Kaiser-i-hind, the Yellow Gorgon and the Bhutan Glory.

Wildlife Sanctuary

The wildlife sanctuaries of Sikkim supports a large variety of wild animals, regularly sighted species in the sanctuaries and national park of Sikkim include rufous-headed hornbill,Golden Eagles, Himalayan Serow, Himalayan Goral,Himalayan brown bear,Red Panda,Himalayan Jungle Cat and Asian Black Bear.

Khangchendzonga National Park

Khangchendzonga National Park is the the first Mixed Heritage site of India and home to many glaciers in the park including the Zemu glacier and wild animals like snow leopard,Himalayan black bear, Clouded Leopard,Himalayan tahr,musk deer and Red Panda.

The park also contains species of Himalayan blue sheep, serow, goral and takin as well as wild dog, sloth bear,Tibetan wild ass, Himalayan griffon, lammergeier and Russell’s viper.