Top 10 places to visit in Sikkim

10.Chardham & Buddha Park

This Pilgrim Centre has a most important temple of 108 feet height on which is established the 87 feet high statue of Lord Shiva. Apart from this there are also replicas of the twelve Jyotirlingas, to offer one platform to worship for the devotees of Lord Shiva. A statue of 16½ feet height of Lord Kirateshwar is also installed in this place. As per the Hindu belief in order to attain Moksha, one has to perform pilgrimage to all the existing four Dhams, hence, replicas of these four Dhams, namely Badrinath, Jaganath and Dwarka dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Rameshwar, dedicated to Lord Shiva is also been built in the same premises. The pilgrim centre is constructed in an area of 28.958 Hactare of land on top of the Solophok Hill just 5 kilometers from Namchi town.

The Buddha Park of Ravangla, also known as Tathagata Tsal, is situated near Rabong (Ravangla) in South Sikkim district, Sikkim, India. It was constructed between 2006 and 2013 and features a 130-foot high statue of the Buddha as its centerpiece. The site was chosen within the larger religious complex of the Rabong Gompa (Monastery), itself a centuries-old place of pilgrimage. Also nearby is Ralang Monastery, a key monastery in Tibetan Buddhism.

9.Gangtok

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim and has several magnificent places to visit. The Rumtek monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in India. The Tsongmo lake and ruins of Rabdentse are also scenic delights. The Deorali orchid sanctuary and Himalayan zoological park are of interest to nature and wildlife lovers.

8.PELLING

Pelling is a small town Sikkim, at the foothills of Mount Khangchendzonga. The late-17th-century Buddhist Sanga Choling Monastery has mountain views. Pemayangtse Monastery features wall paintings, sculptures and a gold-plated statue of Guru Padsambhava. Overlooking a valley, the 17th-century Rabdentse Palace, now in ruins, still has evidence of the king’s bedroom and kitchen.

7.TEMI TEA GARDEN

If you are planning a trip to Ravangla you will pass through the Temi Tea Garden, the sole tea garden in Sikkim guarded by Mt. Kanchenjungha. It was established in 1969 by the Government of Sikkim. This tea garden spans a total area of around 453 acres. It is known for producing some of the best quality teas across the globe. The garden also offers amazing visual splendor. The winding journey through the lush tea plantation and a night in the resort located within the tea garden is truly a lifetime experience. But, this is not all! Temi Tea Garden unfolds its true beauty during the winter when the Cherry Blossoms bloom and the mountain and tea garden are covered in a mauve veil.

6.Lachen & Lachung

Lachen is about 129 kilometres (80 mi) from the capital Gangtok, and can be reached via a six-hour road journey. A short two-day-long trekking route also connects the Yumthang Valley to Lachen. It has a population of around 1,000. Lachen has its own system of rules and regulations known as Dzumsa. The heads of the Dzumsa are known as Pipon and Gyenbos.

Lachung is a town and hill station in northeast Sikkim, India. It is located in the North Sikkim district near the border with Tibet. Lachung is at an elevation of about 9,600 feet (2,900 m) and at the confluence of the lachen and Lachung Rivers, both tributaries of the River Teesta. The word Lachung means "small pass". The town is approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) from the capital Gangtok.

5.Yumthang Valley

The Yumthang Valley is a grazing pasture surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim district of Sikkim, India. It is at an elevation of 3,564 metres (11,693 ft) above msl at a distance of 150 kilometres (93 mi) from the state capital Gangtok.

It is popularly known as 'Valley of Flowers' and is home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, which has over twenty-four species of the rhododendron, the state flower. A tributary of the river Teesta flows past the valley and the town of Lachung, the nearest inhabited centre. Yumthang is closed between December and March due to heavy snowfall.

4.Dzuluk

Located at a height of around 10,100 feet on the rugged terrain of the lower Himalayas in East Sikkim, Zuluk or Dzuluk is a small village beside a winding road. It was once a transit point to the historic Silk Route from Tibet to India. It is relatively an emerging and offbeat destination in East Sikkim. This small village accommodates a population of around 700 people. There is also an Indian Army base at Zuluk, which has been used as a transit camp for the army movement to the Chinese border, a few kilometres away. It is the very first village within this whole Silk Route circuit to offer home-stay facilities for tourists. Zuluk itself does not offer views of the snow peaks but only 14 kms away the Thambi View Point offers a panoramic view of the entire Mt. Kanchenjungha range.

3.Tsomgo

Tsomgo Lake is a two-hour drive from Gangtok on the Gangtok-Nathu La highway. About a kilometre-long and 50 metres deep, Tsomgo Lake is popular as a tourist attraction and a holy site as well. It’s encircled by lush green landscapes on all sides. A small Shiva temple, some food stalls and several beautiful plants and flowers can be seen at the Tsomgo Lake. Tourists can also enjoy a yak ride around the lake. On days without sunshine, you'll often see the Changu Lake hidden in a veil of mist.

2 Gurudongmar Lake

Gurudongmar Lake, is one of the highest lakes in the world, located at an altitude of 17,800 ft (5,430 m) in Sikkim.It is a lake which is considered sacred by both Buddhists and Sikhs.The lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, founder of Tibetan Buddhism who visited the lake in the 8th century.

1 Goechala Trek

Sizzle in the Sensuous Spirits of Sikkim with the Spectacular Goechala Trek Standing on Goecha La at 16,200feet, overlooking the massive structure of Kanchenjunga, eyeing the Goecha lake with its tear shaped structure, the awe striking sunrises and sunsets, snow covered gigantic Himalayas, the amazing view of sixteen beautiful peaks visible from Dzongri top, the verdant Himalayan forest, its meandering rivers, meadows, rhododendrons, the reasons to fell in love with the beautiful Goechala Trek are endless. For a trekker it is a journey full of adventures where one can enjoy the adrenaline rush with its steep trails, bask in the beauty of nature and come to know more of Sikkim, the land of serene beauty.