Sikkim Travel Information - Trust The Locals

Sikkim also known as "the hidden valley of rice" is one of the most beautiful states of North India that offers rich Sikkimese culture, and beautiful landscapes along with its unique cuisine and top-class hospitality. The state is bordered by international boundaries of China in the North, Bhutan in the East, and Nepal in the West. Sikkim is one of the most popular states in India when it comes to tourism as it allows us to witness the variety of natural landscapes from the Beauty of the Himalayan region, Glaciers, and Lakes to the dense forest of Alpine trees which makes Sikkim every nature lover's dream destination.

Sikkim has four districts that offer a wide variety of scenic beauty with some ancient historical monuments along with breathtaking views of the mountains.

Namchi District

Mangan District

Gangtok District

Geyzing District

Soreng District

Pakyong District

The History of Sikkim

The name Sikkim has been derived from two Limbu words su 'new' and khyim 'house' called "Sukhyim". Sikkim in the Bhutanese language is called as "Beyul Demazong" which translates to "the hidden valley of rice".

Sikkim was initially an independent kingdom built by Phuntsog Namgyal in the year 1642, which later became part of India on 16th May 1975 becoming the 22nd state of India with Gangtok as the capital of Sikkim. Sikkim is a hill state that is spread across 7,906 square km and includes being the host of the highest peak of India the Kanchenjunga.

The People of Sikkim

The state has three ethnic tribes consisting of Bhutia, Lepcha, and Nepali with the help of which through the years Sikkim the able to build such a strong and rich culture. The people are calm, simple, and friendly which is also a major reason for their tourism growth.

The people of Sikkim believe in sustainability and are committed to the protection and preservation of natural habitat and local communities which also can be seen in their hospitality and hygienic livelihood.

The Culture of Sikkim

Sikkim is one such state that offers a diverse and rich culture where we can see a homogenous blend among all communities living healthy and prosperous lives. The official language of Sikkim consists of four different languages English, Bhutanese, Nepali, and Lepcha which are used by people based on their respective regions. The rich culture of Sikkim also consists of folk dances and songs that are performed for the good luck and prosperity of the people of Sikkim. Some of the popular folk dances of Sikkim are Maruni, Tamang Selo, and Tashi Sabdo.

Food & Cuisines of Sikkim

The state has been widely known for its rich culture and beautiful valleys there are some more appealing things that the state offers which are delicious food and the unique cuisine of Sikkim. The cuisine of Sikkim is famous for using organic vegetables, red meats, and local ingredients that reflect their commitment and support towards the society and local communities. The foods are cooked in a unique way which helps to offer tasty and mouth-watering foods. Some of the popular foods of Sikkim are Thukpa, Momo, Bamboo Shoot curry, Sikkim tea, Thenthuk, Sel Roti, and many more.

Climate of Sikkim

Sikkim with a small landmass of only 7,906 has huge changes in its climatic conditions based on the region. The southern part of Sikkim experiences sub-tropical climatic conditions which can reach up to 28 degrees Celsius in summer, whereas the northern parts of Sikkim tend to have snowy and freezing temperatures that can go as low as -5 degree Celsius during winters and during monsoons around 600-700 mm of rainfall takes place in Sikkim. The average temperature of Sikkim is around 18 degrees Celsius annually.

SIKKIM WEATHER

Permit Required / Rules & Regulations

The Sikkim government allows 30 days of initial PAP (Protection Area Permits) to all of its tourists which permits them to visit the protected areas of Sikkim including Gurudongmar Lake, Nathula Pass, Tsomgo Lake, and a few more. Some of the protected areas are not accessible to foreigners however they can visit Lichen and Yumthang with PAP. In restricted areas people outside of Sikkim need to fill up a prescribed form and need to get approval from the dedicated authority.

Do's and Don'ts

The people of Sikkim support sustainable tourism and are committed to the protection and preservation of natural habitats and the environment of the mountains. The tourists are required to enjoy the majestic view of Sikkim and its beautiful landscapes while keeping it clean and without hurting the environment. The use of plastic bottles and plastic bags are banned in the forest, use of such in town and villages needs to be disposed wither on the garbage box or dustbins.

How to Reach

Sikkim can be visited through airways with flights to the nearest airport Bagdogra located around 140 km away from Sikkim. Another option to reach Sikkim is by road via Siliguri separated by 120 km for which there are a variety of tour operators which can be used to reach Sikkim. However, various car rental services are partnered with us which follow the same moral values of sustainable tourism by protecting and preserving the natural habitat of Sikkim. The train service to reach Sikkim is not available as there are no railway stations in the state.