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Land of
Monumental - Sikkim
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Sikkim is a mountainous country and land of
monumental. The mountains form a part of long and mighty
Himalaya. Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the
world, crowns the top with its rugged outline. Sikkim,
state of India, shares her borders with Tibet to the
north, Bhutan to the east, Nepal to the west and the
state of West Bengal to the south. The area of Sikkim is
7,300 square km, measuring approximately 100 kms from
north to south and 60 kms from east to west. Its
elevation ranges from 244 m. to over 8540 m. above sea
level. The flora and fauna naturally covers a wide
spectrum as nowhere else in the world. In such a small
area on can find 4000 varieties of flowering plants,
orchids (some 600 varieties) and rhododendrons.
Naturalists have catalogued over 550 species of birds
and over 600 species of butterflies. Animals to be found
are Himalayan bear, musk & barking deer, red panda and
the blue sheep. The people of Sikkim are of three
distinct heritages: The Lepchas, Bhutia and the
Nepalese. Sikkimese by nature are simple, polite and non
aggressive people with a natural gaiety. |
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Season: Sikkim has four seasons. The best seasons
are
Spring: March to May, and autumn: September
to November. Autumn is the best to enjoy the view of
mountains and surrounding landscapes. Summer season:
June to August, the monsoon (rainy season). Winter
season: December to February. Heavy snowfall is expected
in winter. |
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Places of interest
in Sikkim |
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Gangtok:
(1700 m. Population 40,000 approx) Capital town with
monasteries, and colourful market on a hill top. |
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Rumtek:
The Head Quarter of Karma Kargupa sect of Mahayana
Buddhism, 24Km from Gangtok. |
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Martam:
A small village 5km beyond Rumtek with a village resort. |
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Phodong: 38 km form
Gangtok at North Sikkim with monastery that houses old
painting.
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Lachung: A small alpine village with ethnic
lifestyle 123 km from Gangtok, falls in the
Restricted area at North Sikkim. |
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Yumthang:
(3600m) valley of exotic alpine flowers , hot spring ,
24km from Lachung. |
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Temi:
(South Sikkim) the only Tea Estate of Sikkim. |
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Pemayangtse:
(2085m.) 121 km from Gangtok in West Sikkim seat of
Sikkim’s most important monastery, with breath-taking
view of mount Kanchenjunga and other high peaks. |
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Tashiding:
A village in West Sikkim with sacred “Chorten” and
monastery on the hill–top. |
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Yuksum:
(1780m.) a small hamlet in west Sikkim , Base Camp for
Trekking in Sikkim , 143 km from Gangtok. |
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Darjeeling: The gateway to Sikkim, and the world
famous hill station in the neighbouring state of west
Bengal , famed for its beauty and the Darjeeling tea.
101 km from Gangtok. |
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Kalimpong:
A small quite town in the district of Darjeeling Tea
noted for flower nurseries. 78 km from Gangtok. |
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