SIKKIM

The state of Sikkim sits in the lap of the Himalayas and houses  India's largest peak, the Kanchenjunga. The beauty of this place cannot be expressed in words alone. It is like entering a fairytale land. The glaciers, ice capped mountains, meadows, thick pine forests and the wild flowers is what this state is made up of. It is becoming a popular tourist destination in India as well as the world. The vibe of this place gives a lot of positivity and hope. It is a cool holiday spot as well as an important centre for learning. I will always be eager to visit this place. This place is in my bucketlist of places to watch out for.

HOW TO REACH:

By air: The closest airport to Sikkim is the Bagdora airport in West Bengal, which has frequent flights from Delhi, Kolkata and other important cities.

By rail: You have two options , New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri, both approximately 120 kilometers from Gangtok.

By road: NH 31 connects Sikkim to Siliguri. You can hire a cab or use the public or private transport bus services and enjoy the ride.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: The summer months from March to July have the most pleasant weather conditions. The winter months from September to December are also a common tourist time. During monsoons, Sikkim is quite landslide prone so the state is best avoided during that season.

FOOD: Try the Thupka (a noodle based soup) and also the momos that are quite exciting and delicious. Phagshapas (a stew of pork with chillies), Sha Phaley(bread that is stuffed with meat and cabbage), Sisnoo and Gundruk ka Jhol (a pickled leafy vegetable preparation) are among numerous other dishes which you could try.

SHOPPING: The markets here are filled with shops selling everything from the Laughing Buddha to Tibetan traditional clothes, hand woven shawls and wooden wind chimes. Shopping in Sikkim is a memorable experience with so much of diversity of cultures.

PLACES TO VISIT:

1) Yumthang valley

2) Nathula pass

3) Chungthang

4) Gangtok

5) Lachen

6) Khangchendzonga national park

7)  Gurudongmar lake

8) Mangan

9) Pelling

10) Lachung

11) Ravangla 

12) Nathang valley

      Sikkim is a land of diverse cultures. It shares its borders with three nations; China, Bhutan and Nepal. A visit to this place will always make you happy. Rested in the lap of nature, Sikkim has  such a lot of things to provide. The flora and fauna and the natural beauty of this place will always be worth watching.