Things to do in Sikkim
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Himalayan Zoological Park
From the gompa, follow the access road north-east around the base of an unmissable tele-communications tower. An initially obvious path scrambles up in around 15 minutes to Ganesh Tok viewpoint. Festooned in colourful prayer flags, Ganesh Tok offers superb city views and its minicafe serves hot teas. Across the road, a lane leads into the Himalayan Zoological Park. Red pandas, Himalayan bears and snow leopards roam around in extensive wooded enclosures so large that you’ll really value a car to shuttle between them.
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Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
Housed in traditionally styled Tibetan architecture, this unique institute was established in 1958 to promote research into Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan culture. It contains one of the world’s largest collections of Buddhist books and manuscripts, plus statuettes, thangkas (Tibetan cloth paintings) and sacred objects, such as a kapali (sacred bowl made from a human skull) and human thighbone trumpets. There are plenty of useful explanatory captions.
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Rumtek Gompa Complex
This rambling and walled complex is a village within a village, containing religious buildings, schools and several small lodge-hotels. To enter, foreigners must show both passport and Sikkim permit. Unusually for a monastery, this place is guarded by armed police, as there have been violent altercations, and an invasion, by monks who dispute the Karmapa’s accession.
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Tangerine
Descend five floors for sublime cuisine, tasty Western snacks or cocktails in the brilliant Japanese-style floor-cushioned bar area. Try the stuffed-tomato curry or sample Sikkimese specialities like sochhya (nettle stew). Stylishly relaxed decor with a waiter/origami-ist who turns napkins into birds.
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Flower Exhibition Centre
When the orchids bloom (March) it’s worth peeping inside the Flower Exhibition Centre, a modestly sized tropical greenhouse full of exotic plants.
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Rachna Bookshop
Gangtok’s best-stocked and most convivial bookshop. Occasional film (Small Town Film Club) and music events are held on the upstairs terrace.
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Lounge 31a
Swooping glass architecture offers Zen aesthetics and light-suffused sunset views from four storeys high, above the Sikkim State Bank.
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Roll House
In an alley just off MG Marg this hole-in-the-wall serves delicious kati rolls that upstage even the Kolkata originals.
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Bakers Cafe
The perfect breakfast escape, this cosy Western-style cafe has great coffee (Rs. 35), scrunchy pastries and squidgy cakes.
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Pemayangtse Gompa
Literally translated as ‘Perfect Sublime Lotus’, the 1705 Pemayangtse is one of Sikkim’s oldest and most significant Nyingmapa gompas. Magnificently set on a hilltop overlooking the Rabdentse ruins, the atmospheric compound is ringed by gardens and traditional monks’ cottages walled in unpainted stone. The contrastingly colourful prayer hall is beautifully proportioned, its doors and windows painted with Tibetan motifs. The statue is of Padmasambhava in his awful form as Dorje Bhurpa Vajrakila with multiple heads and arms. Upstairs, fierce-looking statues depict all eight of Padmasambhava’s incarnations. On the top floor, Zandog Palri is an astounding seven-tier…
reviewed
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Padmasambhava Statue
Painted in shimmering copper and bronze, the impressively vast 45m-high Padmasambhava statue dominates the Samdruptse hilltop. Completed in 2004 on a foundation stone laid by the Dalai Lama, it’s visible from miles around, shining like a golden cone amid the forests of Samdruptse Hill. Reputedly it can be seen from Darjeeling and most certainly by its rival, Shiva, on Solophuk Hill opposite. The site is 7km from Namchi, 2km off the Damthang road.
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Rabdentse
The royal capital of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814, the now-ruined Rabdentse consists of chunky wall-stubs with a few inset inscription stones. These would look fairly unremarkable were they not situated on such an utterly fabulous viewpoint ridge. The entrance to the site is around 3km from Upper Pelling. From the site’s ornate yellow gateway, the ruins are a further 15-minutes’ hike around a pond then across a forested hill.
reviewed
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Sikkim Bhutan Trek
20 days (Kathmandu)
A spectacular trek in Sikkim combined with a cultural odyssey in Bhutan.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$4,060 -
East Himalayan Kingdoms
13 days (Kathmandu)
An adventure touring journey to Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$3,390 -
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Orthodox
Tables are squished together as tightly as lovers in this cosy bar. An intrusive ultraviolet light annoys at night but it’s a bar for companionable beers with friends (or lovers). Solve the picture puzzles on the wall before too many beers. Meals Rs. 60 to Rs. 170, early-morning breakfasts until 10am.
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Enchey Gompa
Approached through gently rustling conifers high above Gangtok, this monastery, dating back to 1909, is Gangtok’s most attractive, with some decent murals and statues of Tantric deities. It comes alive for the colourful Detor Chaam (December/January) masked dances.
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Handicrafts & Handloom Emporium
Teaches traditional crafts to local students and sells their produce, which make good gifts – including purses (Rs. 75), handwoven carpets (from Rs. 4200), thangkas (Rs. 125 to Rs. 6800) and traditional women’s dresses (Rs. 2000).
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Sisne Mandir
At its western-most edge, Jorethang’s most striking feature is the Akar Suspension Bridge, 400m north of which are the passingly photogenic roadside Shiva niches of Sisne Mandir.
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Mountain Tours and Treks
A number of trekking agencies in Yuksom, such as Mountain Tours and Treks, operate on the Khangchendzonga trek. Prices are around US$40 per person per day assuming a group of four.
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Parivar Restaurant
Eat here for good-value South Indian vegetarian food; try the various masala dosas for breakfast or the all-inclusive thali for Rs. 70. The restaurant’s downstairs from the HDFC Bank.
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Taatopani Bar and Restaurant
This place has a long, thin terrace bar tacked onto its restaurant. Mocktails are Rs. 90, cocktails Rs. 165 and beer Rs. 70 to Rs. 80; a band entertains during the high season.
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Tourist Amenity
Beside Enchey Gompa, the misleadingly named Tourist Amenity is a cheap, basic teahouse serving great veg momos for a giveaway Rs 12 including complimentary soup.
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Altitude Tours & Travels
For high-altitude treks, visits to Tsomgo Lake or tours to Northern Sikkim you'll need a travel agency. We've been very happy with Altitude Tours & Travels.
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Rural Artisan Marketing Centre
It is just downhill from the tourist office. It sells local crafts, traditional costumes and organic produce such as tea, cardamom and walnuts.
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Simvo Tours & Travels
Simvo Tours & Travels offers one-day tours. A popular choice visit is Yuksom via Khecheopalri Lake and three waterfalls.
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