From tall, snowy mountains to plunging valleys, Sikkim has it all. Sikkim is a wonderland, blessed with immensely beautiful places to visit and explore. It’s a land of mixed people and cultures. When you are planning to visit Sikkim, know that there are so many places to choose from!

Each place in Sikkim, North, South, East, and West, has its own unique features. There are people belonging to different ethnic groups in Sikkim in different places, that’s why when you visit Sikkim, you will feel as if you have visited many countries all within one state!

BEST TIME TO VISIT SIKKIM

Sikkim lies in a mountainous region and experiences mostly a pleasant climate but also severe winters due to the high altitude and proximity to the Himalayas. Monsoons are life-threatening due to numerous landslides so there's a lull in tourism activity during this time. Read more about the different seasons here to know the best time to visit this popular holiday destination.

HOW TO REACH

The closest airport is Bagdogra Airport and the nearest railway station is NJP, both in West Bengal. To enter Sikkim, you will have to hire a shared or private cab, which will drive you to Gangtok, Sikkim's capital city. It's approx. a 4-hour drive. 

PLACES TO VISIT IN SIKKIM

If you had to choose between the multitudes of places to visit in Sikkim, here are the top 10 places everyone must visit in Sikkim and why:

PLACES TO VISIT IN EAST SIKKIM

Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir

Changu Lake is one place in Sikkim that will always show up on Google images. It is famous for being one of the few places in the world with a high-elevation lake that you can visit. Sikkim prides itself on this major tourist attraction by offering yak rides around the lake and a gondola lift ropeway. It is one of the top places to visit in Sikkim. In order to visit this place, you have to hire a taxi from Gangtok, Sikkim. The journey will take about 2 to 3 hours depending on road conditions and traffic.

Blog Post: From greens to frosty whites, witness Sikkim's seasonal shift at Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir

Changu Lake - one of the best places to visit in East Sikkim

Baba Mandir (Saint Temple) is a place that honors a fallen soldier, Harbhajan Singh, of the Indian army. Many tourists like to visit this place since it is on the border of Sikkim and Tibet. Captain Harbhajan Singh was killed on the Indo-China border at Nathula pass Sikkim. People believe that he still guards the Indian soldiers of Nathula. Near his shrine within the temple, water bottles of spiritual water are offered. Many people believe there is healing in the water.

Note: Foreign Tourists can visit Changu Lake, East Sikkim in a group of 2 or more, whereas they are prohibited from Nathula and the Indo-China border.

PLACES TO VISIT IN WEST SIKKIM

Pelling: Glass Skywalk and Chenrezig Statue

If you want to catch an excellent view of Mt. Khangchendzonga then Pelling, Sikkim, is one of the places you must visit in Sikkim! Beyond the spectacular view, however, there are two major attractions you must visit.

Pelling, Sikkim is home to India’s first glass Skywalk! This spectacular structure is one of the popular places of tourist attractions you must visit. This skywalk in Sikkim is 200ft long and 55ft tall. Walking across it makes you feel like a bird soaring into the valley. You can also visit Sikkim’s 4th largest statue, Chenrezig, which is a Tibetan Buddhist (the main religion of Sikkim) statue that signifies Buddha’s sympathy. The name means, “One who looks with an unwavering eye.” This statue forms a triangle with two other prominent Buddhist statues: Tathagata in Ravangla and Padmasambhava near Namchi in a place called Samdrupste.

Blog Post: Skywalking amidst the valleys —My Sangacholi experience

Visit the glass skywalk at Pelling in Sikkim 

Border of Nepal: Dentam Singshore Bridge and Uttarey

Just beyond Pelling, you will find a place to visit that has Asia’s second tallest suspension bridge in Dentam, Sikkim. Singshore Bridge in Sikkim is an engineering marvel. It stretches out across a deep gorge of 100 meters and is 240 meters long. It’s a great place to grab a selfie and test your fear of heights!

After visiting Singshore Bridge, you can continue onto a place called Uttarey, Sikkim. This is one of the rustic, rural places of Sikkim surrounded by sherpa villages. This is the starting place for the Singalila Trek and for deliveries to the Indian army border patrol. This trek is gaining popularity as backpackers learn more about the uncharted places of Sikkim.