Sikkim
Myth | Mist | Magic
Sikkim Himalayas - gorgeous and enchanting! A series of magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Greater Himalayas, including Mount Kanchenjunga, dominate the horizons and are regarded as the 'Abode of the Gods.' The Tibetans call this mountainous tract that descends southwards from this range 'Denzong' or the 'valley of rice'. Here legends thrive amidst the mist and the clouds, where myth and history are interwoven into a magical tapestry.
The veil has now lifted over the face of this mysterious land known as Sikkim. And the air and land routes connect this 'Once-Inaccessible-Kingdom' to the rest of the world.
Today for the outside world, Sikkim has become synonymous with Buddhism, especially Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, which emphasises Tantric and mystic doctrines. Along with Mahayana Buddhism, Lamaism is said to have been established in Tibet by Padmasambhava, the wizard priest who is Sikkim's patron saint.
Nature, of course, has blessed Sikkim. But apart from the scenic treasures, it is the Buddhist monuments that draw people to Sikkim. Many of these monuments are located in and around the cities and villages.
To the die-hard traveller, Sikkim offers an incredible bounty. Sikkim has grown into an ideal destination for trekking and hitchhiking. A large number of western tourists who visit the place testify to that. It also offers possibilities for adventure sports lovers in the form of rafting and kayaking in the waters of Teesta and Rangeet. These flourishing tourism industries make Sikkim an exciting new destination for tourists.
But when you visit the rural areas in Sikkim, it would be the ultimate culmination of your encounter with a lesser-known India. The fresh smiling faces and their life will reaffirm your faith. Somewhere in these faces, you discover the inner strength and resilience that make the people of this state unique and endearing.
Travel Destinations in Sikkim
Festivals
The people of Sikkim enjoy many colourful festivals – Loosing, Saga Dawa, and Boomchu are some of the Sikkimese festivals where the Mask dances are organised in many monasteries with colourful processions. However, some of the significant Hindu and Christian Festivals like Diwali, Dussera, Bhai Tika and Christmas are also celebrated with big enthusiasm.
The hill people's primary sport is Football, but most people from the Lepcha Community play Archeries as their traditional sport. The main centre for Sports and games in Gangtok is the Palzore Stadium just below the main town.
Peoples
The People in Sikkim are divided into three major groups – The Lepchas, The Bhutias and The Nepalis.
The Lepchas are believed to be the aboriginal inhabitants of Sikkim. There are disputes about their root in Sikkim. Some believe that they migrated here from the Assam and Burma hills, but other theory says that they migrated from South Tibet.
With close to one million people, Gangtok has the largest population in Sikkim. The most prominent communities here are the Nepalese, Lepcha and Tibeto-Bhutia. Apart from the Lepchas, who are native to the area, most of the other communities migrated to Sikkim from the neighbouring countries and settled here during British rule. Buddhism and Hinduism are practised as the primary religion, and most of them speak Nepalese.
The Sikkimese society derives its uniqueness primarily from religion. In the form of organised Lamaism, Buddhism is deeply entrenched in Sikkim and is also the state religion. For centuries it has influenced the ideas and beliefs of the people of this region. The history of Sikkim is inextricably linked to the History of Buddhism in this Himalayan state. But to delve into this fascinating history, we have to go back about 350 years in time to the ancient town of Yuksom in West Sikkim.
Climates
Due to its different altitude levels, Sikkim has a different climatic zone from Temperate to Alpine. The temperature during winter remains between – 25 degrees and 10 degrees at the higher altitude, whereas in summer, it stays between 25 and 15 degree Celsius. The monsoon hits the hill during mid-June and continues till Late September. There are instances of landslides during the monsoon period.
Winter – starts from Mid-November and continues till Late February. The early part of winter (Nov-Dec) witnesses a clear sky with a great view of the mountains. During this time, temperature varies between 10-Degree during the day and 3-4 degrees during the night. Rain rarely occurs at this time, and it is the best time to travel. More chilling weather hits Gangtok during the middle of December and continues till early February. This time the temperature drops below 2 degrees and even goes down to sub-zero in the upper ridges. Occasional rain causes snowfall above 7000ft (1800M). The higher areas above the town like Tsongo Lake and Nathula Pass at 3000M remain under the snow, and vehicle movements get affected regularly.
Spring continues from March till mid-April. The weather remains mostly clear with occasional rain. The temperature hovers between 15 degrees during the day and 6 – 8 degrees during the night. Spring is the most colourful season in Gangtok, with various flower blooms during this time. This is also an excellent time to travel.
In Sikkim, summer is very comfortable, with the mercury does not soar above 25 Degrees C during the day. The night temperature stays within 10 to 15 Degree Celsius. The summer continues till Jun end. The first part of April and May remains clear during the morning and gets a little clouded over the horizon as the day progresses. Moderate rainfall is experienced from mid of May. May is also a crowded tourist season as most Indian schools have their summer vacation during May and June.
Monsoon is a clumsy season for Sikkim, and travelling is not very suitable due to landslides. However, if someone can take the chance to travel during the monsoon, the city can present a unique look with fresh green surroundings and overwhelming waterfalls. The monsoon is at its peak during July and August when most cases of landslides are recorded. It, however, starts retreating from the beginning of September.
Autumn is the shortest period in Gangtok which starts in October and ends in early November. The clouds start disappearing slowly and bring a fresh sight of the mountains. The temperature in October remains within 15 degrees during the day and 6 to 10 degrees during the night. Many Hindu festivals are held during the period – mainly Durga Puja and Diwali festivals.