Sikkim is known for their breathtaking sceneries and vibrant cultures that attracts tourists from different parts of India. However, there are some offbeat places in Sikkim that helps in offering unique experiences to the travelers while exploring the destination. The offbeat places around Sikkim will help you attain authentic experiences and allow you to immerse in the nature and away from the crowds. Thus, a journey to the offbeat destinations helps you unveil the lesser known facts and past history of the destinations.
Must Visit offbeat Places in Sikkim Overview
Sikkim, situated in the Eastern Himalayas, is known for its magnificent scenery, colourful culture, and peaceful monasteries. While major tourist locations like as Gangtok and Nathula Pass attract travellers from all over, there’s something appealing about discovering eccentric areas that provide a distinct and less-traveled experience. In this book, we’ll look at the lesser-known gems of Sikkim, unusual sites that offer an amazing trip.
| Destination | Overview |
|---|---|
| Dzongu | North Sikkim offers a serene combination of nature and Lepcha culture, as well as panoramic views of Mount Kanchenjunga. |
| Zuluk | Peaceful village in East Sikkim famed for the Sikkim Silk Route and breathtaking views, accessible via Gangtok. |
| Chungthang | The spiritual atmosphere of North Sikkim, where the Lachung and Lachen rivers merge, is suitable for visiting from February to May. |
| Singhik | Breathtaking views of Mount Kanchenjunga in North Sikkim, with attractions like Jhandi viewpoint, accessible from Gangtok. |
| Lingtam | Orchid-rich landscapes in East Sikkim, offering a retreat for nature lovers, best visited between March and June. |
| Temi Tea Garden | Unique experience in the only tea estate in Sikkim, showcasing organic tea-making process, accessible from Gangtok. |
| Mangan | Gateway to Northern Sikkim with scenic views of Kanchenjunga range, accessible from Gangtok. |
| Chalamthang | Clean organic village in South Sikkim offering tranquility amidst lush greenery, best visited between October and May. |
| Gyangchung | Serene ambiance in South Sikkim to delve into Lepcha culture, complemented by tea gardens and cherry blossoms. |
| Rinchenpong | A peaceful hideaway in the West Sikkim Himalayas, home to cultural sites such as the Rinchenpong Monastery and easily accessible from Gangtok. |
| Chakung | Beautiful environment in West Sikkim among pine hills, great for mountain riding and stargazing; best visited between September and April. |
| Rolep | Riverside village in East Sikkim showcasing mixed cultures, with attractions like Buddha Waterfalls, accessible from Gangtok. |
| Okhrey | Relaxing getaway in West Sikkim offering village walks and birdwatching opportunities, accessible from Gangtok. |
| Yangsum Village | Located in Rinchenpong, West Sikkim, offers peace in nature, agricultural experiences, and a diverse society. It is recommended to visit between August and May. |
Must Visit offbeat Places in Sikkim
Dzongu
Dzongu is an ideal location for environment lovers, which is located in North Sikkim and is the home to Lepcha community. This place offers you a blend of biodiversity and cultural immersion. If you are seeking a peaceful vacation amidst nature, then this destination will suit your taste. The calm air, cluster of village and thick canopy of jungles offers a stunning view, along with the rich panorama of Mount Kanchenjunga.
How to Reach
Dzongu is located at a distance of 73.3 km from Gangtok and takes around a travelling time of 3 hours and 18 minutes to reach the destination. You can visit this place throughout thee year, however, it is suggested to avoid travelling during the monsoons to avoid facing landslides.
Zuluk
Zuluk is another serene attraction that falls in the list of offbeat destinations in Sikkim. Zuluk is a hidden hamlet that is located in East Sikkim and placed at an altitude of 11200 feet above the sea level. Zuluk offers you a number of attraction sites such as Sikkim Silk route, Thambi viewpoint, Lungthung viewpoint and others.
How to Reach
Zuluk is situated at a distance of 92.1 km from Gangtok and takes a travelling time of approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes to reach the destination. You can hire private taxi or shared jeeps to travel to this destination. The best time to visit this destination is between March to June and September to November.
Chungthang
Chungthang is located in the North Sikkim and offers you a spiritual vibe and serene town. Chungthang is the meeting point of the two rivers, Lachung river and Lachen river. This offbeat place also serves as a base towards exploring Lachung and Yumthang valley. The untouched beauty of this place offers you a serene experience.
How to Reach
Chungthang is around 94.1 km from Gangtok and takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach. The best time to visit Chungthang is during the months of February to May, which is during the monsoon season when the temperature ranges between 10 to 20 degree celsius.
Must Read: Top 9 Best things to do in Sikkim Trip
Singhik
Singhik is a small settlement that is present in North Sikkim and is 5200 feet above the sea level. This destination offers majestic views of Mount Kanchenjunga and Mount Siniolchu. The destination is surrounded with high ridges, lush green mountains and als offers you a view of the converging point of the two rivers. There are also other attraction near Singhik, namely, Jhandi viewpoint, Tosha Lake trek and Tensong Monastery.
How to Reach
Singhik is located at a distance of 69.8 km that will take you 2 hours and 35 minutes (approx.). You can opt for shearable taxi or book a private can to travel to this mesmerizing destination that will help you travel to this wonderful offbeat destination. The best time to visit Singhik is in Summer (March to May) and Winter (September to October).
Lingtam
Lingtam is located in East Sikkim that is again an offbeat destination, which will offer you panoramic delight of orchids that is a treat to the eyes. This offbeat destination is a amazing retreat for the nature lovers as it is surrounded by lush greenery and blooming orchids.
How to Reach
It will take around 2 hours and 47 minutes to reach Lingtam from Gangtok by covering a distance of 75km. You can travel using shared taxi or private taxi from Gangtok and witness the orchids when travelling by this route. The best time to visit Lingtam is between March and June, when the climate will be pleasant and you can also witness the booming orchids.
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Temi Tea Garden
Temi Tea Garden will offer you a unique experience within the tea estate, as it is the only place in Sikkim, where you can witness the tea making process. The tea garden is spread over an area of 177 hectares that produces high demanding quality tea leaves. The garden uses organic methods of growing tea by following the guidelines of the Institute of Marketecology (IMO) of Switzerland.
How to Reach
Temi Tea Garden is situated at a distance of 46.1 km that will take a traveling time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach. The best time to visit Temi Tea Garden is between the months of March to May, when the tea garden is surrounded with orchids and rhododendrons and also the weather remain pleasant.
Mangan
Mangan serves as the gateway to different offbeat destinations and itself is also considered as an offbeat tourist location. This offbeat location offers scenic view of Kanchenjunga range and serves as hiking path, different scenic views and snow capped mountains. Some of the locations near Mangan are Seven Sister Waterfall, Phodong Monastery, Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary and many others.
How to Reach
Mangan is the gateway to Northern Sikkim and can be visited by hiring a car or shared taxi that are available from Gangtok. Gangtok is situated at a distance of 65.7 km away from Mangan and takes around 2 hours and 27 minutes to reach the place.
Must Read: Top 11 Best Places to Visit in Sikkim
Chalamthang
Chalamthang is a small village that is located in South Sikkim. “Chalamthang” in local lepcha language refers to orange orchard. This offbeat destination is considered ti be one of the cleanest organic villages in whole Sikkim. Tourists fond of a quiet natural place would love this offbeat destination. You can also enjoy the dishes prepared out of fresh vegetables sourced from the village.
How to Reach
Chalamthang is 37.6 km away from Gangtok, which takes a travelling time of approximately 1 hour and 23 minutes to reach the destination. THe best time to visit Chalamthang is between October to Mid-December and March to May.
Gyangchung
Gyangchung is an appealing village of South Sikkim that helps you drive into the natural environment and understand the rich culture and heritage of the Lepcha community. The destination offers you a scenery of tea garden on the hillside and the majestic view of Kanchenjunga. The decoration of the destination is also enhanced by blooming cherry blossoms.
How to Reach
You can travel to Gyangchung from Gangtok via shared car or hiring a private taxi to help you reach your destination. Inorder to visit Gyangchung, you first need to travel from gangtok to Ravanagle, which is at a distance of 67.1 km and will take around 2 hours and 24 minutes to visit and from there, you need to travel more 23 km to reach Gyangchung.
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Rinchenpong
Rinchenpong is located between the mountains of West Sikkim, which is a serene retreat for the travellers that are looking for a piece of natural beauty. This offbeat destination is a unique blend of peaceful ambience, rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes. Some of the places to visit in Rinchenpong comprise of Rinchenpong Monastery, Resum Monastery, Kaluk, Rinchenpong Orchid Sanctuary, Rinchenpong Viewpoint and others.
How to Reach
Rinchenpong is located at a distance of 119 km from Gangtok and takes a travelling time of approximately 3 hours and 49 minutes to reach the destination. Rinchenpong has a well connected road network through which you can travel via a shared taxi or hire a private cab.
Chakung
Chakung is a beautiful and peaceful location that is situated amidst the hills and surrounded by lush green scenery of forests. Situated in West Sikkim, this village offers you a majestic view of Mount Kanchenjunga and is surrounded by pine hills. This offbeat destination also offers traditions combined with traditions that will offer the visitors a unique experience.
Moreover, the beautiful sunrise through the clouds will help you get mesmerized along with the chilly winds. There are a number of activities that can be performed in this destination such as mountain biking, hiking, camping, stargazing and many more.
How to Reach
Chakung is situated at a distance of 91.1 km from Gangtok, which takes around 3 hours and 6 minutes to reach the destination. The best time to visit Chakung is after the monsoon, which is between September to April.
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Rolep
Rolep is present in the East Sikkim and is a beautiful riverside village. In this village, you can witness a mixed culture such as Rai, Chettri, Sherpa, Bhutia and Gurung. This small hamlet is located at an altitude of 4000 feet above teh sea level and falls on the way of the Old Silk Route. If you visit Rolep, you can visit Buddha Waterfalls, Chochen Natural Lake or go for hiking at natural cave or jungle waterfall.
How to Reach
Rolep is placed at a distance of 53.8 km from Gangtok and requires around 2 hours and 37 minutes to travel to that destination. The best time to visit this destination is after monsoon, in between the months of September and April.
Also, Read: 7 Most Beautiful Sikkim View Points
Okhrey
Okhrey is an offbeat location located in West Sikkim that is less visited by travellers and helps you spend a relaxed vacation far away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life. This offbeat location offers you a number of activities such as village walk, bird watching and enjoying the time of dawn and dusk that offers you a mesmerizing view.
How to Reach
Okhrey is located at a distance of 120km from Gangtok that will require a travel time of around 4 hours to reach the destination. The best time to visit Okhrey is between the months of August and December, when the temperature ranges from 12 to 20 degree celsius.
Yangsum Village
Yangsum Village is yet another hidden hamlet that is located in the lap of Rinchenpong, West Sikkim. The village is placed at an altitude of 4900 feet above the sea level and is not frequently visited by tourists, which makes it an ideal location for travelers seeking solitude amidst nature.
This village also holds a mixed community that mainly includes Gurung, Rai and Limboo. The villagers are mainly involved in farming that also offers you a chance of getting a practical experience on farming.
How to Reach
Yangsum Village is located at a distance of 121 km from Gangtok, which requires 4 hours and 7 minutes to reach the village. It is suggested to visit this village in between the months of August and May that will offer you vivid and green environment and bright skies, which helps you get a clear view of Mount Kanchenjunga.
Also Read: 10 Best Tourist Places to Visit in Sikkim for Summer Holidays
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