Sikkim offers you some of the serene destinations in the Northeast region of India. The enchanting sceneries and serene environment of Sikkim will offer you tranquility from the hustle, bustle and rush of busy life. Across Sikkim, there are many hidden gems that are paradise for the nature lovers and peace seekers. Being hidden, the number of visitors in such destinations are comparatively low, which also helps in preservation of the natural environment. So pack your bags and set on the extraordinary journey to unveil the 10 hidden gems to explore in Sikkim.
Here are The 10 Secret Places in Sikkim to Explore:
- Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary
- Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary
- Sanghak Choeling Monastery
- Gonjang Monastery
- Zero Point
- Mankhim Top Kanchenjunga View Point
- Namnang ViewPoint
- Bakthang Waterfall
- Lampokhari Lake
- Gyalshing
10 Secret Places in Sikkim For You to Explore
Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary
Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary that is situated in the East Sikkim on Nathula road, where the area adjoins with Tsomgo lake. Thissanctuary covers an area of 31 square kilometers and stretches from 15th Mile police check to Tsomgo lake and Rong Chu valley. The sanctuary is filled with various types of flora and fauna such as endangered and rare rhododendrons and ground orchids that are seen around tall silver firs and tall junipers.
Among the flora, there are two plants that are on the verge of extinction, namely, Cypripedium tibeticum (ground slipper orchid) and Rhododendron niveum (State tree of Sikkim). In terms of wildlife you can sport Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer, Leopard, red Panda, Blood Pheasant, Common Langur, Himalayan Marmot, Serow, Lesser Cats, Satyr Tragopan, Yellow throated Martens Weasel and others.
You can travel from Gangtok to Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary by car, which will take around an hour to cover a distance of 35.3 km. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between the months of April to August and October to November. This sanctuary stays open to the public from 8 AM till 6 PM throughout the month, however the time may differ on occasions.
Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary
Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is a paradise in itself and is located between Singalila National Park in the South and Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve in its North. You can witness entire hills covered with deep red and bring pink flowers accompanied by the echo of dozens of bird chirping. The sanctuary spreads over an area of 104 square kilometers. The sanctuary has a combination of different vegetation ranging from coniferous and broadleaf forests to alpine meadows.
There are a number of entry points from which you can enter the sanctuary and you can either trek or ride or drive to the sanctuary, based on your preference. Around 1000 of the total varieties of Rhododendrons, 600 of the can be found in this sanctuary. The sanctuary is also home to a diverse fauna, such as Chinese pangolin, Himalayan Black Bear, leopards, crestless porcupine, Assamese macaque and others.
The distance between Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and Gangtok is 110 km which will take you around 4 hours to visit this destination. The best time to visit this place is between April and May, when you can witness the Rhododendrons tress blooming in full. You can also visit during the months of September and October to witness a clear view of Kanchenjunga.
Sanghak Choeling Monastery
Sanghak Choeling Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim that is comparatively less popular than other monasteries present in Sikkim, which makes it a hidden gem. The monastery showcases a Tibetan style architecture and houses a number of ancient clay statues, accessories and paintings that dates back to the 17th century.
The monastery also stands as an important point of Buddhist devotees that was built back in the year 1697 by Lama Lhatsun Chempo. The monastery is also called the “Place of Secret Spells” which are also called Guhyamantra. The monastery offers a brilliant view of the Himalayan range and during the winter season, you can witness snow covered Pelling. Again, during the summer season, you will attain a clear view of the Pemayangtse monastery.
The distance from Gangtok to Sanghak Choeling Monastery is 124 km and requires a time of around 4 hours and 34 minutes. After travelling via car or riding via bike, you need to walk past a path of thick deciduous forests of around 4 km to reach the courtyard of the temple.
Gonjang Monastery
Gonjang Monastery is another natural beauty of Sikkim that is blessed by Dalai Lama and is situated at an elevation of 6066 feet above the sea level. In the year 1981, H.E. Tingkye Gonjang Rinpoche founded the Gonjang Monastery. The panoramic view of the valley will offer you a soothing in watching the mountain range.
Some of the artifacts worth watching in the monastery consist of the idols of Khen-lop-Choe-Sum, who was the 8th century founding fathers of Tibetan Buddhism. There are engraved statues of 25 disciples of Padmasambhava, collectively called Jebang Nyernga.
Gonjang Monastery is situated at a distance of 7 km and requires a travel time of 23 minutes (approx.). During the winter, the monastery is covered in white snow that offers a totally different view from the one during the summer season. You must visit the monastery after 9 AM and before it turns dark.
Zero Point
Zero Point is another serene place that offers views o the snow clad mountains and a peaceful environment. Situated at an altitude of 15300 feet above the sea level, this place is less visited by the tourists due to the hassle of obtaining permits as well as the travel distance. Zero point is also called Yume Samdong and is the last outpost of civilization.
The destination is also situated at a close proximity to the Indo-Chinese border, which requires permit to visit this destination. The scenic view offers a snow covered landscape in most of the time of the year. There is hardly any green stretch in Zero Point due to the harsh and frigid weather conditions. The reason behind calling this place Zero Point is because there are no civilian roads past this point.
The distance between Gangtok and Zero point is 153 km and will require around 6 hours and 8 minutes to reach the destination. The best time to visit this point is between April and May, when the route to this destination will be bloomed with rhododendrons.
Mankhim Top Kanchenjunga View Point
Mankhim Top Kanchenjunga View Point is a hilltop destination situated near Aritar in the East Sikkim. It is an offbeat tourist spot in Sikkim that offers stunning views of the Kanchenjunga mountain range. The breathtaking views during the sunrise offers a mesmerizing view and colorful hues of the golden sunlight, when the sun arises behind the snow-capped peaks. There are also a number of homestays that you can book for overnight stay at the point and enjoy the serene environment from the top.
Mankhim Top Kanchenjunga View Point is located at a distance of 69.1 km from Gangtok and takes around 2 hours and 38 minutes to reach the destination. The best time to visit this place is during October to December, when the skies will be clear and will offer you a view of the entire valley.
Namnang ViewPoint
Namnang View Point is located at a close proximity to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in Gangtok. The wide scenic scenery from the top point offers an astounding view to the visitors. On a clear day, you can also witness the Kanchenjunga Mountain range from this very point. However, it is also called suicide point due to its high altitude placement. You can also take a troll at the forest walkway that leads to the viewpoint. The pathway is decorated with colorful prayer flags and are believed to carry prayers on the wind that enhances the spirituality in the environment, which makes it one of the best view points in Sikkim.
The best time to visit this destination is during the spring season that exists between March and May and during the autumn season that ranges between September and November. Namnang valley is located at a distance of 2.7 km that takes around 7 minutes to reach.
Bakthang Waterfall
Bakthang Waterfall is yet another beautiful location in Sikkim that will offer your picturesque scenery. The waterfalls falls through the rocks that forms a small pool below. There is no entry fee to this destination and it also offers wonderful views and activities. The origin of the water of the falls is from Tamze lake which is a glacial lake situated at an altitude of 12500 feet. There are also a number of activities where you can engage, such as rope sliding that will cost Rs 100. There are also a number of shops where you can eat or buy things.
Although the best time to visit this falls is during the monsoons, but during that season there are chances of facing landslides. Bakthang waterfall is located at a distance of 4.2 km from Gangtok, which takes around 12 minutes to reach the destination.
Lampokhari Lake
Lampokhari Lake is a hidden gem among the top visited place in Gangtok that offers a breathtaking scenic experience to the visitors. The lake is located at Aritar, which is present in the Eastern Sikkim. The scenic lake is boot-like shaped that has an emerald hue in the lake waters that offers a visual treat to the eyes. The lake is located at an elevation of 4600 feet above the sea level. This lake is also known as Aritar lake and is very popular among the natives.
The lake is 1120 feet long and 240 feet wide and is surrounded by green vegetation. The pine forests surrounding the lake adds charm to the lake. The lake also offers boating facility that helps tourists view different angles of the lake. On the bank of the lake, there is also a small shrine that is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava.
Lampokhari Lake is located at a distance of 67.2 km from Gangtok and takes a travelling time of around 2 hours and 28 minutes. The preferred time to visit this lake is in the summer months, which is between March and June that offers a pleasant weather and clear sky.
Gyalshing
Gyalshing is a town that is located in the West Sikkim region and is located amidst hills at an elevation of 5800 feet. Gyalshing means the resident of King in Bhutia, as the place offers a scenic view of the snow capped mountains. The town is situated at a distance of 114 km from Gangtok and takes a travelling time of approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes. There are a number of attractions around Gyalshing, such as Pemangtse monastery, Sri Kirateshwar Mahadev temple, Sanghak Choeling monastery and others, where you can visit.
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