This stamp-sized state in which tradition and modernity, spirituality and materialism, the familiar and strange, misty mountains and meadows blend seamlessly, offers a unique vacation experience Way up in the clouds in the north-east of the subcontinent, flanked by Nepal to the east and Tibet to the North is the Himalayan Shangri-la of Sikkim (pop.540,000). The charm of this mountain state is its sweeping, uplifting vistas of white peaks glistening on the horizon, mist-shrouded green hills sliced by the frothing River Teesta, magic lakes hidden in lush forests, brooding Buddhist gomphas (monasteries) perched atop rocky heights, meadows carpeted with wild flowers, deep gorges and frozen glaciers. Nature has endowed Sikkim with all this and more. For the nature lover and the adventure sports enthusiast, it’s a near ideal destination. Colourful history Originally the home of the Lepcha hill tribe, from the 15th century onward Sikkim experienced continuous immigration from Tibet. In the 16th century the Nyingmapa order of lamas (monks) consecrated Phuntsog Namgyal as the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim. When the kingdom was established its jurisdiction extended to a part of eastern Nepal, Tibet’s Chumbi valley, the Haley in Bhutan and the Terai region of India down to the plains including Darjeeling and Kalimpong. In 1849 the British annexed the entire area between the Sikkimese border and the Gangetic plain and declared it a protectorate in 1861. After independence British treaties with the kingdom of Sikkim devolved upon New Delhi even as the majority Nepalese-origin population began demanding democratic elections. In a referendum in 1975, 97 percent of the population of Sikkim voted for union with India as a consequence of which it became the 22nd state of the Indian Union. Currently, the state is ruled by the Sikkim Democratic Front which has acquired a noteworthy reputation as the most environmentally-conscious state government of the country. In this stamp-sized state, famous for the awesome Mt. Kanchendzonga (aka Kanchenjunga), the third highest peak in the world which the Sikkimese regard as their presiding deity, tourism and agriculture are the mainstay of the economy. For administrative purposes the state is divided into four districts — north, south, east and west. The east, with Gangtok as its capital, is the seat of government and is also the most easily accessible point from where most tourists begin their expeditions. The best time to visit is between March and late May and between October and December. “We first visited Sikkim about ten years ago and since then we have been back six or seven times, drawn by the beauty of the mountains as well as the warmth and natural courtesy of the people. Despite the influx of tourists, Sikkim still has the distinctive charm of a mountain kingdom. The landscape with green cultivated hillsides to the rocky terrain of the Chhangu Lake and Nathu La; the monastries, such as Rumtek, are richly decorated; road connections are fairly good; the food especially the local soup, thukpa, is outstanding. What more could a traveller want,” exudes…
