About Districts of Sikkim
Sikkim has six districts. They are Gangtok, Mangan, Namchi, Gyalshing, Pakyong, and Soreng. Pakyong and Soreng Districts were included after 2021.
The People and Language of Sikkim
In Sikkim, there are three ethnic groups - Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali. Communities of different hues intermingle freely. These myriad Cultures have produced a quintessential Sikkimese Culture that encompasses all ways and walks of life but has also managed to preserve its own identity. The official languages of Sikkim are English, Nepali, Sikkimese (Bhutia), and Lepcha; others are Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sherpa, and Tamang for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state. The majority of the population is rural, living in scattered hamlets and villages. Gangtok is Sikkim’s largest population. Other towns include Singtam, Rangpo, Jorethang, Naya Bazar, Mangan, Gyalshing, and Namchi.
Cultural Life of Sikkim
Sikkim’s cultural life shows strong Tibetan influences, derived from their pre-Buddhist customs. The most important festival of the year is the two-day Phanglhapsol festival in August or September, in which masked dancers perform in honor of Kanchenjunga, the presiding deity. The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (1958) has one of the largest collections of Tibetan books in the world. Many monasteries are repositories of wall paintings, thangkas (religious paintings mounted on brocade), bronze images, and other artworks.
Weather of Sikkim
Two-thirds of Sikkim consists of snow-covered mountains, dominated by the Kanchenjunga massif, the world’s third-highest mountains, therefore exhibiting a variety of climatic types, from almost tropical conditions in the south to severe cold climates in the north. In Gangtok, temperatures in January (the coldest month) drop to a low of about 0 °C; in August (the warmest month), temperatures may reach a low of about 28 °C. Depending on elevation and exposure, annual precipitation varies from 50 to 200 inches, most occurring during the months of the southwest monsoon (May through October). Tourism time is mostly seen in winter(November to January) or summer(July to August). It’s best to go to Sikkim according to season.
Things to do in Sikkim
Sikkim is a land of mountains and rivers, where you can enjoy snowfall and sunny days at the same time; where the traditions, cuisine, festivals, and cultures vary from district to district, from religion to religion. Here is the list of all the things to do in Sikkim:
- Gondola Ride – Gangtok
- River Rafting at Teesta River
- Seven Sisters Waterfall - Gangtok
- M.G. Marg for Local Cuisine - Gangtok
- Tashi View Point - Gangtok
- Rumtek Monastery - Gangtok
- Pemayangtse Monastery - Gangtok
- Ranka Monastery - Gangtok
- Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary - Yumthang
- Hand Gliding/Skiing – Yumthang
- Mt Brumkhangse for hiking - Yumthang
- Paragliding - Gangtok
- Mahatma Gandhi Marg
- Himalayan Zoological park
- Yumesamdong
- Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
- Menmecho Lake
- Chombu - Yumthang
- Zero Point Adventures – Yumthang Valley
- Dzongri Trek – Base Camp Yuksom
- Kanchenjunga Mountains – Pelling
- Kichipudi Lake – Wishing Lake
- Char Dham in Namchi, Ravangla
- Mountain Biking Tour - Gangtok
- Singalila Trek - Darjeeling
- North Lha-Ri-Nying Phu
- Hot Spring – Yumthang
- The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
- Valley of Flowers – Yumthang
- Do Drul Chorten - Gangtok
- Bird Watching – Kewzing
- Tsuk La Khang Monastery - Gangtok
Gangtok apart from others has more resources, a population, diverse cultures, and vast facilities for tourists. Other districts, such as Manag, Soyoug, etc. have versatile cultures, festivals, and animal life, So, There are a lot of things to do in Sikkim. If you are an adventure type, you can do paragliding, hand-gliding, mountain biking, camping, trekking, visiting Khangchendzonga National Park, trying local cuisine at M.G Marg, diving in waterfalls, etc. If you want to enjoy the tranquility of nature, you can visit the Wishing Lake, Zero Point, the Valley of Flowers in Yumthang, the seven sisters waterfall, Tashi Points, and many more. If you are into spirituality and want to learn more about ancient history, you can visit the Rumtek monasteries, Rumtek Monastery, Pemayangtse Monastery, Ranka Monastery, Char Dam, and many more holy grounds of Hindus and Buddhists.
From savoring local cuisine to buying traditional souvenirs, from serene nature sightseeing to adrenaline-pumping paragliding and mountain biking; Sikkim is filled with boundless mysteries that will make you crave more.
Transportations in Sikkim
If you are visiting or sightseeing, It’s best to rent local cars. Information related to getting a visa depends on the country and the permit granted to tourists will be legally given before entering Sikkim during immigration.
If you are Bangladeshi and want to visit Sikkim via train, watch my videos on Sikkim-
https://youtube.com/@besttraveltracking
Restaurants and Hotels in Sikkim
Gangtok has the best hotels and restaurants. Other districts have motel-like places for accommodation. It’s best to check into hotels with proper websites and reviews for safety and comfort. If you are traveling via an agency, It’s better to check for their verification to not get scammed.
