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 (8534 mts.), the
third highest Mountain in the world and revered by the
Sikkimese as their protective deity. Sikkim shares her
borders with Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the East,
Nepal in the West and State of West Bengal (India) in
the South.
With an area of 7,300 sq. kms. and measuring
approximately 100 from North to South and 60 kms. from
East to West, the elevation ranges from 244 mts. to over
8540 mts. above sea-Level. Amidst the grandeur of the
mountain peaks, lush valleys, fast flowing rivers,
terraced hills, Sikkim offers her visitors a rare and
singular experience.
The
grandeur of Gangtok
A perfect symbol of the confluence of the past and
present is Gangtok -the capital of Sikkim. Built on the
flank of a ridge, Gangtok is 1600 mts. above sea level.
The town's unique Jewel o the ambience derives from the
happy blend of tradition and modernity. Alongside the
deeply felt presence of stupas and monasteries, Gangtok
also bustles like any other town.
 A
gracious people & Unique Culture
The people of Sikkim are warm, simple and friendly with
a natural gaiety. The customs and rituals of Sikkim are
as diverse as the ethnic group that inhabit the land;
The Lepchas- essentially children of the forest, the
Bhutias and the Nepalese. The people of Sikkim love
to celebrate. Be it the chasing away of the evil spirit
or the celebrations on the occasion of the New Year, the
Sikkimese do it all with a gay abandon. And if you're
fortunate you could persuade the Sikkimese to offer you
'Chaang' -a preparation from fermented millet. The drink
is served to you in bamboo containers with a hollow
bamboo pipe.
Yet, Sikkim remains the epitome of
its derived name (from "Sikkim" which
means peace and happiness). The Tibetans who reside just
to its north in Tibet refer to it by the name "Denjong"
which is "the hidden valley of rice".
Nature has endowed Sikkim with the
most attractive of all flowers - the orchid. As many as
600 varieties of orchids are found here, splashing
wonderful colour combinations all over Sikkim during
April-May, when they contrast with the red hue of the
cherry trees.
The rivers have 
trout, salmon and carp. Naturalists have catalogued over
550 species and sub-species of birds, among them many
flamboyant pheasants and over 600 species of
butterflies. Animals abound in the dense forest of
Sikkim. The dreaded Himalayan bear, musk and barking
deer, marbled cats, red panda, the blue sheep etc.
The chief pillars of Sikkim's economy
are the terraced rice fields and tea estates in Southern
Sikkim, and orange orchards and cardamom fields in North
Sikkim.
Sikkim defies definition. Monasteries
and modernism, silent valleys and bustling bazaars, all
co-exist together. But to experience the place, you
have to come here -for seeing in believing!
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