Places to visit in

Sikkim

Zemu Glacier is the longest glacier in the Eastern Himalaya and an important cryospheric feature on the eastern slopes of Kanchenjunga. It feeds tributaries that join the Teesta River system and supports high-altitude ecosystems unique to Sikkim, including fragile alpine meadows and glacial meltwater-dependent habitats. The glacier's retreat in recent decades has become a significant indicator of regional climate change, drawing attention from glaciologists and conservationists.

Pelling is a small hill town in West Sikkim known for its spectacular panoramic views of the Himalayan range, especially Mount Kanchenjunga. It serves as a cultural gateway to traditional Sikkimese (Bhutia and Lepcha) heritage with historic monasteries and nearby archaeological sites. The town's natural importance comes from its alpine forests, rhododendron-clad slopes and rich birdlife, making it a popular base for nature and mountain-view tourism.

Pemayangtse Monastery is one of Sikkim's oldest and most revered monasteries, belonging to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Perched near Pelling in West Sikkim, it has been a spiritual center for the region since the early 18th century and is closely linked with Sikkimese history and the nearby Rabdentse ruins (the former kingdom capital). The monastery's hilltop location also provides spectacular natural views of the Kanchenjunga range, combining cultural and natural significance.

Rabdentse Ruins were the second historic capital of the former Kingdom of Sikkim (17th–early 19th century). The site was an administrative and religious centre for the early Chogyal (monarch) dynasty and played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sikkimese statehood and Buddhist culture in the region. The ruins—palace foundations, chortens (stupas), walls and scattered stonework—provide archaeological evidence of the kingdom's architectural style and urban layout. The site is also set within mixed broadleaf and rhododendron forest with panoramic views of the Himalayan range, including Kanchenjunga on clear days.

Khecheopalri Lake is a sacred natural site revered by both Buddhists and the indigenous Lepcha community. It is considered a "wish-fulfilling" lake (similar to a tirtha), an important pilgrimage spot and cultural landmark in West Sikkim. The surrounding forest forms part of a small protected area and supports local biodiversity, including migratory and resident birds, making the site important both culturally and ecologically.

Kanchenjunga Falls is a scenic waterfall in Sikkim named after the sacred Mount Kanchenjunga. It is valued primarily for its natural beauty and as part of the Himalayan river-and-valley landscape that supports local biodiversity and community livelihoods. The falls are a popular stop for nature lovers and photographers exploring the Kanchenjunga region and surrounding hill towns.

Rimbi Waterfalls is a scenic natural cascade in Sikkim celebrated for its picturesque setting amid mountain forests and tea gardens. While not a major historic monument, the falls are valued locally for their natural beauty and as a peaceful roadside stop that showcases Sikkim's rich Himalayan landscape and biodiversity. The site contributes to local eco-tourism and offers easy access to riverside views and forested surroundings.

Yuksom is the historic first capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim (established 1642). It is the traditional coronation site of the Namgyal dynasty and an important centre for Nyingma Buddhism in the region. Located at the western gateway to the Kanchenjunga Himalaya, Yuksom is a key base for treks (Dzongri and Goecha La) and is set amid rich rhododendron forests and alpine meadows, making it important both culturally and ecologically.

Dubdi Monastery (also spelled 'Dobdi' or 'Dubdi Gonpa') is the oldest monastery in Sikkim, founded in 1701 by Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, one of the three lamas who established the Namgyal dynasty. It played a central role in the establishment of the Chogyal monarchy and the early Buddhist institutional history of Sikkim. Perched above the old capital Yuksom, the monastery is both a historical symbol and an active religious site for the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tashiding Monastery is one of the most sacred and historically important Buddhist sites in Sikkim. Perched on a hilltop, it commands panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and the snow-capped Himalayan peaks, making it notable for both spiritual and natural significance. The site functions as an active pilgrimage centre and plays a key role in the religious life of local communities.

Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) in northwestern Sikkim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2016) recognised for its outstanding natural beauty, outstanding biodiversity and its cultural landscape. It includes the Kanchenjunga massif (the third-highest mountain in the world) and a range of high-altitude ecosystems from alpine meadows to subtropical forests. The park is biologically rich with endemic and threatened species (snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan tahr, musk deer) and hosts a wide range of rhododendron species. It also preserves living cultural traditions of indigenous communities (Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali), sacred landscapes, pilgrimage routes and historic monasteries.

Goecha La is a high mountain pass (approx. 4,940 m) in the Kanchenjunga region of Sikkim, India. It is significant primarily for its natural importance as a gateway to spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga (the third-highest peak in the world) and the surrounding Himalayan range. The trek passes through Kanchenjunga National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, noted for its biodiversity, endemic alpine flora and fauna, and pristine high-altitude landscapes.

Dzongri Meadows is a high-altitude alpine pasture and viewpoint on the popular Goecha La trek in West Sikkim. It is prized for its spectacular, close-up panoramas of the Kanchenjunga massif and surrounding Himalayan peaks, and for its rich alpine biodiversity, including seasonal rhododendron blooms and high-altitude flora. The meadows serve both as a natural sanctuary and as an acclimatization camping site for trekkers, linking natural, cultural and adventure tourism in the region.

Singshore Bridge is a prominent scenic landmark in West Sikkim, valued for its dramatic engineering and the panoramic views it provides over a deep gorge and the surrounding Himalayan foothills. It functions both as a practical connector for local communities and as a major tourist draw that supports nearby villages and contributes to regional ecotourism.

Uttarey is a small, tranquil village in West Sikkim that serves as a window into the Himalayan foothills and traditional rural life of Sikkim. While not a major historical center, Uttarey is important for its natural environment—rich temperate forests, rhododendron stands, and diverse wildlife—and for the cultural mix of Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali communities that maintain traditional crafts, farming practices and festivals. The village is valued as a low-impact gateway for nature lovers and as part of local conservation efforts in West Sikkim.

Hee Bermiok (also spelled Hee-Bermiok) is a tranquil hill settlement in West Sikkim known for its unspoilt Himalayan scenery and traditional highland culture. It represents the rural, agrarian lifestyle of Sikkim and offers an authentic experience of local customs, homestays and small-scale organic farming. The area contributes to Sikkim's reputation as a biodiversity hotspot with mixed temperate forests and mountain views.

Dentam is a small town in West Sikkim that serves as a local market and administrative node for surrounding villages. While not a major historic landmark, it reflects the rural cultural life of Sikkim — traditional Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali communities, terraced farming, and local Buddhist practices. Its importance is largely natural and cultural: it sits amid lush hills and forests that are representative of West Sikkim's Himalayan landscapes.

Rinchenpong is a picturesque village in West Sikkim known for its spectacular views of the Kanchenjunga range, terraced farms, and a peaceful rural atmosphere. It is culturally important as a living example of Sikkim's mixed Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali heritage with local Buddhist monasteries and traditional village life. The area is also valued for its biodiversity—forests and birdlife attract nature lovers and birdwatchers.

Barsey (also spelled Varsey or Bersey) Rhododendron Sanctuary is a protected Himalayan landscape in West Sikkim known primarily for its spectacular spring display of rhododendrons and rich montane biodiversity. The sanctuary conserves large tracts of rhododendron forest and associated alpine and subalpine habitats that are important for pollinators, birds, and several mammal species. It also holds cultural value for nearby Lepcha and Bhutia communities who have traditionally used these hills for grazing and gathering medicinal plants.

Okhrey is a small rural village in West Sikkim known for its traditional Himalayan village lifestyle, agricultural practices (notably potato and apple cultivation), and panoramic views of the Kanchenjunga range. The village offers insight into the everyday life of Sikkim's rural communities, with a mix of ethnic groups including Nepali, Bhutia, and Lepcha influences. It is valued for its unspoiled natural setting and low-impact community-based tourism.