Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred through the Teesta valley to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is a bustling town with a unique mix of the modern and the traditional.
Overnight Gantok.
Begin your day with a visit to the Rumtek Monastery, located 24 kms away. This magnificent Buddhist monastery established by the late Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyupa sect is built as an exact replica of the original Kagyu monastery in Tibet. It is also the international headquarters of the Karma Kagyu centres.
On return to Gangtok, sightseeing takes you the Government Institute of Cottage Industry, a centre that offers you the opportunity to observe the local artisans at work and their skills being imparted to young boys and girls.
Visit Do-Drul Chorten - One of the most important stupas of Sikkim built by the late Venerable Trulsi Rimpoche in 1945-46, it contains a mandala of Dorji-Phurpa, holy texts, mantras and is encircled by 108 prayer wheels.
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology - Situated close to the Chorten, this institute is a repository of the largest collection of Tibetan artifacts outside Tibet. Also renowned worldwide for the study of Buddhist philosophy and religion, it is a treasure house of rare Thankas, Buddhist icon and objects of art. Flower Show Pavilion - Situated on the ridge above the city, this centre displays the floral diversity of Sikkim. The famed orchids of the state are on display as also a stunning variety of seasonal flowers.
Overnight Gantok.
Located east of Gangtok at an altitude of 3650 mtrs. The Tsomgo Lake is a typically beautiful mountain lake. The journey to the lake offers a magnificent view of Mt. Khangchendzonga and other peaks of Sikkim Himalayas.
A visit to the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary opens a world of high altitude rhododendrons. The route to Tsomgo lake and especially the area around the lake is abundant with R. dalhousiae, R. campanulatum, Barbatum. Spend the day exploring.
Return to Gangtok in the late afternoon and visit the local markets.
Overnight Gantok.
After breakfast, drive to North Sikkim. En-route visit Phodong Monastery. Built by the Chogyal Gyrumed Namgyal in the early eighteenth century, it is one of the important monasteries of Sikkim following the Kagyupa sect. The journey is lined with magnificent waterfalls and lush green forests.
Overnight Lachung.
After breakfast drive to Yumthang. The road runs along the valley with snow capped mountains rising high up on either side. The journey is lit up with flaming rhododendrons and other mountain flowers. A visit to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, the only place where R. niveum, the state flower of Sikkim is found.
The entire stretch to Yumthang valley and beyond to Yumesamdong have hillsides covered with white R. ciliatum, purple R. niveum, R. arboreum, and forests of R. hodgsonii and R. thomsonii, all growing in their native habitats – here you are in rhododendron heaven. Yumthang is a wide valley where the local herdsmen from Lachung camp their herds of yaks and cattle during summer.
Return to Lachung and overnight.
A fairly short drive ahead to Lachen allows us to visit the Lachung monastery. The drive to Lachen passes through thick forests of Magnolia & oak and fir in the upper reaches.
On arrival at Lachen visit the Lachen monastery. A quaint little village the local community practices a traditional system of local governance – “Dzumsa”. The “Pipon” or the headman and his council are elected each year by the local families which implement all developmental projects in the area as well as social occasions like the Sikkimese New Year, “Losoong”, and even decides the date when yak & cattle herds are to be moved in summer & autumn.
Overnight Lachen.
The drive to Thanggu takes us to high mountain country with fascinating snow peaks rising up the valley. The area around Thanggu, small summer village of the Lachen people, abound in R. campanulatum, R. wightii, R. pumilum, R. setosum a truly great experience. A day, with lunch at the local inn, spent in this wondrous place is a cherishable memory.
Return to Lachen. Overnight Lachen.
Drive back to Gangtok.
Overnight Gantok.
Trasnfer to airport andf fly back home or extend your trip to Nepal, India or Bhutan.
Land Cost: US$ |
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