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Experience to return in
the land of Created on the Earth
The clouds play a dramatic symphony as
the vapour boils up silently out of the
deep valleys, taking fantastic shapes -
a sight to behold. As you stand in awe,
the silence is broken by the sound of
bells, signalling a monastery ahead. The
smell of burning juniper marks a village
and then, gently the swirling mist
reveals the threshold of a holy
monastery - one of 67 in Sikkim . This
is the experience of Sikkim .
Sikkim is a perfect destination for
travelers in search of enchantment,
tranquility or adventure. A jewel
embedded in snow-clad mountains, Sikkim
is a primeval land that is unlike
anywhere else. Its rugged and dramatic
terrain has elevation variations ranging
from 284 m. to 8540 m. This land of
mystery and myths casts an enchanted
spell that holds visitors enthralled. A
land so rich in tradition and steeped in
religion, it is truly one of the most
special places on earth.
Sikkim is located in the eastern
Himalaya , sitting between Nepal and
Bhutan , while to the north lies eastern
Tibet . It is a mountainous kingdom,
well known for providing stunning views
of Kanchenjunga (8598m), the world's
third highest mountain which straddles
the border with Nepal . It is also a
land rich in flora and fauna and has a
diverse ethnic mix with rich cultural
traditions. The people are predominantly
Buddhist and there are many active
monasteries where traditional and
ancient rituals are practiced in an
atmosphere of peace and serenity.
Our trek starts from Yuksom (1770 m),
the trail climbs through dense semi
tropical forests, before changing to
rhododendron, pine, azalea, and giant
oak. The trekking is not difficult and
follows delightful trails. Spectacular
views of Kanchenjunga , Pandim and other
peaks of the Singalila ridge, separating
Sikkim from Nepal , are visible for the
entire trek. We then trek back to Yuksom
and visit Gangtok, Sikkim 's hilltop
capital. Eventually, we spend two
delightful and relaxing nights among the
tea gardens in nearby Kalimpong. |