Tradition · Mar - May and Oct - Dec
Monasteries of the Namgyal Kingdom
You visit Rumtek, Pemayangtse, Tashiding and Dubdi with a Buddhist studies guide, and stand at the 1642 coronation throne.
From US$1,775 per person
Overview
Sikkim covers only 7,096 square kilometres but rises from 300 metres in the southern foothills to 8,586 metres at the summit of Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain on earth and the state's guardian deity. The Teesta river drains the whole territory. Because the altitude band is so compressed, you pass from subtropical forest through oak and rhododendron to glacier within a single day's drive north.
The Namgyal dynasty ruled Sikkim as a Buddhist kingdom from 1642, consecrated at Yuksom by three lamas from Tibet. It became a British protectorate, then an Indian protectorate, and voted to join India as its 22nd state in 1975. Lepcha people are the oldest inhabitants, with Bhutia and Nepali communities arriving later, which is why monasteries, Hindu temples and sacred mountains share the same landscape and calendar.
Two things make Sikkim unusual for a Western traveller. It became India's first fully organic state in 2016, banning chemical fertiliser and pesticide outright, so the cardamom, buckwheat and vegetables you eat here are grown under law. And Kangchenjunga National Park, inscribed by UNESCO in 2016 as a mixed natural and cultural site, protects both the glaciers and the sacred geography the Lepcha and Bhutia attach to them.
Hand-held, every step
You travel as our guest, not as a booking number. One named person looks after you from the first video call to the drive back to the airport, and explains the meaning behind everything you are looking at.
In Sikkim that matters most where the crowds are thickest and the customs least familiar.
- Airport welcome with a name board, a local SIM and your first rupees sorted
- One trip manager on WhatsApp for the whole journey, answering within the hour
- Guides who explain each ritual, dish and carving as you meet it
- Reserved, safe places at festivals rather than the crush
- A real part in a puja, a wedding or a family celebration if you want one
- Female guide on request, vetted drivers, and no shopping-commission stops
Festivals worth planning a trip around
Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Islamic dates follow lunar calendars, so each year shifts. We confirm every date against the panchang before a departure goes on sale.
| Festival | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Losar | Feb-Mar | Tibetan and Bhutia new year, the state's biggest celebration, with cham masked dances at Rumtek and Pemayangtse and three days of household visiting; set by the lunar calendar |
| Pang Lhabsol | Aug-Sep | Uniquely Sikkimese: Kangchenjunga is honoured as the state's guardian with warrior Pangtoed cham dance and the renewal of the Lepcha and Bhutia blood-brotherhood oath |
| Saga Dawa | May-Jun | The holiest Buddhist month, marked on the full moon with monk processions through Gangtok carrying scriptures |
| Bumchu, Tashiding | Feb-Mar | The sacred water pot is opened once a year at Tashiding monastery and the level read to predict the year ahead |
| Losoong and Namsoong | Dec | The Bhutia and Lepcha harvest new year, with archery contests, Kagyed masked dance and the burning of old grievances |
| Dashain and Tihar | Oct-Nov | The Nepali-majority population keeps both, with family blessings, swings and then lamps, garlands and Bhai Tika |
| Drupka Teshi | Jul-Aug | The Buddha's first sermon, marked at Deer Park in Gangtok and with yak races at Muguthang in the far north |
| International Flower Festival | Apr-May | Orchid and rhododendron displays in Gangtok, timed to the state's flowering season of over 500 orchid species |
Food to try in Sikkim
Ranked the way a local host would feed you, starting with the dish you should not leave without.
- PhagshapaPork belly strips stewed with radish and dried chilli, the Bhutia dish to order at Gangtok's Taste of Tibet
- Gundruk and sinki soupFermented leaf and radish soured into broth, the Nepali farmhouse staple of the hills
- Sel roti with aloo acharRing-shaped fried rice bread with spiced potato pickle, made in quantity for Tihar
- Thukpa and gya thukHand-pulled noodle soups, the one-bowl meal of a cold Himalayan evening
- Momo with dalle chutneyPork or vegetable dumplings with the round red Sikkim chilli relish, hot enough to notice
- KinemaFermented soybean cooked into a pungent curry, a Limbu and Nepali speciality of eastern Nepal and Sikkim
- Chhurpi and ningroSoft yak cheese cooked with wild fiddlehead fern, the most distinctive vegetable dish here
- TongbaHot millet beer sipped through a bamboo straw from a wooden tankard, refilled with boiling water
- Temi teaSikkim's single organic tea estate in South Sikkim, which you can tour and taste at source
- Large cardamomSikkim grows most of India's black cardamom; smoked pods appear in curries and in local honey
Heritage sites in Sikkim
- Kangchenjunga National ParkUNESCO World Heritage since 2016 as a mixed site, protecting glaciers, forest and sacred Lepcha geography
- Rumtek MonasteryThe Karma Kagyu seat rebuilt in the 1960s by the sixteenth Karmapa, with the golden reliquary stupa
- Pemayangtse MonasteryThe 1705 Nyingma monastery of the royal house near Pelling, with the seven-tier Zangdok Palri sculpture
- Tashiding MonasteryA 1641 hilltop monastery between two rivers, site of the annual Bumchu water ceremony
- Yuksom and NorbugangThe 1642 coronation site of the first Chogyal, with the stone throne and a footprint in rock
- Enchey MonasteryAn 1840 Nyingma monastery above Gangtok, where the Kagyed dance is performed each December
- Namgyal Institute of TibetologyA 1958 research institute and museum with one of the world's best collections of Tibetan manuscripts and thangkas
- Dubdi MonasterySikkim's oldest, founded 1701 above Yuksom, reached by a steep forest climb
- Sanga ChoelingA 1697 monastery on a ridge above Pelling, reached by a 40-minute uphill walk through forest
- Rabdentse ruinsThe second royal capital, abandoned in 1814, now a ridge-top ruin inside bird-rich forest
Places to visit in Sikkim
- GangtokThe capital at 1,650 metres, with MG Marg, Rumtek and the Tibetology institute
- PellingWest Sikkim's viewpoint town facing Kangchenjunga, with the royal monasteries nearby
- Lachung and YumthangNorth Sikkim valleys of hot springs, rhododendron and snow, needing a protected-area permit
- Gurudongmar LakeA sacred lake above 5,000 metres near the Tibetan border, altitude-serious and permit-restricted
- Tsomgo LakeA glacial lake at 3,780 metres on the old Tibet road, requiring a separate permit
- YuksomThe first capital and the trailhead for the Goecha La trek into Kangchenjunga park
- Ravangla and NamchiSouth Sikkim ridges with the Buddha Park, tea estate and a long Kangchenjunga panorama
- Zuluk and the Silk RouteThe old Kalimpong to Lhasa trade road in East Sikkim, with 32 hairpin bends and strict permits
- DzonguThe Lepcha reserve in North Sikkim, with homestays, waterfalls and a permit of its own
- Temi Tea EstateThe state's only tea garden, organic and walkable, on a slope below Ravangla
Waterfalls, lakes and wild places
High lakes are frozen from December to February and the North Sikkim roads can close with snow, while rivers run hardest and most dangerously in the June to September monsoon, when landslides are common. Do not bathe in Tsomgo, Gurudongmar or Khecheopalri, which are sacred and bitterly cold, and raft the Teesta only with licensed operators.
- Tsomgo LakeA 3,780-metre glacial lake 40 km from Gangtok, frozen in winter, permit required
- Gurudongmar LakeAbove 5,000 metres in the far north, sacred to Buddhists and Sikhs, with serious altitude risk
- Khecheopalri LakeA sacred wishing lake near Pelling, where leaves are said never to settle on the water
- Yumthang hot springsSulphur springs in the North Sikkim valley of flowers, with a bathing hut across a footbridge
- Teesta and Rangeet riversThe state's main rivers, with licensed rafting between Melli and Sirwani
- Kanchenjunga FallsA roadside fall near Pelling, in full flow during and just after the monsoon
- Lachung river and YumesamdongGlacier-fed streams at 4,600 metres, where the valley road ends near the Tibetan border
Where to stay in Sikkim
Properties we would put our own guests in. Your package includes the level you choose, and we hold rooms before festival dates.
- Mayfair Spa Resort and CasinoRanipool, Gangtok; the state's largest luxury property, in forested grounds below the cityLuxury
- The Elgin Nor-KhillGangtok; the 1930s royal guest house of the Chogyals, with period interiorsHeritage
- Hotel TibetGangtok; run by the Tibetan refugee self-help association since the 1970s, central and characterfulMid-range
- Denzong RegencyGangtok ridge; long-established hotel with wide valley views and a quiet settingUpscale
- The Elgin Mount PandimPelling; former royal property below Pemayangtse with Kangchenjunga from the lawnHeritage
- Norbu Ghang ResortPelling; cottages on the ridge, one of the oldest established hotels in West SikkimUpscale
- Yarlam ResortLachung, North Sikkim; the most comfortable option in the valley, with heatingMid-range
- Mandarin Village ResortLachung; long-running valley hotel used by most North Sikkim itinerariesMid-range
- Dzongu Lepcha homestaysNorth Sikkim reserve; family houses with organic farm meals, permit requiredBoutique
- Temi Tea Estate bungalowSouth Sikkim; the planter's bungalow on the organic estate, booked well aheadBoutique
Evenings out and culture
| Place | What it is |
|---|---|
| MG Marg, Gangtok | A pedestrianised, no-smoking, no-spitting high street of cafes and bars, the state's social centre |
| Casino Sikkim and Mayfair casino | Sikkim is one of very few Indian states licensing casinos, both attached to Gangtok hotels |
| Tongba houses | Local rooms serving hot millet beer through a bamboo straw, the real drinking tradition here |
| Monastery cham dance | Masked ritual dance at Rumtek, Pemayangtse and Enchey around Losar, Pang Lhabsol and Kagyed in December |
| Live music on MG Marg | Gangtok has a genuine small live scene, with Nepali rock and blues bands in the pubs at weekends |
| Chaang and village evenings | Fermented millet and rice beer served at homestays in Dzongu and West Sikkim, with folk songs |
| Note on alcohol | Unlike Bihar, Sikkim is not dry and alcohol is cheap and widely available, including local brews |
Getting to Sikkim by air
| Airport or route | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bagdogra (IXB), West Bengal | The practical gateway, 125 km from Gangtok, 4 to 4.5 hours by road through the Teesta valley |
| Pakyong (PYG) | Sikkim's own airport, 30 km from Gangtok, with limited and weather-dependent domestic flights |
| From the UK and Europe | Hub into Delhi or Kolkata, then fly to Bagdogra, then drive; allow two travel days to reach Gangtok |
| From the USA | Gulf carrier to Delhi or Kolkata, overnight, then the morning flight to Bagdogra and the afternoon drive |
| Helicopter, Bagdogra to Gangtok | A 30-minute service that saves four hours when the weather allows, with a strict baggage limit |
| Permit note | Foreign nationals collect the Inner Line Permit at Rangpo on the road in, or in advance in Siliguri or Delhi |
Trains and road to Sikkim
| Route or station | Detail |
|---|---|
| New Jalpaiguri (NJP) | The nearest railhead, 120 km from Gangtok, since Sikkim has no railway of its own |
| Vande Bharat Express, Howrah to NJP | Day train from Kolkata in roughly 7.5 hours, then a 4 to 4.5-hour drive |
| Darjeeling Mail | Sealdah to NJP overnight in about 10 hours, the traditional approach |
| Siliguri Junction | A secondary station closer to the Sikkim road, used by some regional services |
| Sevoke Road station | On the Teesta valley line, occasionally useful for the Kalimpong and Sikkim road |
| Future line | The Sevoke to Rangpo railway is under construction and not yet open, so plan on road transfers |
Weather, seasons and best time to visit Sikkim
Mid-March to May for rhododendron and orchids, and October to early December for the sharpest mountain views. Avoid June to September, when the monsoon brings landslides, and January, when snow closes the North Sikkim roads for days at a time.
| Months | Season | Day temperature | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-May | Spring | 15-22°C / 59-72°F | Rhododendron and orchid season in Gangtok and Pelling; North Sikkim valleys at 5-15°C with snow still on the passes |
| Jun-Sep | Monsoon | 17-24°C / 63-75°F | Heavy rain and frequent landslides on the North Sikkim roads; the season to avoid |
| Oct-Nov | Autumn | 12-20°C / 54-68°F | The clearest Kangchenjunga views of the year, dry trails and comfortable days |
| Dec-Feb | Winter | 4-13°C / 39-55°F | Gangtok cold but open; North Sikkim below freezing with snow closing roads to Yumthang and Gurudongmar |
Sikkim tour packages
Per person, twin sharing, excluding international flights. Hotels, private transport, guides, entries, your trip manager and 24-hour support are included.
Festival · Fixed dates - Aug or Sep 2027
Pang Lhabsol: Honouring Kangchenjunga
You attend the warrior cham dance for the state's guardian mountain, the one festival found nowhere outside Sikkim.
From US$1,600 per person
Season · Apr - Jun and Sep - Nov
North Sikkim: Lachung, Yumthang and Gurudongmar
You drive from 1,650 metres to above 5,000, with protected-area permits arranged and two acclimatisation nights built in.
From US$1,950 per person
Festival · Fixed dates - Feb or Mar 2027
Losar in the Monasteries
You follow Tibetan new year through masked dances, butter sculpture and household visiting with a Bhutia family.
From US$1,550 per person
Food & wine · Mar - May and Oct - Nov
Organic Sikkim: Farms, Cardamom and Tea
You work a day on an organic farm, walk the state's only tea estate and cook with fermented greens in a Lepcha kitchen.
From US$1,475 per person
Wellness · Apr - May and Oct - Nov
Kangchenjunga Walks and Hot Springs
You walk the lower trails of the UNESCO park, bathe in the Yumthang sulphur springs and finish with a monastery retreat day.
From US$2,100 per person
Take part, don't just watch
Add any of these to a tour. A host stays beside you and tells you what is happening and why it is done that way.
Masked dance rehearsal at Rumtek
A week before Losar, the monks let you sit in the courtyard while they rehearse the cham cycle without masks, correcting each other's footwork. The dance master explains which deity each sequence summons and why the mask changes the dancer.
A day on an organic farm
A Gangtok-district family puts you to work on buckwheat, large cardamom and squash on terraces where chemical fertiliser has been illegal since 2016. Over lunch they explain what full organic certification did to their yields and their prices.
Lepcha bow and bamboo in Dzongu
In the Lepcha reserve a family demonstrates the bamboo bow, cane bridges and the river fishing their community has used for centuries. They explain why Dzongu is closed to outsiders without a permit and what the dam protests were about.
Butter lamps and manuscripts at Tibetology
A scholar at the Namgyal Institute brings out illuminated Tibetan manuscripts and explains how thangkas are read as teaching diagrams. You then join the late afternoon prayer at the adjoining Do-Drul Chorten.
Questions travellers ask about Sikkim
Why should I visit Sikkim?
It was an independent Buddhist kingdom until 1975 and still reads as one: monasteries of 1641 and 1705, the coronation throne at Yuksom, and Kangchenjunga at 8,586 metres treated as a living deity rather than a view. It is also India's first fully organic state and holds a UNESCO mixed World Heritage park.
What permits do foreign nationals need for Sikkim?
Every foreign visitor needs an Inner Line Permit, also called a Restricted Area Permit, issued free at Rangpo on the way in or in advance at Siliguri, Kolkata or Delhi. Separate protected-area permits are required for North Sikkim, meaning Lachung, Yumthang and Gurudongmar, and for Tsomgo Lake. We arrange all of them.
Can I visit Nathu La on the Chinese border?
No. Nathu La is open to Indian nationals with a permit but foreign nationals are generally not permitted there, and the rule is enforced at the checkpost. Tsomgo Lake, lower down the same road at 3,780 metres, is open to foreigners with a protected-area permit, which needs two working days to process.
When is the best time to visit Sikkim?
Mid-March to May for rhododendron and over 500 orchid species, with Gangtok at 15-22°C, and October to early December for the clearest Kangchenjunga views at 12-20°C. The June to September monsoon brings landslides that close roads. In January, snow shuts the North Sikkim valleys for days.
How serious is the altitude, especially at Gurudongmar?
Serious. Gangtok at 1,650 metres and Pelling at 2,150 are fine, but Gurudongmar sits above 5,000 metres and Yumesamdong at about 4,600, where altitude sickness is a genuine risk. We build two acclimatisation nights into every northern itinerary, limit the time above 5,000 metres and carry oxygen in the vehicle.
Do US, UK and EU citizens need an Indian visa as well?
Yes, and the permit does not replace it. Apply online for the India e-Visa four to five days before travel, then collect the Inner Line Permit on arrival at Rangpo with two passport photographs and photocopies of your passport and visa. Carry several spare copies, since each protected-area permit needs its own set.
What does a Sikkim tour cost?
Our ground cost runs from about US$1,180 for the six-night organic farming and tea itinerary to US$1,680 for eight nights of walking in Kangchenjunga park. The monastery circuit is US$1,420 for seven nights, North Sikkim US$1,560 and the Pang Lhabsol and Losar festival trips US$1,280 and US$1,240.
Is Sikkim safe, including for solo female travellers?
It is one of the safest and cleanest states in India, with low crime, high literacy and a strong environmental ethic, including bans on plastic bottles in some areas. Solo women travel here comfortably. The real risks are road landslides, altitude and weather, which is why we use experienced hill drivers and keep buffer days.
What is the food like, and can vegetarians and vegans manage?
Expect momo, thukpa, fermented greens, soft yak cheese with fiddlehead fern, buckwheat and plenty of pork in Bhutia homes. Because the state is fully organic, the vegetables are excellent. Vegetarians eat very well and vegans reasonably, though cheese, curd and butter tea are everywhere, so brief us before you travel.
Which Sikkimese festival should I plan around?
Pang Lhabsol in August or September is the one you cannot see anywhere else: Kangchenjunga is honoured as the state's guardian with warrior masked dance and the renewal of the Lepcha and Bhutia blood-brotherhood oath. Losar in February or March is bigger and more domestic. Both follow the lunar calendar.
Cities and towns in Sikkim
Each has a full guide of its own, with its own food, heritage, hotels, trains and tours.