The
Lepchas, original inhabitants of this land,
call it Nye-ma-el “paradise”. To
the Bhutias is the Beymul Denzong ‘the
hidden valley of rice’. The word Sikkim
itself is commonly attributed to the Limbu
word SU-KHIM meaning “new
house”. Certain scholars have even found
its roots in the Sanskrit word which means ‘crested
or mountainous country’. The etymology
of the word Sikkim may be disputed but despite
of the dispute Sikkim, the valley of rice is
one of the most enthralling regions in the
Himalayas. Sikkim lies on the hanks of the
eastern Himalayas, bounded by Nepal in the
west, Bhutan in the southeast. Tibet in the
north and northeast and the district of Darjeeling
(W.B.) in the south. Kanchenjunga
28,208 ft (8,603 m) ,
the worlds third
|
|
 |
highest
mountain, sacred to the Sikkimese as their guardian deity
and considered by them as the holiest of the holy.
|
ACCESS
By Road : Gangtok is at a distance
of 110 kms from Siliguri and will take 4 hours from
Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Gangtok is connected by
road with Darjeeling,(4 Hrs) and with Bhutan, Phuntsholing
(6 Hrs).
By Rail : The closest Railhead is at
New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri which are connected to Calcutta
,New Delhi Guwahati and other major Indian cities.
By Flight :The closest Indian Airport
is at Bagdogra,124 kms from Gangtok, where scheduled
flights operates from Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati. Travel
time from the airport to Gangtok is 4 hours. Sikkim
Tourism Development Corporation also operates a daily
helicopter service flight from Bagdogra to Gangtok
(20 minutes). From Kathmandu, fly to Bhadrapur in the
east Nepal(1 hour), then drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India
border,35 kms), to Siliguri(37 kms) and to Gangtok
(110 kms,4 hrs). Or fly to Biratnagar also in the east.
BEST SEASON TO VISIT
March to June and September to December
ADVENTURE SPORTS
Trekking, mountaineering, rafting and yak safari
ACCOMMODATION
There are modern hotels and restaurants in Gangtok.
Comfortable resort lodges are available in the outlying
areas.
TRANSPORT
Transport is provided by buses. Vehicles are also available
on hire. Taxis are available for getting around Gangtok.
Sikkim helicopter service operates sight-seeing flights
to different points in Sikkim.
PERMITS
In addition to an Indian visa,foreigners must obtain
inner line permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim, the permits
can be obtained from all Indian missions, Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA), New Delhi, Sikkim Tourism office,
New Delhi, Sikkim Tourism Office, Calcutta and Sikkim
Tourism Office, Siliguri on the strength of an Indian
Visa. Foreigners are issued a permit for initial period
of 15 days duration on the spot without any delay provided
photocopies of Passport and Visa details along with
two passport photos of applicants are made available
then and there. It can be extended for further 30 days
from the Home Dept., Govt. of Sikkim, depending on the
merits of the case. If you are visiting the interior
regions, you also require a Protected Area Permit which
is obtainable in Gangtok from the Department of Tourism.
We will handle all the official formalities for you.
|
