The call of the mountains

Small, but beautiful Sikkim is nature's treasure trove that is revered by the

Sikkimese as their protective deity. Amidst the grandeur of the mountain peaks,

lush valleys, fast flowing rivers and hills, Sikkim offers her visitors a rare

and singular experience. Within a matter of hours, one can move from the

sub-tropical heat of the lower valleys to the cold of the rugged mountain slopes

that reach up to the area of perpetual snow.

Traveling within Sikkim by road or trekking is an experience in itself. There

are roads to almost every nook and corner of the state. Roads have covered

inaccessible places. Most of the roads are metalled.

Buses of the Sikkim Nationalized Transport (SNT) ply within various places in

Sikkim. The Tourism Department of the Government of Sikkim organizes tours to

the Yumthang Hot Springs in North Sikkim and the Changu Lake.

Nearest airport is Bagdora in North Bengal that is 124km, and approximately

five hours drive from Gangtok. There are regular Indian Airlines and other

private services operating from Bagdora linking Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi.

The two closest railway stations are Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri connecting

Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Lucknow and other important cities.

Gangtok is connected by road to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri and also to

all the district headquarters within Sikkim. The SNT plies regular bus service

from Gangtok to all major cities and towns in North Bengal and interstate.

Booking facilities are available at Siliguri and Gangtok. There is also an

Out-Agency railway booking facility in Gangtok located at SNT bus terminal.

Sikkim	Yellow Pedicularis at Dzongri

A typical house in Lachung village	Masked monk dance	Bhuddha Idol at Rumtek

	Orchid blooms	Sunset over Tsomgo Lake

A signboard from Sikkim Forest Dept	Prayer flags with Mt Khangchendzonga as a backdrop

Pics: Shashank Mishra