Any tips on eating safely & Sikkimese cuisine?

SilverMaple · Sep 20th, 2007, 20:42

We’re travelling round Sikkim in November. On our one previous trip to India, Rajasthan, we made a rule of eating only Indian vegetarian food & we never got sick once. But we’ve been reading that traditional Sikkim food is based round meat. We’d like to eat traditional Sikkim cuisine but wondered:
1) How safe is meat in Sikkim?
2) How easily can one get vegetarian food which is still traditional Sikkim cuisine?
3) How easily can one get any sort of vegetarian food in Sikkim?
Any info or advice on this general subject much appreciated. Also, any comments on drinking water in Sikkim.

carsten · Sep 23rd, 2007, 23:28

Hi

In general, you'll less likely to get sick in Sikkim than in other parts of India or Nepal, mainly because the water is less polluted.

You get plenty of vegetarian food and possibilities. And only the truly nomadic people rely on a meat-based diet which is only in the northern part of Sikkim. Nepali culture is also wide-spread which offers more vegetarian variety. Plus some restaurants also offer Bhutanese and Tibetan specialities, so don't worry: both veg and non-veg choices are plentiful, and usually safe.

- Carsten
http://www.myhimalayas.com/travelogues/sikkim.htm

SilverMaple · Sep 23rd, 2007, 23:55

That's very reassuring about vegi food.

Re your comment about water being less polluted, does that mean we can drink tap water? Previous time in India, we drank only bottled water, avoided ice in drinks, wouldn't rinse toothbrushes in tap water etc. This may be over-alarmist for Sikkim. What do you think? What's a sensible approach to water?

dzibead · Sep 24th, 2007, 01:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverMaple

That's very reassuring about vegi food.

Re your comment about water being less polluted, does that mean we can drink tap water?

No. Drink bottled water in Sikkim as well.

tacita · Sep 25th, 2007, 03:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverMaple

...
3) How easily can one get any sort of vegetarian food in Sikkim?...
Also, any comments on drinking water in Sikkim.

i had no trouble at all getting vegetarian meals in sikkim, and enjoyed a range of cuisines--indian, chinese and tibetan. just by way of example, see the foods described here.

i agree with dzibead; drink only bottled water.

have a great trip--you're going to love sikkim!

abracax · Sep 25th, 2007, 07:34

If you are worried about the water, booze is really cheap up there. Seriously, Sikkim is the healthiest/cleanest place in the South Asian continent. If you want to have some fun, ask a Sikkimese about the hygenic standards of Indians.

SilverMaple · Sep 29th, 2007, 03:04

Many thanks everyone for the helpful advice. Sounds like we'll be visiting Sikkim, as hoped, not Sickim.

Sep 20th, 2007, 20:42	#1
SilverMaple Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: York, England Posts: 50	Any tips on eating safely & Sikkimese cuisine? We’re travelling round Sikkim in November. On our one previous trip to India, Rajasthan, we made a rule of eating only Indian vegetarian food & we never got sick once. But we’ve been reading that traditional Sikkim food is based round meat. We’d like to eat traditional Sikkim cuisine but wondered: 1) How safe is meat in Sikkim? 2) How easily can one get vegetarian food which is still traditional Sikkim cuisine? 3) How easily can one get any sort of vegetarian food in Sikkim? Any info or advice on this general subject much appreciated. Also, any comments on drinking water in Sikkim.

Sep 23rd, 2007, 23:55	#3
SilverMaple Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: York, England Posts: 50	But how much safer is the water? That's very reassuring about vegi food. Re your comment about water being less polluted, does that mean we can drink tap water? Previous time in India, we drank only bottled water, avoided ice in drinks, wouldn't rinse toothbrushes in tap water etc. This may be over-alarmist for Sikkim. What do you think? What's a sensible approach to water?

Sep 25th, 2007, 07:34	#6
abracax Mahaguru Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 435	If you are worried about the water, booze is really cheap up there. Seriously, Sikkim is the healthiest/cleanest place in the South Asian continent. If you want to have some fun, ask a Sikkimese about the hygenic standards of Indians. __________________ He travels fastest who pays for a cab.

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Sep 23rd, 2007, 23:28	#2
carsten Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Switzerland Posts: 33	Hi In general, you'll less likely to get sick in Sikkim than in other parts of India or Nepal, mainly because the water is less polluted. You get plenty of vegetarian food and possibilities. And only the truly nomadic people rely on a meat-based diet which is only in the northern part of Sikkim. Nepali culture is also wide-spread which offers more vegetarian variety. Plus some restaurants also offer Bhutanese and Tibetan specialities, so don't worry: both veg and non-veg choices are plentiful, and usually safe. - Carsten http://www.myhimalayas.com/travelogues/sikkim.htm

Sep 29th, 2007, 03:04	#7
SilverMaple Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: York, England Posts: 50	Many thanks everyone for the helpful advice. Sounds like we'll be visiting Sikkim, as hoped, not Sickim.

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