Sikkim - January or February?

JazBradley

Hi All
I have a choice of visiting Sikkim in mid January, or mid February. Which do you think would be preferable? I just need to see those mountains!!
Many thanks
Jaz

Bhaswaran

Both are good times. You will probably get a clear sky if there is no cloud accumulation for ongoing snowfall. Chances of clear sky is 90% and more. Avoid new moon and full moon time.

Alohaguy

Bhaswaran,
What is the reason to avoid New moon and Full moon?

Bhaswaran

From my personal experience while photographing in the mountains, I found a tendency of cloud accumulation during the full moom and the new moon. May be this has anything to do with the gravitational pull of the moon which also effects the tides in seas and rivers. I have found generally clear skies between these two. Although there are people who got clear fabulous moonlit views of the mountains in Full Moon...to my bad luck ..I did not have any...and now avoid those days.

akhenaton

Hi guys,

I am also thinking of going to Sikkim in January. Will there by any problems with roads to Lachung/Lachen? Just how cold will it get at these higher elevations (day and night)? I will be in Andaman islands in early Jan. and then Sikkim after, it will be a big adjustment from very hot to cold!

akhenaton

tacita

if you go in february, you can be there for the rumtek (and elsewhere) chaams festivals, which begin a few days before the tibetan new year. i planned my entire trip to sikkim around my desire to see the dances, and am so glad i did. the date changes each year because it's based on the lunar calendar. below is a pic from the rumtek festivities.

i also had great mountain views, especially from pelling. i took the other picture below from just outside my hotel room, at the norbu gang resort, in pelling.

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