Sikkim

Alan D

Has anyone on the board been to Sikkim in recent times?

If so , what did you think of it?

As we plan to visit it early next year any info on hotels, places to eat and possible treks would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, I do have the books but personal recommendation is much better!

Good travelling

Annie_T

Hi there Alan. I was in Sikkim in September 2000 and loved it. It's a very beautiful part of India...very green and lush rainforests. It doesn't seem to get hordes of foreign tourists (yet) so the people there aren't jaded by the presence of too many foreigners.

Gangtok is a nice relaxed state capital with quite a few things to see and do. I stayed at the New Central Lodge...very helpful staff and the food was quite good too. Rumtek Monastery is worth seeing as is the Tibetan Institute but I wasn't that taken with Tzongo Lake - tho' that might have had something to do with the rain!

Went on the circuit to Tashideng, Yuksom, Khechaperi and Pelling...all have monasteries, views and leeches. I can recommend the Garuda Hotel in Pelling and I have to say the the Tourist Lodge at K'peri is very basic, tho' the family is very friendly and helpful. Eating options outside Gangtok are limited - I really enjoyed the Tibetan bread tho! Also try the Tsomba - a warm beery barley drink that will have you lurching about after a couple!

Can't advise you on the trekking as I was out of action with a bad knee. I travelled by shared jeep - apart from the one out of Gangtok I didn't book ahead and there always seemed to be one going my way.

Take something warm, something waterproof and watch out for the leeches!

Alan D

Hello Annie

I thought my request for info on Sikkim was going to be a long shot but we obviously have some well travelled people on this board.

Thanks for your information, especially on places you stayed. Guide books can get this very wrong sometimes.

No worries about the leeches, we won't be there in the wet! (we hope). Our plans are to visit sometime between January and April next year.

Good travelling

Gerlinde

Alan, best for Sikkim is April, best chances to view the Kangchendzonga. And IF you need a few days relaxation you should visit Martam Village Resort, near Rumtek. If you have been to Periyar and know the Spice Village, the athmosphere is similar.
Gerlinde

Alan D

Thanks for the info, Gerlinde. We are not totally sure yet when we will be in Sikkim as our 4 month trip is still in the early planning stage.

Martam Village Resort does come recommended in the latest Footprint guide to India. Have you stayed there?

What was that about railway tickets? I am intrigued.

Good travelling

Gerlinde

Yes, Alan, it's a place with lush vegetation, I photographed cherry blossoms in November next to Cactee (? spelling?). The Cottages are very clean, a little bit Danish style but everything made from local material. The food is excellent - the bar too.
If you come by car from Darjeeling to Gangtok, it's really something. I asked the driver so often to stop for a picture that finally I felt too shy to ask him to stop again. Suddenly he asked me "Madam, stop for picture?".
Anyhow in Gangtok it was the first time at a market, that no foreigner price was asked for!
And at the Tibetan Research Centre was an old guy at the counter. We had to pay 4 Rs., gave him 5 and he took 1 Rs, totally torn, smiled charmingly and teethless at us as if he was saying "you will not like to take this one" and sure he could keep it. I always remember him when somebody wants 500 from me when the real price is 200..
Gerlinde

Alan D

Lush vegetation, Gerlinde. That must mean plenty of birds. I'm interested now!

Good travelling

Gerlinde

Alan, that's fine - we have also repeated clients for Sikkim!
Train tickets I put under "It only happens..
Gerlinde

indiaguide

You already know about the Martham resort. Yes, it's realy nice place for relaxtion. But If you like to stay in Gangtok you can find different kind of Hoptels .Hotel Norkhil is little expensive.Other than that you may stay in Tashi-delek Hotel .Some in expensive hotel name is Mist Tree mountain., Hotel Mt. Jupono( Small but net & clean ) .

You may make a very short trekking in Versey from Peling.

I think best time to visist Sikkim is November To March. Specialy for Mt. Kanchanjangha. All forginer need a special Permits for Sikkim. One can get it from Siliguri- Darjeeling Or entry gate of Sikkim. It's better to take permit from Darjeeling or Siliguri.

AH3000

Alan D:
Did you go to Sikkim? I also have lots of books. Any first hand information on hotels? food? tour operators? Darjee? Gangtok? Yuksam?
Any treks? I'm intend to go to Goecha La.
Thank you,
AH3000

paan wallah

high alan
I stayed in sikim this year in april for nearly 4 weeks and I absolutely loved it!!!!!!!!!
the vegatation is amazing and gorgous...
the people as well...very very friendly and nice
most of my time I spent in singhik,north of mangan
there you can find a very homely guesthouse,the friendship guesthouse which is run my a young tibetan called tashi,
it s more like staying with a family,it looks a bit like a living.room,
4 rooms available,
we also could play our own music on the stereo set there!!
we some sorts of cooking course in tibeatn cooking!
drinking chang in the evenings,
you wake up in the morning you can see the mount khanchendzonga from your room!
in and around singhik you can have some very fine walks,
down the river,up the hills,you could visit some holy caves,which are plenty there,not mentioned in any guidebooks!!
very few tourists and travellers!
tashi is also a bit like a tourguide,
have a pic nic on the river!!
visit the gompas around
watch local workers cutting wood in the forest
phodong near mangan is also very nice...

I ve you should go there tell tashi some greetings from Lenzi!!!

Alan D

No, we didn't make it to Sikkim on our last trip. We had to return to UK unexpectedly. Hope we can possibly make it this time. Thanks for the info paan wallah.

vistet

There are nice Sikkimese gas stations as well...
http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s....php?photo=481