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Tour and Travels · May 13, 2019

How to plan a backpackers’ trip to Sikkim

Sikkim Introduction: What You Need To Know

Sikkim is a frequented hill station lying calmly in the North-eastern side of India and is cozily perched between the photographic destinations of Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal. The pleasant climate of Sikkim on account of its altitude makes it a perfect getaway in summers.

Sikkim tourism brilliantly upholds the essence of India through its naturally beautiful landscape, its unique rituals, traditions and customs, its tourist-friendly environment, its remoteness from the hustle and bustle of the busy and buzzing city life.

It is a perfect place to experience the diversity of culture, tradition, history, ethnicity and the natural beauty of India. Sikkim had an independent monarchy till the year 1975 after which finally there was a political change in the scenario and it was added as a state to independent India.

But due to its independent identity, it still bears its own unique heritage which is very distinct and different from the rest of India.

When to Go Backpacking to Sikkim

Sikkim is located to the Eastern part of India at the foothills of Himalayas. Climate wise it has cold winters and wet summers. The best time to visit Sikkim would be the months of October and November and then again the months of March to May.

During these months, the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold. It remains pleasant during the day and a bit cold at night. Rain is also infrequent and generally remains dry.  Accommodation booking or hotel prices shoot up a bit during these times.

Sikkim has its full quota of cold and rains. So whichever time you go to Sikkim do carry a waterproof cover and enough warm clothes.

Transportation: How to Go About in Sikkim

For backpackers, the easiest, best and cheapest means of travel in and around Sikkim is by shared taxi/jeep service. This shared means of travel apart from being easy on pocket also provides flexibility. The service costs 50-200 Indian currency per person depending upon the distance traveled. These kinds of shared jeeps can accommodate 10 passengers at a time. This arrangement might be a bit inconvenient while traveling with big-size luggage.

Sikkim Roads

Sikkim roads fall under the category of mountain roads. Sikkim is laid out on the foothills of Himalayas and hence is undulating, winding with some very steep slopes and sharp bends. The roads are sometimes very bumpy and might have been broken partially at places where it undergoes landslides.

Roads can be very narrow at places and thereby causes severe traffic jams due to careless or hurried driving. Driving in Sikkim can be quite thrilling. People who are uncomfortable with mountain travel and suffer from motion sickness might instruct slow driving in roads that are steeply inclined or winding. The road distance might seem less but the time taken to travel might be double the time needed to cover the same distance on plains.

Permits to Restricted Tourist Points of Sikkim

For traveling to various restricted places of Sikkim, one might need permits. People coming from foreign countries traveling to southern and western Sikkim need an Inner Line Permit that can be arranged even before reaching Sikkim while you are planning to undertake the journey from any major metropolitan such as Delhi, Kolkata or Siliguri.

Even while crossing the borders, permits are given out after presenting one’s passport and should not take more than a few minutes. For northern Sikkim tours, permits are mandatory both for domestic and international backpackers.

Must-Visit Places of Sikkim for Backpackers

Deciding beforehand on the particular places you would want to cover as a backpacker helps in planning out the itinerary and helps save time scouting for options and collecting information at the last moment.

Gangtok: Gangtok is primarily a major tourist attraction and you can have a pleasant time enjoying mountain beauty and indulging in various adventure activities such as mountain biking, motorcycling, paragliding, rock climbing, hiking, trekking or bungee jumping.

Gangtok presents a focused tourist attraction spot in and around the famous Mahatma Gandhi Marg. This area is always bustling with a lot of activities and is a much-frequented haunt of backpackers. The avenue is lined with shops and restaurants to grab a quick easy bite and sip your favorite drink. The cafés with a casual ambiance and small shops selling snacks are on the hit list forever for casual travelers without much fuss on eating habits.

The major tourist attractions of special significance in Gangtok are Rumtek Monastery, Nathula Pass, Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple, Banjhakri Waterfalls, Hanuman Tok, Himalayan Zoological Park, Tashi viewpoint, Ranka Monastery, Mount Kato, Museum of Tibetology and many other places big and small to catch the essence of Sikkim Tourism. The small quaint book shops offering hot cups of coffee can be a good place to catch up with some quality reading, relaxing and unwinding.

Revangla: Revangla is a small town situated somewhere between Gangtok and Pelling. It offers some breath-taking views of hills and meadows along with exotic monasteries.

Some major tourist attractions for backpackers in Revangla might be the Buddha Park with some huge Buddha statues. Other attractions include Ralang Monastery, Bon Monastery, Doling Monastery, Temi Tea Garden, Namchi, Borong hot Springs and more.

Pelling: Pelling is one of the most popular towns of Sikkim and offers a huge variety of accommodation options for backpackers. There are several budget hotels that offer clean and comfortable rooms with stunning views of the mountains. Some major tourist spots to cover while on a backpacking trip to Pelling are Sangachoeling Monastery Darap Village with homestay options, Sewaro Rock Garden with bewitchingly calm and peaceful ambience, Singshore Bridge – the highest in Sikkim, mesmerizing Rimbi Waterfall, gorgeous Kanchenjunga Fall, divinely beautiful Khecheopalri Lake, Kanchenjunga National Park, Kaluk, Pemayangtse Monastery, interesting ruins of Rabdentse, Tashiding Monastery, Yuksom and the blissful Changey Waterfall.

Join the Sikkim Tourism Backpacking madness to discover the real Sikkim!