State Info.

of Sikkim
General Information Sikkim state in northeastern India, on the southern slopes of the Himalayas Sikkim is bounded on the north and northeast by Tibet Autonomous Region of China, on the southeast by Bhutan, on the south by West Bengal and on the west by epal! The area is "#$% s& km! 'ne of the highest regions in India, Sikkim is tra(ersed by the main range of the Himalayas and by se(eral spur ranges! It is entirely mountainous, with one ) third of the land *o(ered with dense forests of sal, sambal and bamboo, whi*h are mostly ina**essible and une+ploited! ,an*hen-unga ./,0$/ m12/,2#$ ft3 one of the highest peaks in the world lie in Sikkim! Sikkim re*ei(es hea(y rainfall! It is watered by the perennial ri(er Teesta, and its tributaries, whi*h are fed by both snow and rain! The *limate ranges from tropi*al to alpine! 4enerally the lowlands are hot and humid, the hills are temperate, and the mountains are permanently *o(ered with snow! A(erage 5anuary temperatures in 4angtok, a hill *ity, range from 67 to 867 C .9$7 to 0"7 :3; in <ay the a(erage temperatures range from 867 to 227 C .0"7 to "27 :3! Annual rainfall (aries from about 89## to 0### mm .about 0# to 2## in3, depending on the altitude and region of the state Sikkim has a single)*hamber legislati(e assembly with 92 members! The state sends two members to the Indian national parliament= one to the Ra-ya Sabha .>pper House3 and one to the ?ok Sabha .?ower House3! ?o*al go(ernment is based on four administrati(e distri*ts! 4angtok is the Capital of this hilly state! Buddhist Mandalas These mandalas, abodes of the deities, are not only aestheti*ally pleasing but their (i(id *olors and intri*ate symmetry e(oke primordial memories of a world of luminous perfe*tion! >nlike ordinary art, they are not a tribute to the *reati(ity of an artist! Rather, they originate in the natural mind and were introdu*ed to the human realm by enlightened beings! They ha(e been passed down through the generations with meti*ulous *are! :or those who ha(e been instru*ted in the use of mandalas, they are said to be the best tea*hers be*ause they *ontain infinite meaning; and unlike human tea*hers they ne(er be*ome irritated! @(en without instru*tion, -ust to (iew them is said to transmit great blessings! Rinpo*he has thoroughly resear*hed ea*h of these hundreds of mandalas to insure that they a**urately refle*t the original des*riptions! In most *ases the *ontent, arrangement, pre*ise proportions and *olors are all des*ribed in minute detail in sa*red te+ts! An*ient artwork was e+amined for sample rendering style! <ay whoe(er sees these mandalas fully re*ei(e their blessings and bring all sentient beings to enlightment! All are high &uality laser prints printed dire*tly from ele*troni* files to a(oid loss of detail! They are laminated on both sides to preser(e them for years to *ome! Sets will *ome with a short introdu*tion written by ,yab-e Aodrup*hen Rinpo*he! Kama Mandalas The ,ama are the orally transmitted an*ient tantras! The *omplete set of mandalas asso*iated with the ,ama *onsists of 98 uni&ue mandalas of whi*h two e+amples are shown! Longchen Nyingthig Mandalas The ?ong*hen yingthig is the terma .redis*o(ered tea*hings3 of ,unkhyen 5igme ?ingpa .8/th *entury3! This *y*le of tea*hings is *ommonly pra*ti*ed by many yingmapa at this time! The mandalas asso*iated with these pra*ti*es form a set of 82 numbers! Nyingthig Yazhi Mandalas The yingthig BaChi are the Heart @ssen*e ACok*hen tea*hings of 4uru Dadmasambha(a and Eimalamitra as *olle*ted and elu*idated by 4yalwa ?ong*henpa! This set of se(en mandalas are used by lamas to *onfer these wangs! The set also in*ludes the mandala of the fi(e Buddha families used in wang *eremonies! inchen !erdzod Mandalas The Rin*hen TerdCod is a treasury of redis*o(ered tea*hings *on*ealed by 4uru Dadmasambha(a in the eighth *entury! In order to prote*t these numerous s*attered tea*hings from being lost, the great 8$th *entury master 5amyang ,ongtrul Rinpo*he *olle*ted them in %2 (olumes *alled the Rin*hen TerdCod! To our knowledge, a *omplete set of mandalas asso*iated with these tea*hings did not e+ist! The 206 mandalas are now a(ailable as a set of laminated high &uality 88)in*h laser prints! The <inling Aorsem <andala from the Rin*hen TerdCod is shown abo(e at redu*ed resolution! "lora # "auna Sikkim being a part of internal mountainous ranges of Himalayas has ,an*hen-unga as its *rown! The state is hilly ha(ing different altitudes ranging from 9## to /06# meters! But the habitable areas are limited up to the ele(ation of 28## meters! This *onstitutes only 2#F of the total area of the state! The uppermost segment of Sikkim lies in its northwest dire*tion! umerous mountains ha(ing altitudes of about se(en thousand meters stands at par with ) ,an*hen-unga ./0$/ m!3, the third highest peak in the world! umerous gla*iers des*end from eastern slopes of ,an*hen-unga into Sikkim where snow peaked line is found abo(e 09## meters!

The biggest of them is Gemu, from whose mouth abo(e the ?a*hen monastery raises the ri(er Tista! Tista is the main ri(er of Sikkim and its main tributaries are Gemu, ?a*hung, Rangyong, Aik*hu, Rongli, Rangpo and Rangit, whi*h form the ma-or *hannel of drainage *ommen*ing from the north to the south! Sikkim has mainly three groups of people (iC! epalese, Bhutias, ?ep*has! The lo*al lingo is epali with @nglish as the offi*ial language! Cradled in the assorted splendors of nature deep within the snow peaked Himalayas is SikkimHs *apital 4angtok! Co(ered in mists and *louds, a garden state with an in*redible (ariety of flora and fauna, Sikkim is Ithe last Shangri)?aI! Be*ause of the altitude that (ary right from sea le(el to summits that tou*h the skies ,the flora and fauna naturally *o(ers a wide spe*trum! owhere in the world in su*h a small area *an one find flora and fauna of all (arieties ) Tropi*al to the Alpines! SikkimHs botani*al and Coologi*al ri*hness is awe) inspiring, boasting of more than 6### spe*ies of plants and 9#F of all the birds found in the Indian sub)*ontinent ! o wonder Sikkim has been a dream of naturalists! Ar! 5! Hooker during the middle of the last *entury sur(eyed in the detail the botani*al wealth in Sikkim and his findings were embodied in the publi*ation HHimalayan 5ournalH that is still *onsidered as an authoritati(e do*ument! Ar! Salim Ali an ornithologist has gi(en a detailed a**ount on birds in his book HThe birds of SikkimH! Besides these there are many books a(ailable on the flora J fauna of sikkim! @n(ision walking surrounded by gorgeous or*hids, *onstant *hirping of melodious birds, thri(ing greenery and *louds of *olorful butterflies of all siCes ) all framed by snowy peaks! :or ages botanists and plant lo(ers ha(e been beguilingly drawn to Sikkim for her wealth of o(er 6,### spe*ies of blossoming plant, in*luding an unbelie(able %## spe*ies of or*hid! Wonderful magnolias flower in the temperate woodlands, more than 6# types of rhododendron *oat the higher hills, 60 (arieties of primula flower abo(e 9,###m, and hea(enly blue poppies paint the mountainous heights! The wilderness houses trees of almost all the genera! :igs and wild bananas group with a multitude of bamboos in the tropi*al (alleys! Ri*h fern life shelters underneath the *anopy, in*luding eight spe*ies of tree fern! 4reat tropi*al hardwoods like the Sal gi(e way on ele(ated slopes to oak, maple and *hestnut trees, and these in turn are repla*ed by yew, lar*h, fir and *edar up to the tree line at 6,###m! :rom the lowest to the uppermost altitudes are a mass of plants yielding (aluable dyes and fibers and plants used for ayur(edi* medi*ines! his abundan*e of *olour, whiff and array attra*ts, more than 9## bird spe*ies and 0## type of butterfly! And mammals, Sikkim has about 80# spe*ies, so you may definitely *at*h a glimpse of wild boar, leopard *at and barking deer! Tourists are now tra(eling deep into north Sikkim and (isit the famous rhododendron gro(es below Bumthang! Traditionally (isitors usually *ome during April, as this is the best time to (iew the flora at its best, but the mid ) monsoon months or 5uly and August bring a splendid display of the stateHs beautiful alpine plant life, and early o(ember is the time of autumn *herry blossom! Anytime you de*ide to (isit, SikkimHs abundant beauty will delight and thrill you! $lants% The lowlands in the south, /##Hto 0###H, e+perien*e a tropi*al *limate; lush (egetation su*h as figs, laurel, Sal trees and bamboos ha(e been *leared in some areas for farming! The temperate forest of oak, *hestnut, maple, bir*h, alder, magnolia and sil(er fir dominates between 0###; and 89###! Abo(e 89###, is the alpine Cone where -uniper, *ypresses and rhododendrons grow! The perpetual snowline lies at 8%###H! ?u+uriant forests *o(er 9%F of the land, more than 6### spe*ies of plant ha(e been re*orded in Sikkim! '(er %## spe*ies of or*hids grow in Sikkim, @piphytal and terrestrial types, in the tropi*al and temperate Cones! 90 spe*ies of rhododendrons grow in temperate and alpine regions, their flowering from <ay to August *olours hillsides! &nimals% Amongst the mammals of Sikkim are the rare Snow ?eopard, Himalayan Bla*k Bear, Red panda, <usk Aeer and Blue Sheep! Birdlife is abundant with 4iant ?ammergeyer, Eultures, @agles, Whistling Thursh, <ini(ets, Bulbuls and Dheasants among the 00# spe*ies to be seen in Sikkim! 'etails of "lora-"auna and (ndangered S)ecies No. $articulars No. of S)ecies* Su+-S)ecies 866 Name of )rinci)al endangered animal Bharal, Clouded leopard, :ishing Cat, 4olden Cat, Himalayan Tahr, ?eopard Cat, ?esser or Red Danda, <arbled Cat, <usk Aeer, ayan or 4reat Tibetan Sheep, Dangolin, Snow leopard, Spotted ?ingsang, Tibetan :o+, Tibetan 4aCelle, Tibetan Wild Ass, Tiger, Tibetan Wolf! Bla*kne*ked Crane .<igratory3, Blood Dheasant ?ammergeier, ?arge :al*on, <onal Dheasant, Deafowl, Tibetan Show Co*k, Tragopan Dheasant, Snow Dartridge! <ost of the butterflies and moths found in Sikkim are endangered spe*ies ! A! ! A! ! A! ! A!

<ammals

2 9 6 0 % "

Birds Butterflies J <oth 'r*hids Rhododendrons :lowering Dlant :erns J Its Allies

60#K 6##K 60#K 6#K 6###K 9##

Monastery !our

Aepart by / am with pi*ni* lun*h and return by e(ening for *o*ktails and dinner!

'o 'rul ,horten - . Km. "rom !ashi 'elek / An awe inspiring stupa, en*ir*led by prayer wheels whi*h one spins while *ir*umambulating *lo*kwise offering the prayer I'm <ane Dadme Hum ReI! In the *hapel are 2 giant statues of ?ord Buddha and 4uru Dadmasambha(a, the patron saint of Sikkim! esearch Institute of !i+etology - . Km. from !ashi 'elek / Aisplayed at this uni&ue institute de(oted to Tibetology is perhaps the largest *olle*tion of Tibetan artifa*ts outside Tibet su*h as rare HThankasH, statues, s*riptures and o(er 2## Buddhist i*ons!

Ao Arul Chorten

I)ecac Garden - 01 Km. "rom !ashi 'elek / Dopularly known as ISaramsaI are well kept lawns and gardens, situated pi*tures&uely abo(e the banks of the Rani ,hola flowing below! A (irtual store house of e+oti* flora, giant tree ferns and bamboo of in*redible siCe and girth! ay Khola - 01 Km. from !ashi 'elek / Stop here for a break and stret*h your legs! @n-oy your pi*ni* lun*h if you ha(e one by the perennially *rystal *lear fresh water stream!
Resear*h Institute of Tibetology

umtek Monastery - 23 Km. from !ashi 'elek / A repli*a of the monastery at Tsurphu, Tibet, Rumtek is a splendid e+ample of Tibetan <onasti* art with its traditional ar*hite*ture, e+&uisite paintings and intri*ate wood work ! It is also the world head&uarters of the Aharma Chakra Centers and the seat of His Holiness, the 4yalwa ,armapa, head of the ,agyud Se*t one of the four ma-or se*ts of ?amaism with belie(ers all o(er the world! 4ld umtek Monastery - 21 Km. from !ashi 'elek / Surrounded by age old *ypress trees is the original yingma 4ompa built by the Sikkimese! Bou get a panorami* (iew of 4angtok and the towering heights of athu ?a pass on the border di(iding India and China! Lingdum The new Dal Gurmang ,arma ,agyur <onastery built by his @minen*e the LIIth 4harwang Rinpo*he is among the latest additions to Sikkim <onasteries inaugerated in the 8st week of 5anuary 2###! It is a splendid mi+ of traditional style with modern te*hnology, widely a**laimed by all (isitors!

,loud Line !our

Aepart by " am to return by afternoon for (ery late lun*h! @(ening free for shopping!

Ngor Gom)a - 02 Km. from !ashi 'elek / The only Sakya <onastery in Sikkim from where you *an see fantasti* (iews of raging torrents that tumble through lush green forests! !somgo Lake - .1 Km. from !ashi 'elek / In minutes you will *limb to an altitude o(er 8#,### ft! on the an*ient eastern *ara(an route (ia athu ?a to ?hasa on the Tibetan plateau! The road, with an awesome pre*ipi*e on one side goes through the ,yongnosla Alpine San*tuary home of brilliantly plumaged pheasants! Tsomgo, at 826## ft!, is one of the many -ewel like tarns that nestle amidst the high peaks of Sikkim! Worshipped by many and about whi*h legends abound, the lake, is ringed by peaks of granite and i*e! In spring, flowers of e(ery hue burst forth in a riot of *olour and in winter snow *o(ers all when the lake freeCes! Sunsets at this altitude *an be simply brilliant! Tsomgo ?ake Nathu La - 51 Km. from !ashi 'elek / Aomesti* Tourists are now permitted to (isit this pass at an altitude of 862## ft! It is the highest point tourists may (isit without trekking! All are ad(ised to wear warm *lothes and wind)*heaters as the pla*e is infamous for sudden *hange in weather! 'ne *an peek into Tibet from here and admire the (iew of the plains and foothills on the Indian side!

Gangtok !our

Aepart by $ am to return for hot lun*h and *ontinue thereafter to return by 0 pm

Eiew from Tashi Eiew Doint

!ashi 6ie7 $oint - 8 Km. from !ashi 'elek / 'n *lear days, one of the best (iews in the world of the perpetually snow *apped peaks of ,hang*hendCongna, Siniol*hu, Sim(o, Talung, ,abru, Dandim, arsing, ,okthang J Dau Hunri *an be seen! At sunrise the *olours play on the mountains brilliantly and sunset is also great!

"lo7er Sho7 - 2.5 Km. from !ashi 'elek / A year long display of SikkimHs flora is highly a**laimed! Aepending on the season one may see outstanding spe*imens of SikkimHs famous or*hids, flowers, ferns et*!

Blue Doppy

Cypripedium Himalai*um

Rheum

obile

,ottage Industries - 2 Km. from !ashi 'elek / The pla*e to buy lo*al handi*rafts be it *arpets, *ar(ed wood work, tapestry et*! Bou may also see the artisans at work in the training *enter there! (nchhey Monastery - . Km. from !ashi 'elek / Der*hed on a hill o(erlooking 4angtok and pi*tures&uely surrounded by fluttering prayer flags is this serene yingma 4ompa, built by the /th Chogyal around 8/6# AA on a site blessed by the great tantri* master ?ama Aruptab ,arpa *redited with the ability to fly! 9anuman !ok - : Km. from !ashi 'elek / The legend goes that all wishes made at this temple are granted! :rom here the (iews are superb making this a splendid photography point! A short walk away is ?ukshyama where stupas ha(e been ere*ted in memory of SikkimHs Royal :amily who ha(e passed on! Bul Buley - 8 Km. from !ashi 'elek / @n*ompassing an area of 2#0 he*tares is the new Himalayan Goologi*al Dark whi*h houses wild life in semi natural habitat! The (iews from here are reminis*ent of Chinese paintings with nearby hills erupting out of the *louds and misty mountains shimmering in the distan*e!

ang

ang !our

Aepart by / am with pi*ni* lun*h for a s*eni* dri(e and return by the e(ening!

Ka+i Lungtsok - 2; Km. from !ashi 'elek / At this histori*al site in an*ient times the ?ep*has and Bhutias swore a blood oath to li(e as brothers and sealed the pa*t in front of ,hang*hendCongna whi*h stood as witness! As the legend goes the pa*t will remain as long as ,hang*hendCongna stands! $hodang The original monastery here was rebuilt and today there are o(er 2## monks who stay here permanently! The main annual rites take pla*e on the 2/th and 2$th days of the 8#th <onth of the ?unar Calendar when the famous <asked ?ama Aan*e is performed! $hensang Built in 8"28 during the time of 5igme Dawo, it was *ompletely gutted by fire in 8$6" and rebuilt by the lamas and de(oted laity! La+rang :rom the motorable road a short walk through the forest will get you to this uni&uely styled <onastery, the only of its kind in Sikkim and perhaps the Himalaya! ang ang A Bailey suspension bridge spans the *hasm here and is attributed to be the highest of its kind in Asia! Below you *an see the remains of the H5horlungaH an ingenious bamboo bridge built by the ?ep*has to *ross the raging torrents!
<onks at Dhodang

North Sikkim

2 nights e+ 4angtok! This tour in(ol(es staying at ?a*hung for 2 nights and while returning 8 night at 4angtok

Yumthang Beyond ?a*hung is this (alley of flowers, here the mighty snow fed Teesta is a story book stream, that burbles and whispers only! As the fantasy goes this play ground of the Beti in winter is the summertime graCing pasture for yaks! Country belie(e us of unsurpassed beauty! Here at 88,### ft are natural mineral hot water springs to re-u(enate the listless! @+plore the Rhododendron and Sil(er :ir forests or fish for the wily Brown Trout! & mountain ad<enture that 7ill lea<e you fore<er in its s)ell.
Bumthang

=est Sikkim

2 nights e+ 4angtok! This tour in(ol(es staying at Delling 1 Boksum for 2 nights!

$emayangtse Monastery high abo(e 4yalshing town, amidst the *louds, se*luded and serene houses the fabulous ISanthokpalriI! Said to ha(e been re(ealed in a dream and *ar(ed single handed out of a blo*k of wood must be seen to be belie(edM Kheocheo)alri is the largest low altitude lake in this *orner of the Himalaya, about whi*h legends abound! <ost *ommonly retold is the one about the birds of the surrounding forest keeping this serene lake *lean N possibly true as you will seldom find any lea(es on the water surfa*e! !ashiding per*hed s*eni*ally on a *oni*al hill, high abo(e the *onfluen*e of the Rangeet and Rathong ChhuHs, is an important pilgrimage *enter, for a mere glimpse of the Chorten there is said to *leanse one of all earthly sins! The annual Bhum Chhu *eremony is performed here when a large number of de(otees *ongregate!

Tashiding

Yoksum nestled in the lap of the mighty ,hang*hendCongna is where the first Chogyal of Sikkim was *rowned! The stone throne found abo(e the ,athok ?ake and in the shadow of the orbu 4ang Chorten, still stands! This is the last motorable point beyond whi*h you must walk! 'zongri is reputed to be amongst the best high altitude trekking areas of the world! ,nee to *hin, through dense tropi*al forest, is how you will walk till you rea*h Tsoka! Thereafter the true Alpine region begins! Here the horiCon is ,hang*hendCongna, Dandim, ,abru, and arsing ! Abo(e the meadows of ACongri is the uni&ue Chorten at Aablakhang from where you *an see the true snow fields and gla*iers that ne(er melt! !he mountains at their +est - harsh> yet +eautiful ?
Abo(e ACongri