A visit to Sikkim is an escape to cooler climes, cleaner air and a markedly different culture and history from the rest of India. The people are helpful and friendly yet charmingly shy. This tiny state of India (2nd smallest in area and the least populous) has densely forested valleys with gushing streams and rivers, majestic mountain peaks, historic Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and rich flora and fauna.

Mt. Kanchenjunga (Mt. Khangchendzonga), the third highest mountain in the world is worshiped and revered in many festivals for its role as Sikkim’s guardian deity. This mountain as well as part of the Indian Himalayan range is clearly visible from many parts of Sikkim.

Brief History of Sikkim

It is said that Guru Rimpoche also known as Guru Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Sikkim passed through Sikkim in the 8th Century to spread Buddhism.

Historically, the original inhabitants of Sikkim are the Lepcha people who migrated here in the 13th Century but their origins remain obscure. After the Lepchas, the Bhutias (Khambas) came to Sikkim in the 15th Century to escape the religious turmoil in Tibet. The oldest form of Tibetan Buddhism, the Nyingmapa tradition was brought into Sikkim by three revered Lamas (monks) and they established the first Chogyal (monarch) in 1641 near Yuksom. The capital moved to Rabdentse in 1670 but repeated attacks from Nepal forced the capital to be moved inwards to Tumlong in 1793 before finally settling for Gangtok.

During its most powerful times, Sikkim had parts of Nepal and Darjeeling as its territories but it was weakened by the numerous battles with Nepal throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries. With the arrival of the British, Sikkim formed an alliance to ward off their common nemesis, Nepal. But Sikkim paid a price for this alliance with the annexation of Darjeeling to British India and the Chogyal becoming a puppet king under the British.

The last monarch of Sikkim ruled between 1963 to 1975 before being overthrown by India after a revolt by Sikkim’s Nepali majority.

Climate & Best Times to Visit Sikkim

Sikkim has a temperate climate with temperatures ranging from 0 °C (32 °F) to 28 °C (82 °F). It has 5 distinct seasons:

• Spring
• Summer
• Monsoons
• Autumn
• Winter

The best times of the year to visit Sikkim:

• September to November
• April and May

NOTE: If possible avoid visiting Sikkim in October during the Durga Puja festival which falls on 18 –21 October in 2008 and 25 –28 October in 2009 because of an influx of Bengali tourists primarily from West Bengal. During these days, Sikkim becomes overpriced and overcrowded. Another potential peak-period is May.

VISITOR RESOURCES FOR SIKKIM
See Visitor Resources for Sikkim which includes information on permits, accommodations, food, authorized travel agents and important contact numbers.

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