| West Sikkim | Sikkim Tourism |
Gyalshing:
Distance - 117 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 2,085 m
Gyalshing is the district headquarter of West
Sikkim. West Sikkim witnessed the consecration in the wilderness of 'Chogyal'
or Dharma Raja, the birth of a dynasty and the spread of Buddhism.
Pelling:
Distance - 117 km ( from Gangtok
)
Altitude - 2,085 m
Pelling, a quiet village in
West Sikkim houses the famous Pemayangtse Monastery and has now turned into
a bustling tourist destination and has come up with numerous hotels and
lodges.
From here one can view Mt. Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Siniolchu and other ranges. At The hillock is Pemayangtse monastery, the sublime lotus, the premier monastery in Sikkim belonging to Nyingmapa sect and is head of all other monasteries of the sect in Sikkim
Pemayangtse:
Distance - 120 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 7000
ft.
Pemayangtse Monastery, the sublime lotus is the premier monastery in Sikkim. It is the oldest monastery here and houses priceless thankas, icons, Buddhist texts, paintings and frescos. Built on the 18th century AD, this monastery follows the Nyingmapa sect of the Tibetan Buddhism. On the top floor of the temple, there lies the Architectural Design of Heaven called the Zangdoplari. It's a masterpiece art crafted single handedly out of wood by the late Dungzim Rimponche and photography is prohibited. The walls of this area is hundreds of years old and are original and on vegetable paintings
Khecheopalri Lake:
Distance - 24 or 33 km ( from
Pemayangtse )
Hotels: Trekker's
hut has been provided by the Tourist Department. There is also a pilgrim's
hut, managed by the Tourism Department, which is meant to provide
accommodations to the people who come on pilgrimage tours.
This lake is also known as the wishing lake. This unusually tranquil lake,
surrounded by verdant forest is considered as
one of the sacred lakes of Sikkim both by the Buddhist and the Hindus and no water sport or other activities besides
prayers are allowed around it. It is believed that
birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the lake surface.
The vicinity of the lake is an ideal place to find the Lepcha Houses and
their communities.
Yuksam/ Yuksom:
Distance - 124 km( from
Gangtok ) ; 40
km ( from
Pemayangtse )
Altitude - 1780 m
The hamlet of Yuksam is set amidst pristine hills and lakes, where according to the historical records and it was here in 1641 AD the first Chogyal (King) Phuntsok Namgyal of Sikkim was consecrated by the three wise lamas. Yuksam literally means the meeting place of the three learned monks. This was the first capital of Sikkim. The Norbugang Chorten and the Coronation
Tashiding:
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
About 16 km away from
Yuksam and about 40 Kms from Gyalshing, via Legship is this important
monastery belonging to the Nyingmapa order. It was built on the top of a
hill that looms up between the Rathong river and the Rangit river, where
a rainbow emanating from Mount Khangchendzonga came to an end. At first
only a small Lhakhang was built by Ngadak Sempa Chempo in the 17th
Century. The main monastery was built by Pedi Wangmo during the reign of
Chakdor Namgyal and some of the statues built then still exist. The
sacred objects of worship in Tashiding are the chorten Thongwa Rangdol
and Bumchu( holy water). The chorten was built by the Lhatsun Chenpo and
it is believed that merely to view the chorten is enough to cleanse one
of all sins.Carved skillfully on flagstones surrounding the monastery
are holy Buddhist mantras like 'Om Mane Padme Hum' by the master
craftsman Yanchong Lodil. The heart of Sikkimese
Buddhism as Guru Padmasambhava considered so and houses the Tashiding
Monastery along with Sacred Thongtwa Chorten. Its so holy that even a
slight glimpse of cleanses all sins. Rich environment flooded with
oranges and cardamoms and gateway to Borong hot springs, ideal for soft
treks and perfect Sikkimese village in the setting. Uttaray:
Barshay/ Versay:
Located in
the extreme west is noted for rhododendrons. It's a huge Rhododendron
forest, is a must visit experience trip during the flowering season from mid
march to April end. The whole forest is aflame with riot of Rhododendron
Flowers with hues raging from blood red to pure white and against the back
drop of the mountains its truly an unforgettable experienc Biksthang:
A short distance from Pelling is the small hamlet of
Biksthang. Also know as Chuchen and Mangalbaray, calm,
serene and tranquil natural surrounding is the main attraction
of Biksthang. It is a new and upcoming tourist destination in West
Sikkim and you can watch the majestic Khangchendzonga and
its lesser peaks standing tall from dawn to dusk on a clear day. Legship:
This gateway to western Sikkim, has a holy Hindu Shrine of Lord Shiva on the
banks of river Rangit. A must visit for all tourists specially the Indian
Traveller. The festival of the temple takes place in the month of November
known as the Bala Chaturdesi. Legship also houses the first ever built dam
in the state for hydro electricity purpose. The water accumulated in the dam
is used for Rangit Water World and local folks come here for picnics and
rafting.
Sanga Choeling Monastery
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
Small hamlet situated at the extreme southwest corner of Sikkim. Base camp
for Singalila trek.
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 10500
ft.
Distance - 119 km ( from Gangtok
)
Altitude - 4200 ft.
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - ft.
Built in 1697, Sanga Choeling means 'the island of esoteric teaching'. 45 minutes walk from Pelling and 7 km from Pemayangtse will take you to this second oldest monastery in Sikkim. A 4 km trail rises from the playing fields just above Pelling to reach the small monastery of Sanga Choeling is one of the oldest gompas in Sikkim. This gompa is another of Lhatsun Chenpo's creations, and is highly venerated among the Nyingmapa. Gutted by fire, it has been rebuilt and houses some of the original clay statues.
Rinchenpong:
Distance - km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - ft.
The upcoming tourist spot in the western part of Sikkim, has a magnificent
command over the mountain views, sunsets and rise, flora and fauna, village
tourism ,historical sites and heritage of Resum Monastery, old as time. Rich
forests and ample area for soft treks.
Reshi Hot Springs:
Distance -
25 km ( from
Gyalshing )
These hot springs are located near Reshi on the River Rangit. One has to walk about ten minutes from the highway across the river Rangit by a pedestrain bridge to reach the hot springs. The water of these springs has medicinal value as it contains sulphur and can cure some skin diseases. People from all over the state and neighbouring Darjeeling come here during the winter months and spend days together lying submerged in the soothing water of the hotspring. There are a couple of trekkers huts for the convenience of the tourists. These springs also considered very holy as one of the four holy caves is located here. This holy cave is called the Kadosang Phu or cave of the occult fairies and lies on the south of the four cardinal points.
Rabdentse:
Distance - km ( from Gyalshing )
Altitude - ft.
This was the second capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Sikkim after Yuksam and till the year 1814 A.D., the king of Sikkim had ruled the state from this place. Today, the Rabdentse ruins lie hidden from the main road at a walking distance from the tourist lodge and the Pemayangtse monastery. It can be approached by following a footpath which branches off the main road.
The scenic view from the top of the ruin scanning across deep valley to the mystic heights of Khangchendzonga ranges is something to be cherished and etched in memory.
Norbugang:
Distance - 15 min
walk from Yuksam
True to the prophecy of Tibet's founder of Buddhism, Guru Rimpoche, some
nine centuries prior, three learned Lamas, Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, Kathok
Rigzin Chenpo, Nga-Dak Sempa Chenpo, gathered at Yuksam in 1642 from various
directions and enthroned Chogyal Phuntsog as the first religious king of
Sikkim.
A stone throne shaded by a 300 year old fir still stands here today. A foot print in stone in front of the throne is said to belong to Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, and a nearby chorten (stupa) contains soil and water from all over Sikkim. Thus Yuksam occupies an important place in Sikkimese history as the first capital, and Norbugang as an historic cultural site maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. Norbugang is easily reached on a 15 minute walk from Yuksam