Sikkim the Untold Story

Trekking in Sikkim Himalaya

Sikkim, the name reflects the land itself....of peaks and Valleys that rise and fall like it's tumultous history. Invasions & violent wars experienced from centuries of which there is hardly any trace. The History of Sikkim has not been well documented and the information is very scarce. As per the very few informantions that are available..a Tibetan Prince by the name of Guru Tashi had a vision in which he was asked to go the south to the land of  Denzong. The entire family  which included his five sons headed in the southerly direction. During the wandering years the Family came across a Khye Bumsa. Khye Bumsa settled in the Chumbi Valley adjacent to Sikkim. Here he came into contact with the local Lepcha Chieftan & a religious leader, Tetong Tek. With the blessing of Tetong Tek, Khye Bumsa was blessed with three sons and out of Gratitude the treaty of brotherhood was signed at Kabi Longstok in Phodong just outside Gangtok & a new tie of brotherhood was established between the lepchas and the Bhutias.

Coronation Throne in Yuksom 

Sakya Kingdom where a monastery was being built, the workers were unable to erect the pillars of the monastery. The elder son of Guru Tashi single handedly erected the pillars of the monastery and hence he came to be known as the

To flee the rift in Red Hat Sect and the Black Hat Sect in Tibet, Lama Latsun Chembo came to Sikkim with a mission to establish Buddhist monarchy in this small country. After a long journey he came to Yuksom where he met the two other monks, Sempa Chembo & Rinzin Chembo. The Three holymen had a mission and that was to eastablish Buddhist Monarchy in Sikkim which at that time was made up of small clans who were fighting each other. The search party found the man by the Name of Phutshok in Gangtok and he was consecrated as the first Chogyal of Sikkim in Yuksom in the year 1642. Sikkim remained a monarchy under the Chogyals till 1973. Finally in the year 1974 after a wide spread uprising the Monarchy was dissolved and Sikkim was merged with India and thus Sikkim became a state of India.

Topography of Sikkim is varied from the sea level to 28000 feet. Therefore the Biodiversity of Sikkim from the Flora to the Fauna covers a wide spectrum from Tropical to the Alpine. Sikkim has a 4500 variety of flowering plants and a large variety of Mammals, butterflies & Birds.

Because of the varying degree of landscape and most of it's land falling in the Himalayas, sikkim has a wide avenue for Adventure Tourism. High Altitude Trekking routes are popular in West Sikkim and North Sikkim. In North Sikkim the Trek Routes lie close to the border with China. The Trek routes in west Sikkim lies close to the Border with Nepal and Bhutan.

Some of the Best Treks in Sikkim is the sikkim goecha la trek. This is an Eight Days Trek and Goehala Pass is the Highest Point on this Trek at 4990m. The Yuksom Dzongri Goechala Pass Trek grade is moderate to strenous. Physical fitness of the trekkers is essential in order to do this Trek.

Goecha la Pass at 4990m

The Singalila Ridge Trek on the Sikkim side of the Himalaya is another best Trek Route for Trekking in Sikkim. This is a 13 Days Trek alone and is graded as Moderate to Strenous. One needs to be Physically fit inorder to participate on this Sikkim Singalila Ridge Trek. 

If one is short on time but would like to go close to the Himalayas than one opt for the Yuksom to Dzongri Ridge Trek in West Sikkim. This is a four Days Trek from Yuksom to Dzongri and Back to Yuksom.

All these Trek Routes in Sikkim Fall inside the Kanchenjunga National Park which of late has been awarded the Heritage Tag. Only Tented Treks are available in Sikkim. There are Trekkers huts in Tchoka, Dzongri and Thansing Valley, but the Trekkers huts are ill equipped and does not serve the needs of the back packing Travellers.

Popular Trekking Routes in North Sikkim is the Green lake Trek. The Trek route falls with the border with Tibet. This is comparitively a strenous Trek and the Trek Route is isolated and less travelled.