Sikkim has been given many names. The Lepchas, original inhabitants of the land called it Nye-mae-el `paradise'. The Limbus named it Su Khim or `new house' while to the Bhutias it was Beymul Demazong `the hidden valley of rice'.

Today, travelers embarking on a journey of Sikkim discover a mystical wonderland of spectacular natural beauty. The panoramic perfection of the snow-capped Himalayas, the heady scent of flower-bedecked meadows, the vibrant culture and joyous festivals, the infinite variety of its flora and fauna makes it a holiday that is at once fascinating and challenging.

This month we bring to you Sikkim as the destination of the month.

Look forward to receiving your views and feedback on our efforts to update you with the latest from India.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2018!

90-room Zone by The Park, Jodhpur opens doors
The Park Hotels enters Jodhpur with the launch of its second hotel in Rajasthan – ‘Zone by The Park’. With 90 guest rooms, the latest Zone by The Park Jodhpur is located at the city centre in close proximity to popular tourist destinations such as Umaid Bhawan Palace and scenic Kalyana Lake. The city airport and railway station are minutes away from the hotel making it convenient for the guests. Zone Jodhpur boasts of 7,600 sq. ft. banquet hall with a spill over 14,000 sq. ft. outdoor lawn for large weddings, exhibitions, social gatherings, celebrations and conferences. The hotel has two restaurants and a discotheque.
The hotel is designed to meet the requirements of the price-conscious, design-conscious urban traveller.

The Oberoi, New Delhi reopens after a two-year of renovation
The Oberoi, New Delhi reopens after an extensive renovation of two years. The interiors of the hotel have been redone including the refurbishment of its soft furnishings. The hotel is open for reservations and the basic room category is available from Rs. 18,000 onward. Despite being contemporary, the hotel has managed to retain the essence of heritage within its premises.

41-room Clarks Inn debuts in Srinagar, Kashmir
Clarks Inn Group of Hotels has added another feather to its growing portfolio with the opening of Clarks Inn Srinagar. The 41-room property is strategically located at a stone-throw distance from the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and Srinagar’s scenic Dal Lake and just about three kilometres from the Mughal Garden. Located in the city centre at Jawahar Nagar, Clarks Inn Srinagar boasts of 41 rooms across different categories to cater to the needs of discerning business as well as leisure travellers.

Radisson Mumbai Goregaon commences operations
Situated in the commercial hub of Goregaon in Mumbai, Radisson Mumbai Goregaon recently opened its doors to the financial capital. The hotel is surrounded by shopping districts, entertainment centers, tourist attractions, corporate set-ups and located in proximity to the international airport.

Radisson Mumbai Goregaon features 98 contemporary rooms with modern amenities. The rooms are spread across three categories namely, superior, business class and suite. All rooms are equipped with amenities including free Wi-Fi, 42-inch LED TV with premium channels, and coffee and tea making facilities. With wellness as a brand pillar, the hotel features facilities such as an in-house spa, salon and a rooftop swimming pool.

285-room Conrad Bengaluru opens doors
Conrad Hotels & Resorts has expanded in India with the opening of Conrad Bengaluru. The 24-storeyed hotel is owned by Prestige Group and managed by Hilton. Featuring 285 guestrooms including 21 suites, Conrad Bengaluru offers five dining and bar experiences, a full-service spa and salon, 17,000 square feet of event space, a 24-hour fitness centre and an outdoor temperature-controlled infinity pool overlooking the expanse of the city as well as a dedicated kids’ pool.

ibis Pune Hinjewadi opens doors with 136 rooms
InterGlobe Hotels and AccorHotels has announced the opening of ibis Pune Hinjewadi (IPH). The launch of ibis Pune Hinjewadi marks AccorHotels’ third property in the city. Featuring 136 well-appointed rooms, the hotel offers unparalleled comfort and convenience with its range of in-room amenities and signature Sweet Bed bedding concept by ibis. To celebrate its opening, ibis Pune Hinjewadi is offering a special price of Rs. 3,699 per night, with breakfast for two from now until 31 March, 2018. Strategically located within 5 km of the Mumbai-Bangalore highway, the hotel is in close proximity to the International Biotech Park and with various multinational corporations such as Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Accenture and IBM located nearby. The hotel is situated approximately 20km from Pune Airport and the railway station. The hotel also offers complimentary high speed Wi-Fi access to ensure that guests can enjoy a relaxing stay. For food aficionados, ibis Pune Hinjewadi features the signature ‘Spice It’ restaurant – a culinary concept tailor-made for India serving Indian, Oriental and European cuisine prepared from the freshest locally sourced ingredients.

 

48.3% growth in FTAs on e-TV in December y-o-y

The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in December 2017 was 11.76 lakh as compared to FTAs of 10.21 lakh in December 2016 and 9.13 lakh in December 2015. The growth rate in FTAs in December 2017 over December 2016 has increased to 15.2 per cent, compared to 11.9 per cent in December 2016 over December 2015. FTAs in 2017 were 101.77 lakh with a growth of 15.6 per cent over 2016, compared to FTAs of 88.04 lakh with a growth of 9.7 per cent in 2016 over 2015. The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December 2017 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (19.04%) followed by USA (16.90%), UK (10.41%), Australia (5.31%), Canada (3.85%), Russian Fed. (3.79%), Malaysia (3.11%), Germany (2.08%), China (2.06%), Sri Lanka (2.01%), Singapore (1.85%), France (1.81%), Japan (1.64%), Thailand (1.60%) and Italy (1.44%). The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December 2017 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (25.80%) followed by Mumbai Airport (17.31%), Haridaspur Land Check Post (9.75%), Chennai Airport (6.36%), Bengaluru Airport (5.33%), Dabolim (Goa) Airport, (5.29%), Kolkata Airport (4.95%), Cochin Airport (3.92%), Hyderabad Airport (3.02%), Ahmadabad Airport (2.63%), Gede Rail Land Check Post (1.94%), Trivandrum Airport, Trichy Airport (1.44%), Ghojadanga Land Check Post (1.26%) and Sonauli Land Check Post (1.14%).


 

Delhi-Chennai direct on Vistara from Feb 15
Vistara has announced the addition of Chennai to its expanding network, making it the 22nd destination on the airline’s network. Effective February 15, 2018, Vistara will operate a daily direct flight between Delhi and Chennai, and increase the frequency to twice daily from March 1, 2018. Vistara will also connect Chennai to Port Blair with a daily direct flight between the two cities, effective March 1, 2018.

SpiceJet increases flight frequencies
SpiceJet has increased its frequencies in existing sectors and upgraded seat capacity on various routes across its domestic and international network to service additional demand from growing markets. The airline will operate a renewed winter schedule with 10 new daily frequencies added on its domestic network encompassing some popular routes such as Chennai-Kochi (fourth direct flight added), Bengaluru-Vijayawada (second direct flight added) Kochi-Chennai (fourth direct flight added) and Hyderabad-Vijayawada (second direct flight added) among others. On its international network, SpiceJet will be reinforcing its frequencies on the Delhi-Kabul route by increasing its operations from three days a week to five days a week.

Delhi-Gorakhpur on Air India 6 times a week
Air India has announced that it will operate a new flight from New Delhi to Gorakhpur, six days a week, starting January 15, 2016. The flight will offer connection to flyers travelling to various domestic and international destinations from Gorakhpur. This would also offer a convenient connection to Gorakhpur from Delhi to passengers arriving from the Gulf and other international destinations. This is the latest destination to be added to Air India’s network under its Connecting India programme. India’s national carrier, also launched operations between Mumbai and Gwalior with ATR-72 aircraft and also connected Durgapur to Delhi and Kolkata with an A319 flight. Air India will operate a 70 seater ATR 72-600 aircraft between Delhi and Gorakhpur. The flight AI 9809 will depart from Delhi at 1215 hrs and arrive Gorakhpur at 1415 hrs. On the return leg, flight AI 9810 will depart from Gorakhpur at 1445 hrs and reach Delhi at 1645 hrs. The flight will operate six days a week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
 
IndiGo to start direct daily to Colombo from Chennai, Bengaluru from Jan 20
haring its operational plans from Colombo, IndiGo has announced that Colombo will become its eighth international destination effective January 20, 2018 with daily direct flights from Chennai and Bengaluru. With these new flights, the airline will also offer connections to and from Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and other major Indian cities.
IndiGo adds flights to Tirupati network
IndiGo has added another flight to its Tirupati network. Tirupati will be connected by three daily non-stop flights to Hyderabad and double daily non-stop flights to Bengaluru. Minister of Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju along with Aditya Ghosh, President and Whole Time Director, IndiGo flagged-off the second flight from Tirupati to Hyderabad at Tirupati International Airport. Apart from this, Tirupati will also be connected to many new cities on IndiGo’s existing network of Airbus 320s and ATRs. IndiGo will connect Tirupati to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Dubai, Singapore among other cities via Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mangalore.

Ural Airlines to start flights between India and Russia
The potential of the outbound tourist market from India to Russia has prompted Ural Airlines to start flights from various cities in India ex Yekaterinburg to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and to the other cities in Russia along with offering connections to other prime destinations in Europe. As per the Russian Information Centre (RIC), tourists from India to Russia have been growing at 30 per cent YoY. Considering the unique needs of Indian tourists and to cater to their specific needs, Ural Airlines is considering to join the ‘India-Friendly’ programme in Russia, which is initiated and executed by RIC in India. Airports of Regions & Russian Information Center in India are assisting the process of launch of services in India by helping identify partners and other associates that will contribute to the entry of Ural Airlines into the India market. Ural Airlines is the primary airline of Airport Koltsovo in Yekaterinburg and one of the largest rapidly developing Russian airlines.

 

Sikkim

The crowning glory of Sikkim is Mt. Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world. With magnificent snow and ice scenery it is often regarded as the undisputed monarch among the peaks of the world. But for the Sikkimese Khangchendzonga is much more than a mountain and is revered as the abode of their guardian deity Dzo-nga.

Even today the mountain god is invoked and prayed to during Pang Lhabsol, a major Sikkimese festival, which also commemorates the blood brotherhood sworn between the Lepchas and the Bhutias at Kabi in the fifteenth century. The sacred mountain can be viewed from every corner of Sikkim and remains an intrinsic part of the consciousness of the people.
Sikkim shares its border with Nepal in the west and Bhutan in the east, with the Tibetan plateau rising from its northern border. It was once a Himalayan monarchy and part of the fabled Silk Route to China. Its merger with India in 1975 has offered a window to the world to discover the treasures of this hidden land.

Sikkim has much to offer all her visitors. From popular home stays where one can get a first hand experience of rural Sikkim to endless possibilities for adventure sports. From ancient monasteries and flamboyant festivals to all the amenities of the modern world. The State is naturally gifted having all sorts of destinations and circuits required for the tourists. Tourism in Sikkim has impressive varieties of Tourism Products, some of them are: Organic, Green and Pollution Free State, Very rich Culture, traditions, heritage and strong commitment, Eco-tourism & Wildlife, Village Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Wellness, Health, Yoga, Herbal and medical tourism, Religious, culture, Heritage and pilgrimage Tourism, Conference Tourism and many more.

The mighty and majestic mountains, green valleys, wilderness & sense of adventure, delightful cuisines, peaceful and crime free State, Hot spot of biodiversity and a mixture of things that would make any place on the earth a delight to visit, has made Sikkim the hot destination for Tourism that it should be. Virtually unexplored, offers unique opportunities in almost all the major aspects of Tourism.

People & Culture
The People of Sikkim consist of three ethnic groups, that is, Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali. Communities of different hues intermingle freely in Sikkim to constitute a homogenous blend. Hindu Temples coexist with Buddhist Monasteries, Churches, Mosque and Gurudwara. The predominant Communities are Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese. These myriad Cultures has produced a quintessential Sikkimese Culture that encompasses all ways and walk of life, but has also managed to preserve their own identity. These can also be seen in the various places of Worship, Festivals and Cultural dances that are celebrated through the year.

Pilgrimage Tourism

Shiva Mandir, Legship : Also known as Kirateshwar Mahadev temple, it is situated on the banks of beautiful Rangit river. A foot suspension bridge takes the devotees to its attractive location. People from all over the state visit this holy place of eminence. According to popular belief, whosoever worships here will earn virtues of two life times.

Heritage Tourism

Dubdi Monastery : This was the first monastery established soon after the consecration ceremony of the first Chogyal. The monastery is located on a hill top above Yuksom surrounded by verdant forest. It can be approached by trekking only, negotiating steep slope for about half an hour. It is an ideal place for lamas seeking meditation recluse..

Pemayangste Monastery : It is one of the oldest monasteries of the State. It was originally established by Lhatsun Chempo, one of the revered Lamas to have performed the consecration ceremony of the first Chogyal (Monarch) of Sikkim. This ancient monastery belonging to the Nyingma Sect has been considered as one of the premier monasteries in the State. It has been entrusted with the task to perform all religious functions of the erstwhile monarch.
Originally, it was established as a high class monastery for "Pure Monks (Ta-Sang). Inside the monastery there is a wooden structure depicting the Maha Guru's heavenly palace (Sang-tok-palri), which is considered a masterpiece created by Dungzin Rimpoche. The Monastery, located on a hill top at an altitude of 6300 ft. commands a magnificent panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges, the surrounding hills and the countryside. A well furnished PWD Guest House is located just across the Monastery on a small hill top.

Tashiding : Tashiding, the most holy of all monasteries in Sikkim was built in 1716 on the spot consecrated by Guru Rimpoche. According to legend Guru Rimpoche shot an arrow and vowed to meditate where it fell. The arrow dropped on the spot where the monastery now stands. Located on a hill top between the rivers Ratong and Rangeet it is surrounded by deep valleys. Tashiding also has the famous chorten Thongwa Rangdol built by Lhatsun Chenpo and considered the most holy in Sikkim. It is believed that a glimpse of this chorten is enough to cleanse one of a lifetime of sin.
The monastery is also the venue for the annual Bumchu festival which divines the fortune of the coming year for Sikkim.

Rumtek :Located on a hill facing Gangtok and 24 kms from here, the original Rumtek monastery was built by the fourth Chogyal. This was damaged by an earthquake and has been rebuilt. The new Rumtek monastery was built by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. It is the largest in Sikkim and reflects the best of Tibetan architecture. It is also a treasure trove of some of the most unique religious objects found anywhere in the world, apart from also being a world-renowned centre of Kagyu teachings. Rumtek monastery is the seat of the Kargyupa sect of Buddhism and an almost replica of the Kagyu headquarters in Tsurphu [Tibet].
The old Rumtek monastery celebrates its annual chaam along with Ralong and Phodong two days prior to Losoong [Sikkimese New Year]

Village Tourism : The UNESCO Project for the Development of Cultural Tourism and Ecotourism in the Mountainous Regions of Central and South Asia is sponsored by the Norwegian Government with the support of the Principality of Andorra. The project aims to promote cooperation between local communities, national and international NGOs, and tour agencies in order to involve local populations fully in the employment opportunities and income-generating activities that tourism can bring.
Sikkim Village Tourism :The goal of Sikkim Himalayan Homestays is to promote community based tourism while helping local communities benefit fully from the economic opportunities of low-impact tourism. In this way, the spectacular environmental and cultural heritage of these areas can be protected for future generations and tourism can develop to meet the needs of local communities.
Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) works together with local communities and UNESCO to help communities achieve these goals. Our members are dedicated to community self-reliance and have a mandate to achieve the goals of sustainable development in the fields of ecotourism and conservation.

Hot Springs : Sikkim has many hot springs known for their therapeutic value. High in Sulphur content, the waters are believed to have great medicinal properties with the average temperature of the water in these hot springs close to 50c.
There are some well known hot springs in North Sikkim. The Yumthang Hot Spring is located some distance away from Yumthang village. To reach the hot spring one has to walk a few hundred yards from the road and across a pedestrian bridge on the River Lachung. For the convenience of bathers, there is a hut with two pools which contains hot spring water. Hot water rich in sulphuretted hydrogen gas from a spring just behind the hut and is diverted to the pools.
A 25 kilometre drive up from Yumthang takes you to the Yume Samdong Hot Spring at the base of the Donkia-la Pass.

Holy Caves : The mountainsides are dotted with many caves which are considered holy by the people and revered as places of pilgrimage. It is believed that Guru Rimpoche and Lhatsun Chenpo have halted and meditated in these caves. Most of these caves are located in remote places requiring tough treks.
Sikkim Holy Caves The holiest of them is Lha-ri nying phu or the old cave on Gods hill. Located in West Sikkim, it can be reached only after a difficult 3 day trek from Tashiding.
De-chhen phu or the cave of happiness is equally inaccessible located in the snows above Dzongri in West Sikkim.
Pe-phu, a huge cave, is located between Tendong and Maenam hills in South Sikkim around 5 kms from Ravangla.
Khando-sang - phu or the cave of the occult fairies is one of the easiest to reach and is located just beyond the Rishi hot springs.

Lakes : Sikkim has many beautiful lakes dotting its landscape. Most of the lakes in Sikkim are considered sacred and are revered by the people. The North Sikkim plateau adjoining Tibet has a number of mountain lakes of which Gurudongmar and Chho Lamo are the most famous. Chho Lamo is the source of the Teesta River. The Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim is the most popular with tourists while Khecheopalri in West Sikkim is one of the most beautiful and sacred.

Tsomgo Lake : The most visited lake in Sikkim is the Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim. Located 35 km from Gangtok and at an altitude of 12,000 ft, the ethereally beautiful Tsomgo Lake is a must on every visitors itinerary Embedded in steep and rugged mountain terrain, the lake is covered with snow cover from early winter to late spring. Associated with many legends and myths, Tsomgo is regarded as holy by the Sikkimese. For the tourist a visit to the lake offers a wonderful outing. Rides on colourfully decorated yaks and mules are offered at the lake site, which also has a variety of eating stalls serving snacks and beverages. Snowboots and gumboots can be hired here. The lake also provides the perfect backdrop for the holiday photo.

Flora : The glory of Sikkim is its breathtaking array of flowers. Sikkims geographical positioning has gifted it a repository of over 5000 species of flowering plants. Forests of magnolia, blue poppies, primulas, gentians and geraniums create a spell-binding floral spectacle. Orchids, gladioli, poppies, azaleas and camellias add to the heady collection. Its great variety of rhododendron ranges from shrubs at ground level to towering specimens that set the terrain ablaze in a riot of colours.

Orchids :Orchids are found in Sikkim, mostly in the tropical regions up to 7000 feet elevations but some species inhabit altitudes of 10000 feet and above. Sikkims orchids belong to two categories: epiphyte and terrestial; the epiphytes are better known and more numerous. The popular epiphytal orchids in Sikkim belong to the genus Dendrobium, Cymbidium, Vanda, Phalaenopsis, Caelogyne, Arachnanthe or Saccolabium. Of these the Dendrobium Nobile has been adopted by the state as its official flower.

Rhododendrons : Found in super abundance and in a riot of colours, the rhododendron is in its full glory in Sikkim. Growing mostly in sub-alpine and alpine regions they cover complete hillsides in a blaze of beauty. The route to Dzongri, the Singalila trail and the Yumthang valley in North Sikkim are covered with rhododendron shrubs and trees. Around 30 species of rhododendron are found in Sikkim in different sizes and shapes. While the Rhododendron grande is over 10 m tall, the Rhododendron nivale grows barely a few inches above the ground. Rhododendron niveum has been declared as the State Tree of Sikkim.

Fauna : The dense forests of Sikkim are home to a variety of animals. The Musk Deer, the munjak or the Barking Deer roam the jungles in the upper temperate zone while the Himalayan Black Bear is found in forests of the lower valleys to around 12,000 feet.
Also found here is the Red Panda, belonging to the raccoon family, the Red Goral, a horned animal closely related to the Serow, the Blue Sheep or bharal, the Shapi, belonging to the Himalayan Tahr family and the elusive Snow Leopard, an almost mythical animal, found in the arid cold alpine region. Another animal found mostly in the alpine zone is the Yak. These animals are domesticated and reared in North Sikkim and provide useful service. They are used mainly as beasts of burden over mountain terrain and can survive even sub-zero temperatures.

Trekking : Sikkim offers some of the finest trekking experience in the Himalaya. The state’s vast unspoiled mountain range is a trekker’s delight and its Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary passes through forests of silver fir, hemlock, magnolia and rhododendron with a view of Kangchendzonga peaks in the background. The Dzongri- Goecha La Trek is the most popular trek in Sikkim and famed for great mountain views, a floral spectacle in summer, bird and views of pristine forest.
The trek to Green Lake, the base of Mt. Kangchendzonga on the Zemu glacier in the North Sikkim is the most enchanting of all treks in this area with a variety of flowers such as rhododendrons, primulas and blue poppies. Trek to this route needs a trekking permit from Tourism Department after getting clearance from Defense, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.

River Rafting : River rafting is the latest adventure activity to arrive in Sikkim, and the Teesta River offers some world class opportunities. The major route is Makha-Sirwani-Bardang-Rongpo. Grade 2 to 4 rapids are interspersed with placid patches to float along, and plenty of white sandy beaches exist for overnight camping. High cliffs and gorges, along with bolder-strewn river beds, add to the thrill. The Rangeet River, with its more turbulent waters, also offers advanced rafting opportunities from Sikip-Jorethang-Majitar-Melli. The best time for rafting in Sikkim is from March to May and October to December.

Entry Formalities to Sikkim
Foreigners must obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim. These can be obtained from all Indian Missions, Sikkim Tourism Offices at New Delhi, Kolkata, District Magistrates Office of Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Rangpo on the strength of an Indian Visa. The 30 days duration Permit is issued on the spot without any delay provided photocopies of the passport and visa along with two pass port photos of the applicants are made available. The permissible duration of the stay for foreign tourists is 30 days initially.
The State Government is authorized to extend the same by a further period of 30 days. The extension of the permit can be obtained from FRO at Gangtok and office of Superintendent of Police of the North, West and South Districts.
For those interested in going for trekking in the interior region of the state, the Tourism and Civil Aviation issues Protected Area Permit (PAP) at Gangtok which is available for certain specified area for groups consisting of two or more foreigners subject to condition that the trekking programme is arranged through a registered travel agency.

Weather

When visiting Sikkim timing is crucial. Summer’s monsoon rains hide the main attraction, those soaring mountains. The Yumthang and Tsopta Valleys are already very cold by October and will scare brass monkeys between December and February. Overall Sikkim’s best season is late September to mid-November plus April and May.