Tea With A View Of Darjeeling & Sikkim

Sikkim is a state in northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. Part of the Himalayas, the area has a dramatic landscape that includes India’s highest mountain, 8,586m Kangchenjunga.

Sikkim is also home to glaciers, alpine meadows and thousands of varieties of wildflowers. Steep paths lead to hilltop Buddhist monasteries such as Pemayangtse, which dates to the early 1700s.

Darjeeling is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal which is located in the Lesser Himalayas at an elevation of around 2000mts. It is famous for its tea plantations, tea factories and toy trains. Some of the famous and memorable places to visit in Darjeeling are the M.G. Road or Mall Road where there are many places to eat and shop. You can enjoy local delicacies of the Darjeeling such as Momos, Thukpa and Dalle. 

Sunrise at the Tiger View point is just breathtaking and this place should be on your checklist. Ghoom Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Darjeeling. It has a 15fts high statue of Maitreya Buddha and also houses several Buddhist manuscripts and texts.

One of the most historic places in Darjeeling is HMI (Hindustan Mountaineering Institute) which is a full-fledged mountaineering institution founded by Tenzing Norgay, one of the first persons to summit Mt. Everest. The campus also has a museum where you can see personal artifacts of Tenzing.

The town of Namchi is located in South Sikkim and the name Namchi means “Sky High” is Sikkimese language. It is located at an elevation of 1,315 mts. Namchi is known as one of the most photogenic locations in Sikkim. One of the most famous places to visit in Namchi is Siddheshwar Dham which is also known as Char Dham. It is located at Solophok Hill which is located 5kms from the town of Namchi. It is one of the most well known and auspicious places for Hindus. There is also a 108ft tall statue of Lord Shiva which draws visitors from all around. This place is great for learning more about Hindu religion and people’s ways of life.

Changu/Tsomgo Lake is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district around 40kms from the capital Gangtok. It is one of the highest glacial lakes in the world with a height of almost 3,753 mts. This lake remains frozen for almost throughout the year. You can enjoy a Yak ride while here and there is also a Shiva Temple which is located here.

When you proceed further down the path, you will visit “Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir” which is a temple made to honour Late Indian Soldier Harbhajan Singh. He was martyred in 1968 near Nathula, which is near Eastern Sikkim. There are many legends about him, some of which state that his soul protects the Indian contingent near the place and warns them about impending danger.

The best time to visit Sikkim and Darjeeling would be in the months from April to June in summers. In summers, you can expect to see rhododendrons and orchids in full bloom in the valleys of Sikkim which makes for a really surreal experience. The summer months are really pleasant with temperatures ranging from 12 degrees centigrade to 28 degrees centigrade. These months are the best times to catch glimpses of the mountains and trekking is one of the best activities that you can enjoy during these months. Other activities include hangliding, white water rafting, mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing.

During winter months, you can expect to see the mountains and valleys covered in snow, which make up for a beautiful experience.