Early next morning, we set out for Banjkari Falls, 60 km from Gangtok. The drive on a hilly road that runs through a forest takes almost two hours. Our driver pointed towards the local village, where children in uniform were making their way to school. Banjakri Falls turned out to be a tad underwhelming. Besides its exceptional force, there was nothing particularly remarkable about it.
On our way, we stopped at the famous Rumtek Monastrey, which has a legacy of over 50 years. Its traditional Tibetan design makes the monastery a real sight for sore eyes.
Back in Gangtok, we went shopping to Lal Bazaar. Deorali is also a good option for local handicrafts and Buddhist artefacts. Pick up a metallic butter lamp if you are looking for an ideal Buddhist artefact. This lamp, which is an integral part of a Buddhist prayer, is a perfect memento from a place that you are unlikely to forget in a hurry anyways.
Other objects that might attrcat you in the market are enormous hand-woven carpets and wall-hangings reflecting the tribal culture of Sikkim. But be it carpets or wall-hangings, no matter what you pick up from Lal Bazaar, fierce bargaining is an absolute must. After the walk through the market and the haggling, we felt the pangs of hunger. So the next destination was my hotel’s restaurant – Orchid. This multi-cuisine eatery is a paradise for non-vegetarians.
On your Sikkim visit, do keep a whole day aside for a trip to Tsomgo Lake and Nathula Pass. But remember that this day has to be Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. On the other three days of the week these spots are out of bounds for tourists.
Tsomgo Lake is a placid water body that remains frozen during winter. May onwards the lake springs to life. You can watch Red Pandas frolic in the lake. About 56 km from Tsomgo Lake, at an altitude of 14,450 feet is the Nathula Pass - the border of India and China. But in order to visit this area, tourists need a permit from the tourism department. Visitors throng here as much to shake hands with Chinese soldiers as to savour the area's exceptional climate. But this isn't where you will get solitude. If you desire to be far from the madding crowd, then head for Lachung and Yumthang, in North Sikkim.
On our way, we stopped at the famous Rumtek Monastrey, which has a legacy of over 50 years. Its traditional Tibetan design makes the monastery a real sight for sore eyes.
Back in Gangtok, we went shopping to Lal Bazaar. Deorali is also a good option for local handicrafts and Buddhist artefacts. Pick up a metallic butter lamp if you are looking for an ideal Buddhist artefact. This lamp, which is an integral part of a Buddhist prayer, is a perfect memento from a place that you are unlikely to forget in a hurry anyways.
Other objects that might attrcat you in the market are enormous hand-woven carpets and wall-hangings reflecting the tribal culture of Sikkim. But be it carpets or wall-hangings, no matter what you pick up from Lal Bazaar, fierce bargaining is an absolute must. After the walk through the market and the haggling, we felt the pangs of hunger. So the next destination was my hotel’s restaurant – Orchid. This multi-cuisine eatery is a paradise for non-vegetarians.
On your Sikkim visit, do keep a whole day aside for a trip to Tsomgo Lake and Nathula Pass. But remember that this day has to be Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. On the other three days of the week these spots are out of bounds for tourists.
Tsomgo Lake is a placid water body that remains frozen during winter. May onwards the lake springs to life. You can watch Red Pandas frolic in the lake. About 56 km from Tsomgo Lake, at an altitude of 14,450 feet is the Nathula Pass - the border of India and China. But in order to visit this area, tourists need a permit from the tourism department. Visitors throng here as much to shake hands with Chinese soldiers as to savour the area's exceptional climate. But this isn't where you will get solitude. If you desire to be far from the madding crowd, then head for Lachung and Yumthang, in North Sikkim.
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