SIKKIM IN THE TREKKING PARADISE
Nature has blessed this state with unparalleled beauty that sometimes seems unreal. The variation in altitude provides an opportunity for visitors to experience dramatic changes in climate, as well as flora and fauna, from subtropical to temperate, alpine and high altitude areas in a short period of time.
Darjeeling is the gateway to Sikkim. It is about a five hour drive from Bagdogra which is well connected to all major Indian cities by air service. Alternatively, Darjeeling can be reached from Jalpaiguri by toy train. It is an old steam locomotive, an old train, now a World Heritage train. At one time, Darjeeling was a part of Sikkim.
Relaxing on a terrace of one of Darjeeling’s elegant hotels with a delicious cup of the famous Darjeeling tea and Mount Kachenjunga, India’s highest peak in the distance, plans can be made to get closer to the Sikkim Himalayas just as the ancients did. explorers in the old days
Trekking in Sikkim has its own charm. The trails pass beautiful gompas and colorful villages through alpine forests filled with a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Sikkim has three trekking seasons: spring, autumn and winter. Spring and fall are the best. Winter offers low altitude trekking. Summer is wet for hiking but very exciting for botanical tours.
With a number of short day treks and long challenging treks, Sikkim has become a popular destination for trekkers. The most popular trails are: Dzongri/Goecha La Trek and Green Lakes trek. There is a new trail which is known as Yambong Singalila trek. I took this path. Singalila is the name applied to the mountain range that covers the sacred landscape of Mount Kachenjunga, the third highest peak in the world. Kanchenjunga, the guardian deity of the Sikkimen is also called ‘the five treasures of Great Snows’.
The trek starts from the village of Nambu at 1,300 m altitude, which is reached after a six-hour drive to the town of Pelling (from where?). Along the route, there are some impressive monasteries that are worth a visit.
It is a 14-day trek with entry from Nambu and departure in Yoksum. During the first few days, hikers gain considerable height, but such gain is risky and should be taken seriously. When planning a hike, it is necessary to have some extra days to acclimatize and also keep extra unplanned rest days. Here is a 14 day itinerary of my trip.
Starting point: Nambu (1300m) – Sengkhola (1780m) – Nayal Patar (2508m) – Yampong (3700m – 2 nights) – Lam Pokhri (4290m – 2 nights). At Lam Pokhri there is a camp next to a sacred lake. The place is ideal for day trips. An ideal trip is to Damphebir. Damphebir is also called Devil’s Pass. The top of the Pass is a famous vantage point: it offers a panoramic view of Mount Everest to the left and the Mount Kanchenjunga range to the right. The lookout is also surrounded by six alpine lakes at its base. From Lam Pokhri the trail leads to Yangseb (3900m) – Panding (4230m) – Bikbari (3940m) – Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Dzongri (3990m) – Lamuney (4160m) – Day trip to Goecha La (41860m) – Choka (3OOOm) – Yoksam (1,780m).
The trail runs parallel to the border with Nepal from where the Singalila ridge is very close. Trekkers can see mountains like Koktang (6,147 m), Ratong (6,679 m), Kabru (7,338 m) and Talung (7,349 m) with Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) crowning the background. From here, the green ridges transform into snowy peaks. The trek goes through some high passes and deep folds of Mount Kanchengunga.
There are a number of exceptionally good camping sites on this hike with great views. One of the highlights of this trip is that the mist clears early in the morning, offering views ‘fit for the gods’.
The first part of this trek leads to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) at Chauringkhang. It is a busy place with students from all over the region. The institute is located at the base of the three mountains, namely Koktang, Ratong and Kabru.
Turning south from HMI for a few hours, the trail leads to the famous Dzongri camp (3990 m) from where trekkers can enjoy magnificent views of the Himalayas. From Dzongri we turn north again to approach the south face of Kanchenjunga. The program included a tough ascent to Goecha La, but since it was towards the end of the trek, it was an easy endeavor with plenty of time to take in the stunning views of the Kanchenjunga range and surrounding peaks. We also had time to look for the yeti and the snow leopard.
Leaving, the trail follows the Prek Chu River, below Dzongri and finally reaches Yoksam (1,780m). This hike offers an unforgettable adventure.
Dzongri Trek – Geocha ha
A shorter trek, certainly the most popular trek in Sikkim, in the same area is the Dzongri/Goecha La trek which starts from Yoksam up to Dzongri and Goecha La and down to Yoksam again. This route deals with some significant altitude gains early, so be sure to plan for additional days to acclimatize.
The Green Liakes walk
Starting from Gangtok with a seven hour drive to Lachen (2710m), this trek has a slightly gentler approach with altitude gain. Count seven to eight days of trekking to visit the northeast face of Kanchenjunga. During all these walks it is possible to find hot springs and sacred caves. Another highlight of ending a trek in Sikkim is a stay at the classic Himalayan Hotel in Kalimpong.
Note: Foreigners visiting Sikkim must obtain a visa and an internal permit. this can be obtained from all Indian missions abroad and from Sikkim tourist offices in New Delhi, Kolkata and Siliguri.