South Sikkim – Perfect Weekend Destination in Sikkim

Places to visit in South Sikkim

Namchi

Distance - 78 km (from Gangtok); 100 km (from Siliguri)
Altitude - 4300 ft
Meaning Sky High nestled among the hills commands panoramic view of the Darjeeling, Kalimpong and snow-capped mountains and vast stretches of valley. A Good place for quite short stay and village excursions, this district headquarters town of South Sikkim is neat, clean and developing fast into a tourist destination with its immense potential for all round tourist activities.

Flower exhibitions are organized twice a year at Namchi during the months of February – March and October.

Samdruptse

Distance - 72 km (from Gangtok)
It is near Namchi in South Sikkim in Samdruptse which means in Bhutia language “The Wish Fulfilling Hill”. A 135 ft unique statue of Guru Padmasambhava is installed at the top of Samdruptse. His Holiness the Dalai Lama laid the foundation stone of the statue on 22.10.1997. Is is said to be the highest statue of Guru Padmasambhava in the world. It took 1000 laborers and scores of experienced engineers and highly skilled architects and sculptors nearly three years to complete this awe inspiring and towering statue. A two section Ropeway from Namchi to Samdruptse is under construction. It will pass through the Rock Garden, Namchi.

Chardham

Char Dham is a huge pilgrimage cum cultural complex developed by the Sikkim Government to promote Religious, Eco and Village tourism in the state. Over Rs. 56 crore has been spent on this complex which spreads across 29 hectares of area on top of a hill known as the Solophok hill in Namchi of south Sikkim. This temple complex is also known as Siddheswar Dham and was inaugurated on 8th November 2011.

Turuk & Tare Vhir

Turuk used to be a Mint to produce notes and currency for the Government of Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. And place was famous for the King to develop his Hunting skill King used to invite his guest for the hunting in this place and also you must not miss Tarey vhir fom where you can see Kalimpong in front of you. Most animal you can see are Goral, Tahr Mountain goats and rabbits Deer and Leopards.

Temi Tea Garden

The one and only tea garden in Sikkim produces top quality tea for the international market. The garden spread out on gentle hill slop provides panoramic views.

Ravangla

Distance - 65 km (from Gangtok)
Altitude – 7000ft
A small town situated on the ridge between the Meanam and Tendong hills. An ideal place for quiet stay to enjoy natural bliss and short treks. Surrounding villages of Yangang, Tinkitam, Kewzing, Barfung & Bakhim are ideal for short stays in the homes of the villagers. Situated in the southern part of Sikkim, a perfect destination for village tourism, flora and fauna, mountains, waterfalls, tea gardens, quaint villages, local Sikkimese people, culture, monasteries and fresh cold winds. Very verdant with monasteries around Rabongla, old historical market of Kewzing, Bonn Monastery, Ralong Monastery, Borong Hot springs, Maenam Peak at 10300 ft holding breathtaking views of Sikkimese Himalayas. For nature, village tours, caves, rich forests, soft treks, it’s all there in this zone.

Buddha Park

The Buddha Park of Ravangla, also known as Tathagata Tsal, is situated near Rabong (Ravangla) in South Sikkim district, Sikkim, India.It was constructed between 2006 and 2013 and features a 130-foot high statue of the Buddha as its centerpiece. The site was chosen within the larger religious complex of the Rabong Gumpa(Monastery), itself a centuries-old place of pilgrimage. Also nearby is Ralang Monastery a key monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. The statue was consecrated on 25 March 2013 by the 14th Dalai Lama, and became a stop on the 'Himalayan Buddhist Circuit'. The statue of the Buddha marks the occasion of the 2550th birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha. This statue was built and installed in the place through the joint efforts of the Sikkim government and its people. The Buddhist circuit of this park was built here under a State government project, for boosting pilgrimage and tourism in the region. The Cho Djo Lake is located within the complex, surrounded by forest.

Bon Monastery

Bon was the earlier religion of Tibet. This religion is more than 18000 years old. In Sikkim there are 475 monasteries and there’s only one Bon monastery in Sikkim among all.

Tendong Hill

Altitude - 8530 ft
One of the more prominent landmarks of South Sikkim, Tendong is immersed in myths and lore passed down through generations of the ethnic Lepchas. It gets its name, meaning "the upraised horn" from the Lepcha lore that when their land was submerged in water, Tendong supported a boat containing some people and rose up like a horn above the flood waters. When the water subsided, so did Tendong. To this day, a monk leaves for the Tendong hilltop with the arrival of monsoons. He stays there throughout the rains, praying that the calamity does not repeat.

Kewzing

Kewzing Village is located 76 km from Gangtok, in the southern district of Sikkim. At an altitude of 4600 ft, the village is located against a backdrop of magnificent view of mountains that include Mt Narsing and Mt Kabru. Kewzing is a typical Bhutia village rich in cardamom forest cover. The atmosphere in the village is very serene and peaceful. Far away from the modern way of life, it offers visitors a chance to relax and rejuvenate themselves. The visitors get a chance to participate and witness rural life in Sikkim. They can also pursue their special interests in bird watching, study plants and flowers etc. Kewzing village offers magnificent mountain views and is an ideal place to experience the traditional Bhutia (Buddhist) way of life. The village is dotted with cardamom and tea plantations. Kewzing’s location is blessed by Buddhist monasteries on all the four sides with Tashiding monastery in the south-west, Mangbrue and Pemayangtse Monastery in West, Ralong and Ravangla monastery in southeast, Doling Monastery in east and Bon Monastery towards the North.

Borong

Facing snow-capped mountains is Borong, motorable from Ravangla or by trek via Maenam. A picturesque village, its beautiful landscape and magnificent view is also host to the hot spring, ‘Borong Tsachu’. The trek trail, originating from Namchi or Damthang to Tendong-Ravangla Maenam - Borong (5-6 days) is one of the most interesting trails scaling all hill tops along the route. The trekker can continue to Tashiding or terminate at Borong and then drive back to Ravangla.

Phur-Tsa-chu (Hot Springs)

Note - Best visited during Dec-March. It’s an ideal spot for watching birds and butterflies. At 4 km from Legship towards Naya Bazaar on the banks or river Rangit, there lies Hot Springs and its of great medicinal values as well as of religious importance as it houses one of the four holy caves of Sikkim. Together one can also avail the facility of rafting down the Rangeet River.

Ralang Monastery

As per records, the monastery was constructed post the pilgrimage of the fourth Chogyal. After his return, the Karmapa performed the Rabney or blessing. The grains that he threw from the Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet (the main seat of Karmapa) fell on the ground of Ralang and were witnessed by devotees. As such it became the site for the Ralang Monastery. Reconstruction work was carried out in this monastery by the government between the periods of 1975 -81. This old Ralang Monastery is one of the most important and sacred monasteries in Sikkim following the Kagyupa tradition.

A new monastery, "Palchen Choeling Monastic Institute", came up in the year 1995. It was constructed by the XIIth Gyaltsab Rimpoche who is counted amongst the four regents of the Kagyupa sect. Despite its recent construction, the monastery structure proves that meticulous care has been undertaken to maintain the authentic Tibetan architecture. Also, the paintings of the monastery are one of its huge highlights.

Maenam Hill

The Hill towers over South Sikkim with Tendong on one side and Ravangla Bazaar on the other. On a clear day, it is even possible to see the plains of West Bengal and a Himalayan span of the Indo-China border towards the North. A short distance away is the legendary Bhaley Dunga, a kind of rocky spur which juts out from the ridge top and remains suspended in the air above Yangang Village. The trek to Meanam from Ravangla takes about 4 hours and from Maenam hilltop one has the option to take the gentle walk down to Borong village or the more treacherous trails taken by the famous British Botanist, Sir Joseph Hooker, down to Yangang village.