SIKKIM, a small Himalayan State lying between 27 to 28 degrees North latitude and 88 to 89 degrees East longitude is the second smallest state in India. It is barely 7,096 sq km in size yet has an elevation ranging from 300 m to 8585 m above sea level. It's Geography is dominated by the most majestic mountain chain in the world which includes the Khangchendzonga.
Suggested Itinerary:Day 01 | Pick Up From Bagdogra / Bhadrapur Airport Transfer to Gantok /Darjeeling/Kurseong overnight at Hotel. |
Day 02 | Visit do drul Chorten, Institute of Tibetology, Rumtrek Monastery & Handicraft Center. |
Day 03 | Transfer from Gangtok to Yuksom (1,780m.) through the beautiful villages and hills- meet our trekking crew and overnight in Camp/Lodge |
Day 04 | Yuksom--TsokhaTrek begins here. This trek takes you through dense verdant Semi Tropical forest occasionally crossed by Crystal clear rivulets and cascading water falls up to Praig Chu. After lunch a steep climb for an hour brings you to Tsokha - a small Tibetian hamlet from where the first glimpse of the mountains can be seen. O/N at trekkers huts/tents. Approx. Alt. 3050m & Distance 16kms/6 hours. Excursion of Dzongri alt.4,500m.O/N at camp. |
Day 05 | Dzongri -Halt. Dzongri La alt.4,500m. (Acclimatization) Halt. |
Day 06 | Trek back to Tsokha. O/N at camp. |
Day 07 | Trek back from Tsokha to Yuksam. Transfer to hotel. O/N at Yuksam. |
Day 08 | Drive Yuksam to Darjeeling via Pelling. On the way visit Pemayangtse monastery.Transfer to hotel. O/N at hotel. |
Day 09 | Early morning visit Tiger Hill for sunrise. On the way back visit Yiga Choling Monastery. After breakfast visit the Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Zoological Park, Tibetan Self Help Centre and a Tea garden. O/N at hotel. |
Day 10 | Drive to Bhadropur / Bagdogra Airport for onward journey. |
Approaching Tolung Tolung at an altitude of 8,000 ft lies in the sparsely Lepcha populated Dzongu area of North Sikkim and falls in the restricted area for which a inner line permit is required by Indian Nationals. To reach Tolung, one has to travel by road upto Linzey. There is a daily bus service from Gangtok to a place slightly short of Linzey. From Linzey to Tolung is a 20-km walk and takes approximately five hours along the thundering Tolung River through dense forests and cardamom groves.
The Trail
Precipitous cliffs surround the easy track, from which plummet down waterfalls in white plumes hundreds of feet below into the narrow gorges to the valley floor. Birds tweet louder to make themselves heard over the sound of the waterfalls and the rivers. Perched precariously on these cliffs here and there are the huts of the hardy Lepchas.
As one walks towards Tolung, the surrounding mountains on the top of which ice clings tenaciously even during the summer seem to close in. on reaching Tolung one can understand why the Sikkimese chose this place to keep the relics here out of the reach of the invading Nepalese. Because of its vantage location it was easy to guard hence this place was selected for relics. There is a pilgrims hut. An easy walk of about an hour along the Tolung River takes one to a religious spot - Devta Pani.
Tolu Monestary TrekTolung Monastery was first built in the reign of Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal in the early 18th century. It contains rare and valuable scriptures and artifacts of other monasteries that were brought here for safety during the invasion of Sikkim by the Nepalese during late 17th and early 19th century. A brass Chorten within the monastery contains the ashes of one of the incarnates of Lama Latsun Chembo, the patron saint of Sikkim. All the relics are kept sealed in thirteen boxes under the supervision of the government of Sikkim. Once every three years in the month of April the relics are shown to the public in the monastery complex. The last display of the relics was held in April 91.
