Sikkim is an Indian state in the Himalayas with around 700,000 inhabitants. The territory is located in the extreme northeast of India and borders Nepal to the west, Chinese Tibet to the north and east, Bhutan to the southeast and West Bengal in India to the south.
The most widely spoken language among the population of Sikkim is Nepali. Around 60% of the residents are Hindu, 25% are Buddhists, 10% are Christians and a few Muslims.
Sikkim is the second smallest state in India, surrounded by the largest mountain ranges in the world with a height of over 8,000 meters.
The largest cities in Sikkim include Gangtok, Upper Tadong, Singtam, Jorethang, Namchi and Rangpo.
The economy of Sikkim focuses primarily on agriculture, particularly tea cultivation. Another constantly growing sector of the economy is tourism.
The main attractions of Sikkim include Banjhakri Waterfalls, Ranka Monastery, Pemayangtse Gompa Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, Yumthang Valley, Hanuman Tok Temple, Tsomgo Lake, Ravangla Buddha Park, Gurudongmar Lake, Singshore Bridge, the Himalayan Zoo, the ancient ruins of Rabdentse, the Ralong Monastery, the Temi Tea Gardens, the Nathang Valley, the Enchey Monastery and the Tendong Mountain in Namchi.
In May 2017 I traveled to the territory of Sikkim for the only time so far. From Delhi I flew with the Indian airline Spicejet to Bagdogra, two hours away. With a local taxi driver we went from the airport, along the foothills of the famous tea city of Darjeeling, to the border of Sikkim, 10 kilometers away. Crossing the border was relatively problem-free after a few bureaucratic matters and a payment of only 2 euros.
Sikkim offers a fantastic mountainous landscape with countless tea plantations, temples and monasteries, but the roads are sometimes in poor condition. After a visit to the cozy mountain towns of Namchi and Nayabazar, we went back to the Indian city of Siliguri, where my well-kept hotel with its international restaurant was waiting for me.
The next afternoon, after a city tour of Siliguri, I went back to Delhi.
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