Sikkim: Incredible India’s Offbeat Treasure

You will land in this hustling city of Bagdogra. But you will not spend much time here as we whisk you away from the cities for an exhilarating drive through West Bengal and then we will cross the border into Sikkim. The roads here are not for the faint-hearted, so we suggest you come prepared. And of course, don’t forget to load up the memory card on that camera!

Welcome to the panoramic view of Darap from your homestay. Wake up to some of the best food you would have ever had for breakfast. We spend the day on a charming village tour. The village tour is actually a little trek and we suggest you come with good trekking shoes or shoes with sufficient grip. You will explore the Limbu community and chance upon an interaction or two with some of the villagers. On return, you will spend some more time gazing at the jaw-dropping scenery. Fancy a local beer called Tongba at night for the chilly nights?

Pelling has some great monasteries and today is the day we set out to explore them. You will start with the spectacularly lonesome Rabdentse Palace. It’s a gentle walk through a moss-covered trail. The view from the top. No Visa or Mastercard can match it. From here, we walk down to Pemayangtse Monastery, which is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim. After lunch in Pelling, we shall resume our monastery hunt with a 45-minute climb to Sanga Choeling monastery. Solitude, we come seeking thee. We will walk down and then climb into our vehicle for the trip back to our homestay.

Today, you will begin your day with a mild yet challenging trek. We won’t divulge more details but you will be kissed by nature and embraced by the wind as you climb into Sikkim’s mountains. Return for a hearty dinner at the homestay.

Were you taking parasailing? Scuba diving? We are thinking a serene lake. A tiny village called Yuksom for a sleepy monastery. And the wonderful Kanchenjunga waterfalls. Spend as much as you would like here before returning to the village. Set out for a gentle stroll up the village toward Rimbi if you so like or just relax in the evening with a bonfire.

Time for some cultural immersion. Wake up in the morning to visit the spiritual head of the Yuma religion, Her Holiness Sri Srima Yumamang (Spiritual Guru of Limboo Communities). The insights are fascinating as you learn about how one woman has been instrumental in changing the lives of the villagers around Darap. We will relax during the afternoon. You can take a taxi down to Pelling for some last-minute shopping. How about a session of counting stars in the evening? 

The journey back begins now. We have a long day ahead of us, but who cares? There are memories of momos to be cherished!