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Latha Venkatraman

MUMBAI, Dec. 29

FOR those travelling from sunny, coastal India into Sikkim, the mere entry into the mountainous State is a treat, with the roads winding through the stunningly verdant landscape complete with a bouncy river running alongside.

Winter tourism in Sikkim is absolutely appropriate for those longing for some chilly moments, especially since the landscape is a delight.

As you enter the State, you are greeted by hoardings about Sikkim's mountainous terrain — rightly so since the State's elevation ranges from 300 metres to 8,540 metres. The Khangchendzonga range, with its tallest peak at 8,534 metres, is the third highest mountain in the world.

The Khangchendzonga is the sacred mountain of the Sikkimese people. And the view of the magnificent Himalayan rangeis something no tourist in Sikkim can afford to miss. That, of course, depends on how lucky one is with the clouds playing truant.

As you enter the State from North West Bengal, you are greeted by River Teesta, on which rafting is carried out. Further into the State, the road runs along river Rangit.

Gangtok, the State capital, is worth a brief visit but much awaits the tourist outside the city. A short uphill walk takes one to the 100-year-old Enchey Monastery. En route to the monastery, one can view Mount Siniolchu, one of the magnificent peaks on the Khangchendzonga range.

Step outside the monastery and perched upon a hill is a typical picnic spot. The enterprising ones can choose the trekking path. A trek in winter can be invigorating without tiring one too much because of the chilly winds.

At 6,100 feet, a path leads to Gangtok's Himalayan Zoological Park Bulbulay. Bereft of any tourists, barring one or two teenage couples, the park's luscious greenery comes into focus. As you enter the park, the employees warn you that it is a good 2.5-km walk to the main part of the park. But who is in a hurry in such verdant countryside?

A sweeping view of the Khangchendzonga range is one of the attractions at Gangtok. But a better view awaits one at Pelling in West Sikkim.

A good five-hour drive from Gangtok takes one through somewhat remote parts of West Sikkim through the fields and picturesque villages to Pelling. Though not very high in the altitude scale, Pelling offers visitors a breathtaking scene of the snow-clad Himalayan range.

At Pelling, there are enough tourist destinations to visit — Rimbi Falls, Kanchenjunga Falls, Kecheopalri Lake, which is considered holy by both Buddhists as well as Hindus. Kecheopalri Lake is nestled in the midst of mountains with thick forest all around. And the view of the devotees offering prayers is quite a serene picture.

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