Why Sikkim Should Be on Your 2025 Travel Bucket List

If you are planning to travel to a place in the year of 2025 where you will find a mixture of beauty, culture, and adventure, then your answer should be Sikkim. This needs to be at the top of your travel list in 2025. Though this place is small in size, but is filled with natural beauty and is a paradise for people who love nature a trekking, or anyone who wants to escape their life filled with chaos and wants some peace.

Jewel of Eastern Himalayas

Sikkim is situated between Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, which makes it a charming place to visit and gives it a strong geographical position. This place gives you a perfect mixture of peace and majestic beauty, be it the peaks of Kanchenjunga or the soft and gentle slopes of the tea gardens. This place gives a different vibe in different seasons, like in summer, it provides the views of clear skies and mountain views; the valley of the place is filled with golden cover during the autumn season, and in winter, you can see the mountains filled with a blanket of snow.

Natural Wonders

• Kanchenjunga

This mountain is not just a mountain, but it is a symbol for the locals about their culture, and the mountain is visible from almost every part of the state. The most magical thing you are going to witness is the sunrise from the mountains covered with snow. There are some viewpoints from where this thing seems more magical, such as from Pelling, Namchi, or Gangtok.

• Yumthang Valley

This valley is known for its variety of flowers and is also known as the name of Valley of Flowers. This place looks colourful during the spring season, with different colourful flowers and seasonal blooms. This place is a perfect spot for photographers and those who love nature; this area is surrounded by long mountains and with hot springs.

• Tsomgo Lake

This place changes colour with time and season; it becomes icy blue during the winters and green during the summers. This place is situated at 12000 feet. The place becomes more beautiful with the peaks that surround the lake and with the prayer flags moving through the breeze, which makes the place look more beautiful.

• Gurudongmar Lake

This place is known for its world’s highest lakes. Placed at an altitude of 17800 feet, the water of this place is crystal clear, and it reflects the mountains covered with snow and which makes a magnificent and beautiful view and sight. People coming to this place will give you a breathtaking experience, even the lake itself.

Cultural Tapestry

The culture of Sikkim is not just one culture; it’s a blend of cultures of different places, such as Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepal, which influences the culture of Sikkim and makes its tradition and festivals vibrant and special. If you are visiting during the time of festivals like the Tibetan New Year or during the Saga Dawa, then you will experience the traditional culture, dress, costumes, and the ancient and old rituals that are going on in the place.

Monasteries

• Rumtek Monastery– This is one of the largest monasteries of Sikkim and are known for its unique architecture and cultural and spiritual ambiance.
• Pemayangtse Monastery– This monastery is the house of Buddhist artifacts and gives you a view of Himalayas.
• Tashiding Monastery– This place is peaceful and gives you a retreat with stunning and beautiful view.

Adventure

Sikkim has always been an adventure destination for the travellers. Even you are a beginner trekker or are an experience one the state provides adventure activity for everyone.

Trekking Routes

• Goecha La Trek– This place offers you magnificent and jaw dropping views of Kanchenjunga.
• Dzongri Trek– This is a shorter trek but still the trek was rewarding.
• Green Lake Trek– This place is the best option for an offbeat trekking and for seasonal trekking.

Other Activities

• River Rafting in Teesta River– This place gives you a thrilling experience as this place is surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
• Mountain Biking– You will experience the rough mountain roads and the beautiful villages.
• Paragliding in Gangtok– You can get the view of the Himalayas from the top while flying along with the birds.

Sikkimese Cuisine

The food diversity shows the cultural diversity of Sikkim. Starting from the delicious thukpa to the most popular momos. Even the local dishes are flavourful and made with the organic ingredients.

Must try dishes

• Phagshapa– Its a dish made of pork along with fresh radish and chillies.
• Gundruk– This dish is served as a side dish, which is fermented along with green leaves.
• Sel Roti– It is a sweet bread, which is ring shaped and the bread is made with rice.
• Sha Phaley– Its is a fresh bread dish stuffed with meat and fresh vegetables.

Eco- Friendly Tourism

Sikkim has always been known for its eco-friendly environment and tourism. This place is known for its organic crop-growing technique, which means they don’t use any fertilisers or pesticides for crop growing. This place is India’s most organic state. The government also takes steps to promote sustainable development; they have banned the use of plastics and encourages eco-friendly tourism.

Best Time

• Spring (March to May)– During this time you will find ideal flowers and will experience pleasant weather.
• Summer (June to August)– This time you will experience greenery, but you should be very careful about the monsoon rains.
• Autumn (September to November)– This time is perfect for skies and trekking opportunities.
• Winter (December to February)– This is a time when you will find snowy landscapes and this time you will find less tourists.

Travel Tips

• Permits– You need to apply for permission to enter in the area like North Sikkim and Nathula Pass. So take the permission in advance only.
• Altitude Preparation– Keep all your essentials with yourself as while moving to the high-altitude areas you might fall sick.
• Cash Availability– ATM’s are very rarely limited in the area, so you should carry cash with yourself so that you don’t get stuck in places.
• Local Etiquette– You should respect the rules of the monasteries and should always ask the locals or people before taking photographers of the people.

Reach Sikkim

• By air– You can reach Sikkim from all over the countries. Pakyong Airport connects Sikkim to all the major cities. Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal is a popular entry point to Sikkim.
• By Train– You can also reach Sikkim through train by the nearest station, which is New Jalpaiguri, and by taking taxi or buses you can go to Gangtok.
• By Road– You can travel to Sikkim by road by enjoying the mountain views by travelling from Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong.

Top Places

• Gangtok– This is the capital city of Sikkim with crowded markets, MG Marg and you can even get to see the view of Kanchenjunga.
• Pelling– This place is known for the best mountain views and the most famous Sky Walk.
• Lachung and Lachen– This place is the gateway to the Yumthang Valley and the Gurudongmar Lake.
• Namchi– This place is known for the tall, towering statue of Guru Padmasambhava.
• Zuluk– This is a hidden gem of Sikkim with the hairpin bends and stunning vistas.

You want a safe destination, has less crowd, and still has richness in experience, then Sikkim should be on your checklist. With all the improvements such as the road, connectivity, and all the infrastructure, tourism has improved and has become sustainable, and the journey has become smoother and easier.

Sikkim provides you with a wholesome experience of everything, peace, adventure, or be it culture, Sikkim provides a magical package of the same. If you are adding Sikkim to your 2025 list, then you are not only adding a trip to your list, you are adding an experience which you will not forget in your whole life.