South Sikkim: Temples, views and nature trails
Accommodation in South Sikkim
Namchi District ranges from 400 to 2,000 metres in elevation and includes agricultural land, terraced slopes and forests dotted with springs. South Sikkim brings together several different themes: views, tea cultivation, religious sites and nature trails. When planning your trip, you can first consider which of these you want to make the focus of your stay.
Viewpoints, tea and landscapes
Near Namchi, Samdruptse is home to a 135-foot statue of Guru Padmasambhava. From the summit of Samdruptse Hill, you can see Namchi, Darjeeling, Kalingpong, Kanchendzonga and the eastern part of Nepal. Temi Tea Garden extends across a gentle slope descending from Tendong Hill; from there, you can look out over the surrounding villages. A visit to the factory can offer insight into tea-processing methods.
Tarey Bhir offers a different kind of landscape: the ridge is 10,000 feet long and has a viewpoint overlooking Sikkim’s river valleys and forests. From this point, you can also see the panoramic confluence of the Teesta and Rangeet rivers. Those who want to focus on views and scenery will find a different atmosphere here than at the tea garden, with its slopes and village views.
Temples, monasteries and history
On Solophok Hill, Siddheshwar Dham features a 108-foot statue of Shiva and replicas of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It also includes models of the four sacred Hindu Char Dham temples: Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameswaram. Siddheshwar Dham is 5 km from Namchi. This gives you a specific point of reference if you are considering Namchi and the temple complex when choosing where to stay.
Karma Rabdenling Goenpa in Ralong, near Rabong, is the oldest Karma Kagyu Goenpa in Sikkim and one of the state’s six prominent monasteries. It was built around 1730 by Miwang Gyurmed Namgyal, the fourth Denjong Chogyal. Near Ravangla is Buddha Park (Tathagata Tsal), with a 130-foot Buddha statue. The park was built between 2006 and 2013 and became a stop on the Himalayan Buddhist Circuit.
Nature trails and distinctive landscapes
Kitam Bird Sanctuary is home to more than 200 bird species and over 200 butterfly species, including migratory species. There are numerous short nature trails in Ravangla. A trek also leads down from the area around Ravangla to the sacred cave of Shar Chok Bephu. This makes it possible to give trails and nature a different emphasis from visits to religious buildings or viewpoints.
Sharchog Bey Phug is a sacred cave in Sangmo village, about an hour’s walk from Rabong in southern Sikkim. It is about a quarter of a mile long and is said to extend as far as Tendong and Maenam Hill.
Choosing where to stay
When looking for a holiday rental, the names of the places you most want to visit can help guide your choice. Namchi and Solophok are specific reference points for Siddheshwar Dham; Ravangla is associated with nature trails and Buddha Park, among other places; Sangmo with Sharchog Bey Phug; and Kitam with its bird and butterfly sanctuary. This way, you can choose where to stay based on your interests, rather than treating South Sikkim as a single, uniform backdrop.
Private taxis, jeeps and buses run regularly on the Chemchey–Namchi–Siliguri Highway. The Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Ecotourism is located in Chemchey in the Central Himalaya, near Khangchendzonga. Its mission is to develop and promote adventure and ecotourism through safe, environmentally responsible activities.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Geyzing, Singtam, Namchi, Rhenock and Damthang.
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