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        |  |  The Sikkimese often contend that North Sikkim        is as beautiful as Switzerland. You may hear it when you get there, or see        it repeatedly mentioned in various brochures and guide books. Why? Several        decades earlier, a European guest of our late king had passed a remark to        that order, and now the legend lives. True to this erstwhile visitor’s        remark, many others after him have also reiterated the fact that North        Sikkim is indeed truly beautiful.
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        |  | The journey to the North follows the North Sikkim        Highway, an adventurous drive through high hills and deep river valleys        that ultimately ends up nin the foothills of the Himalayas where gently        meadous overlook snow-clad rocky mountains. The ever –changing views along        the way include rustic wayside hamlets surrounded by terraced fields,        monasteries, torrential mountain streams with lush green forests        everywhere. |  | 
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        |  | Tashi View Point |  | 
        |  |  Sunrise Point from here you could have a        view of Khangchendzonga and other peaks of the Himalaya. One can have an        experience of the changes of colour of snow of mountain there.
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        |  | Phensang Monastery |  | 
        |  | Is situated on the gentle slope stretching from Kabi to        Phodong with perhaps one to the landscapes in the region. The        Phensang Monastery under the Nyingmapa Buddhist order, was build in 1721        during the time of Jigme Pawo.the annual festival of Chaam is performed on        the 28th and 29th days of the tenth month of Tibetan Colander. |  | 
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        |  | Phodung Monastery |  | 
        |  |  Phodong Monastry belonging to        Kargyupa Sect(karmapa), is situated about a kilometer uphill by a jeep        able road that bifurcates from the North Sikkim highway a little bit ahead        of Phodong towards Mangan. The monastery was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed        Namgyal somewhere in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The        main annual Puja (worship) is performed on the 28th and 29th day of the        tenth month of the Tibetan calendar when the religious Chaams or the        dances are also performed.
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        |  | Labrang Monastery |  | 
        |  | Road is the Labrang Monastry which was built about one        hundred years later then Phodong Monastry but belongs to        the Nyingmapa sect |  | 
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        |  | Mangan |  | 
        |  |  A district headquarters of the unexplored        North, can be considered as a gateway for the tourists. The Northernmost        edges of this district merge into the Tibetan Plateau which ends its        uniqueness to this sparsely populated region. In this area one can spot        the Tibetan Wild Ass, locally known as Kyang. Like to other states of        Sikkim, this district can share the pride of its ancient monasteries, the        lush green fields and mountains with blossoming flowers of varied        nature..
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        |  | Singhik View Point |  | 
        |  | Singhik is situated four kilometers away from Mangan        towards the north. It has few shops on the roadside and a junior high        school. The view point lies just on the road side from where is seen a        very picturesque view of Mount Sinolchu .Right downwards from the        viewpoint is seen the confluence of River Teesta and River Kanaka. Other        sorrounding places too look very beautiful from the viewpoint. A nice and        clean guesthouse, suitable for a night halt is also available near      by. |  | 
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        |  | Chungthang |  | 
        |  | The North Sikkim highway bifurcates here to take        different routes for Lachen and Lachung.. Chunghthang is 30 kilometers away        from Mangan further north. It is around 95 kilometers away from Gangtok        & 23 kms from Lachung 29 kms from Lachen and it is predominately a        Lepcha region.. It is a small town surrounded by high mountains that seem        to be almost touching the sky. At an altitude of about 5,200 ft,        Chungthang lies at the confluence of the Lachen Chu (Teesta) and the        Lachung Chu {“ Chu” means river in bhutia language}. The village is        believed to have been Blessed by the Guru Rimpoche and one can visit the        Holy Guru Lhedo to see the foot and palm print left back by the Patron        Saint.
 There is a small opening in the rock which remains filled with        spring water. Adjacent to the rock there is a small stretch of paddy field        defying the condition that demands the growth of paddy in this area. and        the
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        |  | Lachung |  | 
        |  | It is a Bhutia village with a unique local self-governing        body called the Zumsa has emerged as a tourist destination with the        soaring popularity of Yumthang Valley which has just 24kms from Lachung.        The village spread out on either side of Lachung Chu, has managed to        retain its unique culture and tradition. The Lachung Monastery on the        slope opposite to the highway is the focal point of all religious function        of the local inhabitants. |  | 
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        |  | Shingba Rhododendron        Sanctuary |  | 
        |  | The sanctuary is bounded on its southern periphery by the        Yakchey La and on the northern periphery by the Yumthang Valley        known for its alpine meadow and hot springs. It is hemmed in on the        east by the high rugged Chuba-Sagochen mountain ranges and on the west by        part of Chomzomei Tso extending upto Lava pass. The picturesque Yumthang        Chhu (river) flows through the sanctuary, which is known for its unique        abundance of Rhododendron trees and shrubs, 40 species/varieties of which        are recorded from Sikkim alone.
 Rhododendron nevium the State Tree        occurs only in this sanctuary which is also rich in ground flora such as        primulas, potentillas, gentians, saxifrages, poppies and aconites. Brown        Trout were introduced into Yumthang Chhu at Phunyi in 1978 and have been        flourishing since. Lachung is the last frontier village before reaching        the sanctuary.
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        |  | Hot Spring |  | 
        |  |  The natural Hot Springs known as Tsa-Chu in        the local language on the left bank of Lachung Chu is a popular spot for        its curative properties and healing power in Yumthang.
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        |  | Yumthang |  | 
        |  | At 24 kms from Lachung lies Yumthang, the rightfully        called the Valley of Flowers as in Flowering season there blossoms vivid        colours of variety of Rhododendrons, chimals and blue poppies. Yumthang is        located on a flat valley and is near the tree line, the surrounding        mountains seems to kiss the heavens. The journey from Lachung to Yumthang        has a very picturesque landscape and is lined with Rhododendrons & 108        other types of Orchids which bloom in different colours from April to May.        "Come as a visitor for a life-time experience." April and May promises        colourful flowers, where as November end to March usually sees snows.        Simple village folks spread scarcely admit the virgin landscapes is a food        forever. Another peculiar feature of the valley is that, the valley        totally covered with snow during the winter. Hence, while you see the        flower bed in summer, you see snow bed in the winter. The visit is on        the passing of Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.
 Yumthang valley is a        mesmerizing scene with yaks grazing on flower - carpeted meadows against a        backdrop of towering peaks. It has breathtaking views where one can become        a part of a timeless scene without any kind of intrusion.
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        |  | Yumeysamdong |  | 
        |  | 23 kms ahead of Yumthang at an altitude of 15300 ft where        the sweet fragrance of Ezilia (used as incense) permeates the air. |  | 
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        |  | Katau |  | 
        |  |  23 kms ahead of Yumthang at an altitude of        15300 ft where the sweet fragrance of Ezilia (used as incense) permeates        the air.
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        |  | Lachen |  | 
        |  | Lachung's sister village, Lachen is only a recent host to        tourists. Situated at an altitude of 9000 ft. and a good six hours drive from        Gangtok along the North Sikkim Highway, Lachen stand on a grassy and bush        flat from the periphery of which rise the pine clad mountains with there        snowy peaks and black cliffs. The village comprises of barley 150 houses        earlier inhabitant only in winters by there owner who spend the summer on        the alpine pasture along the Tibet border tending to there flock of        yaks. |  | 
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        |  | Chopta Valley & Thangu        Valley |  | 
        |  | The route continues from Lachen to gradual ascend of 28        kms through the mountain ridge leads to Thangu. Its alpine meadows are        dotted with wooden houses and army camps. The calm water of Teesta flowing        through the valley presents a fantastic contrast. It is situated at an        altitude of 8000 to 14000 ft. This Hidden Paradise offers its visitor        breathtaking scenic view of high snowcapped mountains, clear blue lakes,        cascading waterfalls, meandering rivers and Alpine environment.
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        |  | Gurudongmar Lake |  | 
        |  | At an altitude of over 17200ft close to the Tibet border        lays Gurudongmar - one of the most sacred and pristine lakes in Sikkim. Vast        plateau that crosses the Indo-Tibet border, green grassy field        criss-crossed by thousands of snaky glacier fed streams with perennial        snow covered slops that rises from it mark the landscape of the region.It        is considered as one of the sacred lakes both by the Hindus and the        Buddhist. The lake remains milky in colour through out and it is believed        that Guru Padmasambhava had touched the lake whilst he visited. Tibet from        this area. |  | 
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        |  | Tsho Lhamu Lake |  | 
        |  |  Further ahead 9 kms of Gurudongmar Lake is        Tso Lhamu Lake at an altitude of 16730 ft is on the plateau that project        into Sikkim. The Teesta River takes birth from this moderately sized lake.        The water in this lake flirts with ice before getting frozen in winter.        The beauty of the Tso Lhamu Lake doubles by the reflection of the        surrounding mountains.
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