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Trekking in Sikkim
Trekking In The "Valley Of Fire"
 Sikkim
or Denjong - the 'Valley of fire' - a wedge between Nepal in the
west and Bhutan on the east - has some of the finest mountain and
ravine sceneries in the world. A trek into Kanchenjunga group, the
third highest in the world, fully repays the trekkers' efforts. The
clouds play a dramatic symphony as the traveller beholds vapour boil
up silently out of the deep valleys taking fantastic shapes and
suddenly the silence is broken by the sound of bells. Further a
whiff of burning Juniper steals the breath-a sudden puff of air
blows aside the curtain of mist and fog revealing the threshold of
the holy monastery - one of 67 in Sikkim.
 The
lovely scene of the joys of the trek to the head monastery at
Pemayangtse in western Sikkim of the Nyingma-Pa, the red sect of
Tibetan Buddhism followed by the religious state of Sikkim. Not only
it is worth a visiting for its monastery where one can view the many
idols and carvings, but also from here one can explore the unspoiled
charms of the mountain views and begin a trekking adventure into
Yuksom, Dzongri and beyond. Though trekking into the trek into the
western part of Sikkim is more demanding and is recommended for
experienced trekkers attempting to go up to 5,486m.
Sublime Trekking Into West Sikkim
 Trekking
routes around the Kanchenjunga a National park start from
Pemeyangtse and run through terraced fields of barley and tablelands
of Apple orchards, then onto moss laden lush green forest of Pines,
Firs, Giant Magnolias, Rhododendrons, Spruce and orchids - a
naturalist's paradise.
One
comes across crystal clear streams running through the lap of the
Himalayas, clouds of Butterflies and Moths - sparking, fluttering
and displaying their dazzling colour and personality. Intermingled
with this is the chirrup, twitter and peeping of exotic Himalayan
birds. As one climbs on with patience and pains are rewarded by the
Sikkim Himalayas; Kanchenjunga, Pandim, Jopono and Narsing are some
of the peaks that appear as a background to the scene.
Cloaked in granite and thickly hooded with ice, they offer the most
fascinating, charming and awe-inspiring close-up view of the Sikkim
mountains. Looming up in the north is the legendary and mythical
"Country God of Sikkim" and its "Five Treasures"- the guardian of
the whole world, in all its celestial height and glory. An almost
supernatural vision of ethereal beauty not to be equaled in the
whole world on either side of the majestic mountain are other peaks
of smaller-stature.
One gazes on a sheer slope of mountainside some 6,705m in depth, a
gigantic mass of the earth's surface whose foot lie in deep gorges
while the summit pierces the skies. One can never miss the sunrise
and sunset on these mountains. Further up the trail climbs up
precipitously upto Goencha - La at a height of 5,486m from where the
mighty Kanchenjunga can be explored - no longer looming at a
distance - and sample the many glacial lakes - emerald green, rivers
flowing down the sacred mountain rivers of ice and snow. Truly
trekking here is the sport of man's discovery and contact with
nature.
TOURIST INFORMATION
The
best time to trek is through April to May and October to November.
For non-hikers the Sikkim National Transport runs on the motorable
road from Gangtok to Jorethang and Namchi West, Gyalsing and
Pemayangtse as well as to Mangan. C.P.W.D. and S.P.W.D. Dak
Bungalows take care of the traveller.
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