Spread below the Mt. Khangchandzonga (8534 m), the third highest mountain in the world and revered by the Sikkimese as their protective Deity, Sikkim shares her borders with Tibet in the north; Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west and state of Bengal in the south. Kanchanjunga’s five snowy peaks soar high above the Himalayan landscape of Sikkim, sometimes wrapped in mists and wreathed in clouds, sometimes blazing while against a brilliant blue sky.
Below Sikkim unfolds its magic and its charm : a garden state with rich green tropical forests; brilliant birds and butterflies; an amazing variety of orchids, rhododendrons and wild flowers; rushing tumbling streams and torrents; and endless vistas of snow-crowned peaks. Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, 1600 metres above the sea level is a picturesque town which cascades down the mountain side from a ridge 1520 mts. high. Gangtok means the Lofty Hill, which has grown into a busy, bustling city with pagoda style houses, painted turquoise roofs and colourful people. Famous for its Royal Chapel, The Institute of Tibetology, Flower show, Cottage Industries, Gangtok is more popularly known for the famous Rumtek Monastery, an exact replica of the monastery of Tsurphu in eastern Tibet.
