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TREKS & CLIMB IN THE HIMALAYA • ADVENTURE TRAVEL ORGANIZER |
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Sikkim & DarjeelingTours
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Sikkim & DarjeelingTours
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 On the west of Kanchanjunga Himalayan range is Nepal and in the east is Sikkim. To the north is Tibet and eastern border has Bhutan. The tiny Himalayan kingdom was merged with India about two decades ago. Before that Sikkimese kings, descendents of Choygal, ruled it.
Mountain of Sikkim is famous for its rhododendron and orchids flowers, which blooms in spring. The Kanchanjunga range in the west and several snow-capped peaks to the north makes Sikkim a special place for tourist. It is rich in cultural heritage with mixed of Lepcha, Bhotia, Limbus and many other Nepalese ethnic groups. Budhist Gompas and Hindus shrines are everywhere in this tiny Himalayan State. Some of the best known monasteries are Ralong, Phodang, Rumtek, Phensong, Enchhey and Tashiding. Among them Rumtek is most popular monastery. Rumtek monastery is located 23 km. from Gangtok. It is the seat of the Kargyu order of Tibetan Buddhism. Gyalwa Karmapa, the 16th reincarnate Lama, built the monastery at Rumtek after he escaped from Tibet and settled in Sikkim. After Gyalwa Karmapa died 17thKarmapa was reborn in Tibet. Since then Rumtek monastery has become controvery for the actual Karmapa. Like Mani Rimdu in Thyangboche (Nepal), Rumtek monastery is famous for its ritual lama dance and opera performed by the lamas.
Sikkim was chosen by Padmasambhava, propagator and initiator of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan kingdom, as one of the valley (bey-yul) to preserve Buddhist scriptures for posterity. History of Buddhism in the Himalayan is incomplete without Sikkim.
Tour in Sikkim make suitable combination with a short trek and cultural tour of Sikkim and Darjeeling. You can extend the tour to Nepal or travel by train to Delhi to visit Dharmasala to take to meet Dalai Lama.
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