South Sikkim

General Information

South Sikkim is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Its capital is Namchi. South Sikkim lies at an altitude of 400 m to 2000 metres and hence enjoys a temperate climate for most of the year. The people are mainly of Nepali descent. Other ethnic groups include the Lepcha and Bhutia communities. Nepali is the most widely spoken language in the district. It also has one of the lowest populated regions of the state. It is also the most industrialised district in the state, owing to the availability of flattened land. The geology being stable means that the roads are in a good condition as compared to other parts of the state which suffer from landslides. Major urban centres include Teesta Bazaar and Melli. The district is also famous for its Sikkim Tea, which is grown near Namchi.

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Places of Interests

Samdruptse

72 kms from Gangtok near Namchi in South Sikkim is Samdruptse which means in Bhutia language "The Wish Fulfilling Hill". A 135 ft. unique statue of Guru Padmasambhava is installed at the top of Samdiptse. His Holiness The Dalai Lama laid the foundation stone of the statue on 22.10.1997. It is said to be the highest statue of Guru Padmasambhava in the world. It took 1000 labourers and scores of experienced engineers and highly skilled architects and sculptors nearly three years to complete this awe inspiring and towering statue.

Namchi

Namchi, meaning 'Sky High', nestled among the hills at an elevation of 4400 ft. commands a panoramic view of the snow capped mountains and vast stretches of valley. This Headquarters of the South District, is fast developing into a tourist destination with its immense potential for all round tourist activities.

Ravangla

At the base of Maenam Hill is Ravangla, a sub-divisional headquarter and transit point for beautiful spots such as Chozo Lake, Ralong Monastery and various Tourist destinations of West Sikkim. It has a Tourist Base Camp for trekkers to Maenam Hill and Borong. One can get a reasonable accommodation and enjoy numerous short nature trails as well. A trek down to the sacred cave 'Shar Cchok Bhepu', one of the four holiest caves in Sikkim, would be a memorable experience. A number of tourist amenities have been recently provided at Sangmoo Monastery and caves located close to Ravangla.

Tendong Hill

Above Damthang, overlooking Namchi, there is a small flat stretch of land at and altitude of 8530 ft surrounded by lush green ancient forest which is popularly known as Tendong Hill. Historically, this has been a place to rest for Buddhist Lamas who spent years in meditation amidst the silent scenic grandeur. Legend has it that the Tendong Hill sved the Lepcha tribe from the ravages of deluge when the whole world was flooded, similar to Noah's Ark of the Bible. Even today, the lepchas perform pujas to pay reverence to the Tendong Hill on the occasion of Lho Rham Faat. The view from the top of the Tendong Hill is something to be cherished and enjoyed as it spans across the plains of Bengal to the majestic heights of the Himalayan Ranges. Trek to Tendong from Damthang Bazaar, the nearest road head, is just about two hours. One can also proceed to Namchi by trekking via Tendong Hill.

Temi Tea Garden

The one and only tea estate existing in the State produces one of the top quality teas for the international market. The tea garden spread out on a gentle hill slope originating from the Tendong Hill provides a magnificent view of the surrounding villages. The visit to the factory could be an eye opener for those wanting to know about tea processing methods. A night spent in an old British bungalow or a Gateway facility located at the tea garden could be an enthralling experience of linking the past to the present. A visit to the garden, enroute to the Tendong Hill, could be a rewarding experience for those who want to combine nature and culture as they keep trekking.

Maenam Hill

Situated at an altitude of 10,300 ft the scenic view from this height is, perhaps, unmatched in this part of the world. Mt.Khanchendzonga and its surrounding ranges loom above to dwarf the richly forested and rugged hills. On a clear sunny day, it is possible to see the plains of Bengal spanning across Kalimpong and Darjeeling hills in the South and right across the Indo-China border towards the North. A short distance away is the legendry Bhaley Dunga, a kind of rocky spur which just out from the ridge top and remains suspended in the air above Yangyang village. The trek to Maenam from Ravangla takes about 3 hours. From Maenam hill top one has the option to take the gentle trek to Borong village or follow the more challenging trail taken by the famous botanist, Sir Joseph Hooker, down to Yangyang vaillage.

Borong

Facing the snow-capped mountains is Borong, motorable from Ravangla or by a trek via Maenam. A picturesque village, its beautiful landscape and magnificent view is also host to the hot spring, 'Borong Tsachu'. The trek trail, originating from Namchi or Damthang to Tendong - Ravangla Maenam - Borong (5-6 days) is one of the most interesting trails scaling all the hill tops along the route. The trekker can continue to Tashiding or terminate at Borong and then drive back to Ravangla.

Phur Tsa Chu

Situated on the bank of River Rangeet is the hot spring 'Phur Tsa Chu', half an hour drive from Legship and one hour drive from Jorethang. Pilgrims from all walk of life come to dip in this hot spring during the month of January to March.

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