State of Sikkim Travel Forum

greetings!

sorry in advance this is so long...the more i learn, the more questions i have! the more i know, the less i know!

i will be travelling to darjeeling, sikkim and (briefly) kolkata during the last 2 weeks of february 2007. i planned my trip around the tibetan new year (losar), so as to observe the festivities and masked dances (chaams) in sikkim. based on what i've read, the rumtek monastery is the largest and a great place to watch the dances. a few questions about planning my trip:

1) there seems to be conflicting info about exactly when the festivities begin and end. i've read everything from two days before through 8 days after losar (february 18). i plan to arrive in the gangtok area (if not IN gangtok) by february 16 and can stay as long afterwards as warranted by what there is to see an do. does anyone know anything more about the exact schedule of observance at the monasteries and elsewhere?

2) i read humdrum and downright icky things about gangtok. where is the best place to "base" myself for 4 or 5 days in sikkim? can i stay in or near gangtok and make day trips to pelling, tsomgo lake, or other nice destinations for DAY treks? or must i plan to pack and unpack at more than one place. seems like such a small area, i'm hoping jeeps can ably get me anywhere in the state...or is that an absurd notion?

3) what are you suggestions for best DAY treks (i will be alone OR with my sister; probably alone.) is it possible to hire a local guide to take me out for a day trek or two? suggestions in that regard? i wish to avoid group-oriented agencies and prefer word-of-mouth arrangements with local residents.

4) when planning my time between sikkim and darjeeling, which might be a good split of nights, assuming 8 nights in all? how about if i had only 7?

5) current plan is:

2/14, evening, arrive delhi; stay overnight near airport

2/15, domestic flight to bagdogra; jeep or helicoptor to gangtok, OR to siliguri for next-day "toy train" ride to darjeeling; if pre-losar festivities begin 2/16 in sikkim, proceed directly to sikkim on 2/15.

2/15-2/?? sikkim: where? what? can i stay in one place and make day trips?

2/ ??-2/??: if have gone directly to sikkim(gangtok?), spend a few days in darjeeling (fewer or more than sikkim???)

if didn't ride toy train up to darjeeling, take it back down to NJP.

2/24 or 2/25: overnight "mail express" train to kolkata; 2 days (??) in kolkata

2/27, as late as possible: domestic flight to delhi; stay near airport for morning flight out of delhi to home.

6) of the national parks in northern west bengal and sikkim, which are most compelling?

7) i read somewhere about a yak trek around a lake...ring a bell with anyone? cheesy tourist thing or fun adventure? where is it? (can't find my original source)

8) any other random thoughts or suggestions for such an adventure? weather expectations and extent of temperature vriances between kolkata and sikkim? packing list suggestions?

thanks, first of all, for reading all this!
and thanks still more if you can help me out with any of my bajillion questions.



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~leap, and the net will appear~

OOps..quite a bit to read. Never mind.
I will try to answer a few of your queries, not necessarily in any particular order.
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I would split my time in the ration of 60:40 between Sikkim and Darjeeling. Sikkim is a State with many different destinations.
Darjeeling is a single destination in the State of West Bengal.

In Sikkim, I stay in the Himalayan Heights. You should bargain for Off-Season discounts (upto 50%).
You can base yourself in this Hotel while covering Rumtek, Pelling, Tsango LAKE ETC.

The Yak Trek is around this Tsango lake. Its definitely a tourist thing only. This is a wonderful place to visit.
Poor Yaks..have to work hard the whole day carrying humans only for their amusement.

About the Tibetan New Year, I would suggest you contact the Sikkim Tourism Department for exact dates.
I was there in Rumtek in 2004 during this time.

Weather can really vary from Kolkata to Sikkim for about 25 degrees.
In Sikkim (Tsango lake, for example), it may be sub-zero with snow all around.
In Kolkata,I think it can be anywhere between 15 degrees to 25 degrees.

--
You have not asked about Darjeeling, but I would recommend Hotel Sinclairs.
--
It is not worth to cover the entire distance from Siliguri to Darjeeling by toy train.
You will enjoy enough ( and save time), if you travell between Kurseong and Darjeeling only, and cover remaining journey by
taxi.
--
The Wildlife Parks at Jaldhaka is worth a visit. But you have to plan in advance and book the only available Government
Bungalow for your stay..else it may already be booked out.
There is another much smaller version at Sukna.

thank you very much for your kind reply. it is most helpful.