Namchi districtHQ NamchiBest Mar – May · Oct – Dec16 places11 packages10 stays
South Sikkim in short
South Sikkim, officially Namchi district, is the lowest, mildest and easiest part of Sikkim to travel. It holds the state's big pilgrim monuments at Namchi and Ravangla, Sikkim's only tea estate at Temi, winter hot springs and community homestays. No permits are needed for Indians, and October to May is the best time to go.
Best months
October–December and March–May
Headquarters
Namchi (≈ 1,500 m), ≈ 78 km · 3–3.5 h from Gangtok
Nearest airport
Bagdogra (IXB) ≈ 100 km to Namchi
Nearest railhead
NJP ≈ 96 km to Namchi
Altitude range
≈ 280 m – 3,263 m
Languages
Nepali, Sikkimese (Bhutia), Lepcha, Limbu, Hindi, English
Permits
None for Indians; foreigners need the Sikkim RAP (e-FRRO)
South Sikkim runs from the Teesta and Rangeet valleys, at under 300 m around Melli and Jorethang, up to the 3,263 m summit of Maenam above Ravangla. A long ridge of Tendong and Maenam runs north to south through the middle of the district, dividing the Teesta side from the Rangeet side. Since December 2021 it has officially been Namchi district, after its headquarters town, but drivers, hotels and most travellers still say South Sikkim.
Most visitors come for the monuments. Namchi has two that face each other across the town: the Guru Padmasambhava statue on Samdruptse hill, completed in 2004, and the Char Dham complex at Solophok, opened in 2011 around a 108 ft Shiva. Ravangla, an hour north, adds the 130 ft Buddha of Tathagata Tsal, opened in 2013, and the Kagyu monastery of Ralang, founded in 1768. Together they make the district a pilgrim corridor for Buddhists and Hindus alike.
Beyond the monuments, South Sikkim is farm country. Temi, Sikkim's only tea estate, was planted in 1969 on a slope facing Kangchenjunga. Villages such as Kewzing, Borong and Yangang host guests in family homes, Borong has a winter hot spring on the Rangeet, and cardamom, ginger and oranges grow on the terraces. Kitam Bird Sanctuary protects low sal forest with wild peafowl, while Maenam and Tendong hold oak and rhododendron forest, so birders can climb from 400 m to over 3,000 m in a day.
The south is also the easiest district for first-timers, families and seniors. Altitudes are moderate, roads are good by Sikkim standards, there are no protected-area permits for Indian travellers and Namchi is under four hours from NJP or Bagdogra. Winters are cold but clear and seldom snowy, and the monsoon is wet but rarely closes the main towns for long. We send many guests here as a gentle start or end to a longer Sikkim trip.
Highlights
What brings people here
Samdruptse and Char Dham, Namchi
Two hilltop monuments facing each other across Namchi: a gilded Guru Padmasambhava statue, about 135 ft tall and completed in 2004, and Siddhesvara Dham, opened in 2011, with a 108 ft Shiva and replicas of the four dhams. Both fit into one morning by car.
Buddha Park, Ravangla
Tathagata Tsal, opened in 2013, centres on a 130 ft copper-clad Buddha set against the Maenam ridge, with a museum inside the base. Ravangla, at about 2,050 m, is cooler than Namchi and the best base for Ralang, Maenam and the village homestays.
Temi Tea Garden
Sikkim's only tea estate, planted in 1969 on a slope facing Kangchenjunga between about 1,200 and 1,800 m. Walk among the bushes, buy organic orthodox tea at the estate and, in November, see wild cherry blossom along the road.
Ralang Monastery and its cham
A Kagyu monastery founded in 1768, rebuilt with a large new institute completed in 1995, 6 km from Ravangla. Its masked cham dances fall on Pang Lhabsol in August or September and on the 29th day of the 10th Tibetan month.
Village homestays and a hot spring
Kewzing runs a community homestay programme started in 2003, Yangang sits below the Bhaleydhunga rock, and Borong has a winter hot spring on the Rangeet. Expect about ₹1,200–2,500 per person a night with home-cooked meals.
Tendong Hill and Maenam
Two forested summits along the district's central ridge. Tendong, about 2,600 m, is a 6 km half-day walk sacred to the Lepcha. Maenam, 3,263 m, is a wildlife sanctuary and a long, steep day hike from Ravangla, with satyr tragopan calling in spring.
A rooted story
Tendong Hill and the Lepcha flood
Look north from Namchi and the long, flat-topped ridge of Tendong fills the skyline. For the Lepcha, Sikkim's earliest known inhabitants, it is a sacred mountain. As recorded in the Wikipedia article on Tendong Lho Rum Faat and in festival reports, Lepcha tradition tells of a great flood in ancient times, when the Teesta and Rangeet rose until the valleys were drowned. The people climbed Tendong, which rose above the waters and kept them safe until the flood fell. The name is usually explained as the upraised horn, for the way the hill stood above the water. Each year on 8 August, Lepcha communities mark Tendong Lho Rum Faat, a prayer to the mountain, with rituals on and around the hill and, in some homes, a small model of Tendong built from nine stones. Sikkim observes the day as a state holiday. The story matters for travellers because it gives the district a centre older than any statue. Tendong, at about 2,600 m, is also one of the best half-day walks in South Sikkim: a forest trail of about 6 km from Damthang to a summit with views of Kangchenjunga to the north and the plains to the south. Walk it in October or November, and remember that, for many of the people around you, it is a holy place.
Source: Wikipedia: Tendong Lho Rumfaat; Government of Sikkim holiday list; EastMojo festival reports
Places
Where to go in South Sikkim
Every place shows its altitude and best months, so you can plan the climb and the season together.
There is no airport or railway in Namchi district. Fly to Bagdogra (IXB) or take a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), then drive about 96–100 km and 3.5–4 hours to Namchi via NH10 to Melli, where the road crosses the Teesta into Sikkim and climbs. NH10 closes after monsoon slides; the alternative for South Sikkim runs through Darjeeling district down to Jorethang, adding about an hour. Shared jeeps run from Siliguri to Namchi, Jorethang and Ravangla, roughly ₹300–400 a seat. From Gangtok, Namchi is about 78 km and Ravangla about 65 km, each around 3 hours, with shared jeeps through the day. Pakyong Airport has had no scheduled flights since June 2024, and the Sevoke–Rangpo railway is not open. Check current status before you travel.
Indian nationals need no permit anywhere in Namchi district. Foreign nationals need the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online through the e-FRRO portal after arriving in India since 12 January 2026, with approval usually in 24–48 hours; no extra protected-area permit is needed for South Sikkim as we understand it. Sikkim collects a ₹50 per tourist entry fee at hotels, valid 30 days, with under-fives exempt. Forest department rules and fees may apply in Maenam and Kitam sanctuaries. Check current status before you travel.
South Sikkim is one of the cheaper parts of the state. On a budget, shared jeeps cost about ₹250–400 a seat from Gangtok or Siliguri, clean budget rooms in Namchi or Ravangla run ₹1,500–2,500 and homestays ₹1,200–2,500 per person with meals; a 3-night trip from NJP can cost about ₹7,000–11,000 per person. Mid-range travellers with a private small car (about ₹3,500–4,500 a day) and good hotels or farmstays should budget ₹22,000–32,000 per person for 5–6 nights. Premium stays such as The Temi Bungalow or Sobralia's resort in Namchi push a comfortable week well above ₹50,000 per person. All figures are indicative; check current status before you travel.
Shared jeep Gangtok–RavanglaRavangla
≈ ₹250–400 a seat
Shared jeep Namchi–RavanglaRavangla
≈ ₹100–150 a seat
Shared jeep Gangtok–NamchiNamchi
≈ ₹250–350 a seat
Shared jeep Siliguri–NamchiNamchi
≈ ₹300–400 a seat
Shared jeep Gangtok–RavanglaKewzing
≈ ₹250–400 a seat
Reserved car Ravangla–KewzingKewzing
≈ ₹600–900
Shared jeep Ravangla–BorongBorong
≈ ₹80–150 a seat
Reserved car Ravangla–BorongBorong
≈ ₹1,500–2,000 one way
Estate entry and walkTemi Tea Garden
Free (factory visits may carry a small fee)
Temi tea at the shopTemi Tea Garden
≈ ₹150–600 per 100 g by grade
Indicative 2026 prices. Fares, fees and room rates change with season: check current status before you travel.
Yes, especially for families, seniors, pilgrims and first-time visitors. South Sikkim has the state's biggest monuments at Namchi and Ravangla, Sikkim's only tea estate at Temi, easy village homestays and mild weather. It needs no permits for Indians and is under four hours from NJP. Two to four nights suit most trips.
What is Namchi district?
Namchi district is the official name, since December 2021, of what was South Sikkim district. Its headquarters is Namchi. The district covers Namchi, Ravangla, Temi, Jorethang, Melli and the villages around them. Travellers, drivers and hotels still widely use the name South Sikkim.
What are the best places to visit in South Sikkim?
Samdruptse and Char Dham in Namchi, Buddha Park and Ralang Monastery near Ravangla, Temi Tea Garden, Tendong Hill and Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary for walks, Kitam for birds, and the village homestays of Kewzing, Borong and Yangang. Jorethang's mid-January fair is worth timing a trip around.
How many days do we need for South Sikkim?
Two nights cover the highlights: one in Namchi for Samdruptse and Char Dham, one in Ravangla for Buddha Park and Ralang, with Temi on the way. Four nights let you add a village homestay at Kewzing or Borong, a Tendong walk or a dawn at Kitam. Many guests combine it with Gangtok and Pelling.
What is the best time to visit South Sikkim?
October to December for clear skies and mountain views, and March to May for flowers, tea and birds. January and February are cold but clear, with hot springs in season. June to September is the monsoon: green and quiet, but cloudy, leech-prone and subject to road slides.
Do we need a permit for South Sikkim?
Indian nationals need no permit. Foreign nationals need the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online through the e-FRRO portal since January 2026; no extra protected-area permit is needed for South Sikkim as we understand it. Hotels collect Sikkim's ₹50 entry fee. Check current status before you travel.
How do we reach South Sikkim from NJP or Bagdogra?
By road: about 96–100 km and 3.5–4 hours to Namchi via NH10 and Melli, for roughly ₹4,500–6,500 by reserved car, or by shared jeep from Siliguri for about ₹300–400 a seat. When NH10 is closed, vehicles go through Darjeeling district to Jorethang. Check current status before you travel.
Is South Sikkim good for a family trip with elderly parents?
Very. Altitudes are moderate, about 1,500 m at Namchi and 2,050 m at Ravangla, so altitude sickness is rarely a concern. The main monuments have paved paths, hotels with lifts exist in Namchi, and drives between sights are short. Namchi has a district hospital. Pack warm clothes for winter nights.
Does it snow in South Sikkim?
Rarely, and only lightly. Ravangla and the summits of Tendong and Maenam can see a dusting on cold days between late December and February in some years. Namchi almost never gets snow. If snow is your goal, plan for North Sikkim or Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim instead.
Little known
Things most visitors to South Sikkim never hear
Each one is sourced, so you can check it yourself.
At Mamley, just above Namchi, stromatolite-bearing dolomite of the Buxa Formation, Precambrian traces of early microbial life, is protected as a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India.
Source: Wikipedia: National Geological Monuments of India
Temi Tea Garden was established in 1969 under Palden Thondup Namgyal, the last Chogyal of Sikkim, and remains the only tea estate in the state. Much of its tea is sold at auction in Kolkata.
Source: Wikipedia: Temi Tea Garden
Kitam Bird Sanctuary, declared on 3 February 2005 and covering about 6 sq km near the Rangeet, is the only protected area in Sikkim declared specifically as a bird sanctuary.
Source: Wikipedia: Kitam Bird Sanctuary
Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia was born at Tinkitam in South Sikkim, and Namchi's football stadium, the Bhaichung Stadium, is named after him.
Source: Wikipedia: Bhaichung Bhutia
Melli, the district's gateway on the Teesta, is split between two states: Melli Bazaar is in Kalimpong district of West Bengal and Melli across the bridge is in Namchi district of Sikkim.
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