Planned around the lunar calendar
Festivals in Sikkim
Losar, Losoong, Saga Dawa, Pang Lhabsol, Bumchu at Tashiding, Tendong Lho Rum Faat and the mask dances of each monastery. Most follow the Tibetan or lunar calendar, so dates move every year.
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Losar, Losoong, Saga Dawa, Pang Lhabsol, Bumchu at Tashiding, Tendong Lho Rum Faat and the mask dances of each monastery. Most follow the Tibetan or lunar calendar, so dates move every year.
Sikkim's festivals belong to its communities: Lepcha, Bhutia, Limbu and Nepali, Buddhist and Hindu. Many happen in monastery courtyards and village grounds, open to respectful visitors.
Dates shift with the moon. We confirm the year's dates with the monastery or organisers before we build the trip. Check current status before you travel.
Where to go
Places for festivals
monastery
Enchey Mo…1,860M
Enchey Monastery
Gangtok's Nyingma monastery on the ridge, 3 km above MG Marg
monastery
Rumtek1,500M
Rumtek
The Karmapa's seat in exile, 24 km from Gangtok
village
Phodong1,400M
Phodong
A Kagyu monastery town on the North Sikkim Highway
monastery
Tholung M…2,400M
Tholung Monastery
Upper Dzongu's relic monastery, opened every three years
monastery
Pemayangt…2,085M
Pemayangtse Monastery
Sikkim's senior Nyingma monastery, home of the Zangdok Palri model
monastery
Tashiding1,465M
Tashiding
The heart-shaped hill of chortens and the sacred Bumchu vase
town
Jorethang300M
Jorethang
Warm river town on the Rangeet, gateway to West Sikkim
monastery
Ralang Mo…1,940M
Ralang Monastery
Kagyu monastery of the mask dances, 6 km below Ravangla
Tendong Hill
The Lepcha ark mountain, a half-day forest walk from Damthang
pilgrimage site
Mankhim1,980M
Mankhim
Kirat Rai temple on a ridge above Aritar
town
Rangpo333M
Rangpo
Gateway town where the Teesta meets the Rangpo
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartThings to do
Experiences on the way
Monasteries and shrines
Morning prayers at Enchey
Reach Enchey before the sightseeing taxis and sit at the back of the prayer hall while the monks chant with drums and …
Culture
Watching the Detor Chaam at Enchey
Each winter Enchey's monks perform the Detor Chaam, two days of masked dances in the courtyard before the Tibetan new year. Gangtok …
Nature
Ridge walk from Enchey to Ganesh Tok
Walk the upper ridge road from Enchey to Ganesh Tok, past the TV tower and through conifers, with views over the town …
Nature
Dawn light at Enchey for photographers
At sunrise the golden cupola, prayer flags and pine trunks of Enchey catch low light, and the ridge is almost empty. A …
Monasteries and shrines
Morning prayers and the Golden Stupa
Sit in on prayers in Rumtek's main hall, modelled on the Karmapas' Tibetan seat at Tsurphu, then visit the Golden Stupa that …
Culture
Old Rumtek, the quieter monastery below
A short stop at the smaller Old Rumtek Monastery, about 2 km below the main complex. Brightly painted, seldom crowded and home …
Village life
Walk from Rumtek down to Martam village
A downhill walk of roughly 6–8 km on village roads and footpaths from Rumtek to Martam, through hamlets, small farms and terraced …
Culture
Gutor chaam before Losar at Rumtek
Watch Rumtek's monks perform the Gutor chaam, the masked dance that closes a week of Mahakala rites just before Losar, the Tibetan …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartWhere to sleep
Stays that fit
Value
Mankhim hill homestays
Homestays on Mankhim hill above Aritar, near the Kirat Rai temple, at around 1,900–2,000 m. Wide views over the hills to the Kangchenjunga range …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartGet my price
Plan a festivals trip with us
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
- No payment to start
- Permits handled through registered partners
- Every hotel, car and fee listed