Gyalshing district · Experiences
Culture in West Sikkim
Palaces, institutes, bazaars and the people who keep them
Photo: Paramanu Sarkar · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Walks through Sikkim's history with people who live it: the Chogyal era, the old trade towns and the communities behind each valley. 12 experiences below, each with its time, cost and the best hour to go.
Culture
Dubdi, Norbugang and Kathok in one morning
Link the three sites of Sikkim's founding on foot: climb to Dubdi at dawn, walk down to Norbugang's coronation throne and finish …
Culture
Martam and the story of Sirijunga
Visit Martam near Bermiok Bazar, linked with the 18th-century Limbu scholar Te-ongsi Sirijunga and home to a Limbu community temple, with a …
Culture
Pelling to Yuksom day tour via the falls
The classic full-day tour from Pelling: Rimbi waterfall, Khecheopalri Lake, Kanchenjunga Falls and Yuksom's Norbugang throne and Kathok Lake, by private car, …
Culture
Prayer wheels and a quiet wish at the lake
Walk the short path past the row of prayer wheels to the lake, make a silent wish as pilgrims do, and learn …
Culture
The founding of Sikkim, told at the throne
Sit near the Norbugang throne with a Yuksom guide and hear how three lamas, a search across Sikkim and a stone platform …
Culture
Pemayangtse to Rabdentse heritage walk
A morning on foot from Pemayangtse Monastery to the forest ruins of Rabdentse, the royal capital from 1670, tracing the second chapter …
Culture
Reading the Zangdok Palri model tier by tier
Spend a proper hour on Pemayangtse's top floor with the seven-tiered wooden model of Guru Padmasambhava's celestial palace, ideally with a monk …
Culture
Watching the February mask dances
Time your Pelling trip for the last two days of the Tibetan year, when Pemayangtse's monks dance in masks and brocade in …
Culture
Rabdentse history walk with a local guide
Walk the forest path and ruins of Rabdentse with a guide who explains the palace wings, chortens and Namphogang throne, and the …
Culture
Walk the glass Skywalk beside Chenrezig
Step out on the glass-floored Skywalk facing the 137-foot Chenrezig statue, opened in 2018, one of West Sikkim's newest landmarks and an …
Culture
The night the Bumchu vase is opened
Join the pilgrims at Tashiding for Bumchu, when lamas open the sacred vase and read the coming year's fortune in its water, …
Culture
Norbugang and Kathok Lake heritage walk
Walk from Yuksom bazaar to Kathok Lake and up to the Norbugang throne and chorten, where Sikkim's first Chogyal was consecrated in …
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