Friends, This summer vacation we have explored Sikkim. Believe me it’s heaven on the earth. This state practices as a organic agriculture. Teesta river divides sikkim from west bengal, once you cross it & enter in sikkim, one can differentiate prosperity of sikkim. Sikkim offers everything, unexplored, untouched forests, high altitude lakes, tea gardens,adventure sports like paragliding,rafting ,helicopter ride…..but i am amazed with variety of flower this state has- various colours,shapes, high altitude flowers(rhododendron)….too that extent that i have seen flower with human face(with two eyes, mouth, nose..)……it’s amazing.  I always believe that india has lot’s of thing to offer us , one need to explore it with time…..it’s incredible india.

Darjeeling heritage toy train

 

“dance without border” this was performed by foriegn students from 5 europian countries.

 

sweet students on the way

 

Different types of bridges , one of it is semiarched bridge in teesta river, made by britisher,still in function…..

 

on the way landslide—common in himalayas…

valley of lachen

Rc home stay in lachen, i always prefer homestay, atleast at one or two place in my travel plan, it gives me better opportunity to explore local culture….

Momos & local wine called “chang”

early morning dhoop after prayer in any shop of north sikkim

on the way to gurudongma lake

Gurudongmar lake, its 2nd highest high altitude lake, situated 17800ft height. It’s near china border & entire year it remain frozen (except 1-2 months).

After lachen valley, we went to lachung valley. Its really amazing place, full of greenery, birds, flowers, lots of water falls…..

My hotel “season house”, surrounded by forest & at top of hill. Most recommended hotel in lachung..

 

Rain drops or pearl…..!

on the way to yumthang valley, first encounter was tiri lake….unfortunately it’s ruined by earthquake & avalanche in 2011.

Hot water spring in snow covered mountain….it’s amazing

yumthang valley & its river

Yumthang valley is called valley of flowers, its valley for rhododendron. We found few of them after small treck in valley.

After exploring valley of flowers, gone further upto “zero point”. It’s near china border. we got snow,snow fall & hot “maggie”. One thing which really disappoint me, from zero point onwards no roads upto china border, army people has to treck to cross mountain after 65yrs of indian independence.

Next day we went to mount katau, another check post of china border.

Sikkim has lots of water falls. But katau water fall is special. It’s water coming from china…..

First few minutes after sunrise, one will get golden peaks of snow covered mountain…

after sunrise, golden peak

same mountain after few minutes of sunrise

 

Different flowers…

Flower with human face impact(either eyes, mouth,nose…seen in creature of flower)

 

Medicinal flower

Different pine tree & its flowers

random click for flower on the way

“GHANTI” flower (flower looks like bell in temple)

strawberry & orange berries

spotted lots of birds in Himalayas, i don’t have enough knowledge about birds to recognize them……but just like flowers,birds are also colorful. See green sparrow (last one).

Few variety of butter fly, including transparent butter fly

Zoo in gangtok it’s worth to explore. When I was roaming in the zoo , I felt that I was roaming in jungle , they have preserved natural jungle & in few areas they kept animals . It should be in your list if u are ready to walk little bit. It’s different zoo.

Red panda-lazy animal

three species of leopard,

Leopard cat, snow leopard, red pandas……..it’s incredible india.