North Sikkim
North Sikkim is the northernmost district of Sikkim, with Mangan as its headquarters. Tourists need special permits to visit areas north of Mangan.
Phodong Gompa
Phodong Monastery, at a distance of 30 km from Gangtok, is one the main monasteries of Sikkim. It dates all the way back to the early 18th century.
Phodong Gompa
It has a rich collection of ancient murals and hosts a lively festival every year on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth month of the Tibetan Calendar.
Murals
Murals
Labrang Gompa
This monastery belonging to the Nyingmapa (Red Hat) sect was established in 1884 and is about a 5 minute drive from Phodong Gompa.
Labrang Gompa
Labrang Gompa
Murals
Murals
Bridge on the way to Lachung
Yumthang Valley
This valley, at an altitude of 3575 m (11,800 ft), surrounded by Himalayan mountains is home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.
Yumthang Valley
Yumthang is usually closed between December and March due to heavy snowfall.
Yumthang Valley
Yumthang is a vibrant bed of flowers most of which is concentrated in the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.
It is known for having more than 40 different species of Rhododendrons. Rhododendrons are a genus of over 1000 species of woody plants in the heath family which can either be evergreen or deciduous.
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary
The sanctuary has close to forty species of rhododendron trees.
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary
Yumthang River
Frozen Waterfalls
Zero Point (14000 ft) is where the road ends in Yumthang Valley.
Zero Point
Zero Point
extraordinary
Thanks, Soumen.