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The terrain of Sikkim is so rugged that form the air it looks as though a giant plough had been carelessly
run through it. Sikkim is a land of monumental mounts that seems
to touch the heavens. These mountains form a part of the long
range - the mighty Himalayas. the Khangchendzonga, the 3rd
highest mountain in the world, majestically towers over all the
mountain in its vicinity like a god surrounded by smaller deities
and can be seen from almost any part of Sikkim in good weather
as it thrust its mighty shoulders high above the lush verdant
valleys. ,
Geologic past, Guided Tour of the Himalayas
Due to the relatively low altitude of Sikkim
its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer, the snow line above which permanent
snow is found is about 6,000m. Habitations are found till
altitudes of 5,000m. This is in sharp contrast to Europe where the
highest mountain, Mont Blanc is at an altitude of only 4,807m but
remains perennially under the cover of snow.
Mountain
Sikkim has a very
rugged topography and the flat lands are difficult to come by. The
towering mountains that define this paradise of the nature also
create a barrier to efficient agriculture.
The two mountain ranges are :
Singalila:
on the western boarder
Chola:
on the eastern boarder
The Singalila Range is an enormous
spur of the Great Himalayas. The crowning glory of this range is
the 8596 m elevated summit, of Mount Khangchendzonga. This
peak - the third highest in the world, is a difficult mountain to
climb, because of unpredictable weather and winds. The Sikkimese
believe that it is not meant to be climbed, but only worshipped,
as it is the abode of five treasures of the snows. In deference to
local sentiments, no expedition has set foot on the summit- but
remained a few meters below. For those of us who cannot attempt
the climb, the 5000 m high viewpoint at Goechela (the Lock
Pass) offers a superb alternative. A depression, between Mount
Pandim, and a spur of the Kabru Peak form the pass. It looks down
into the Talung Valley, with the mighty Talung Glacier, winding
its way down below. One is surrounded by great white peaks -
Khangchendzonga (8596 m), Simvo (6811 m), Siniolchu (6888 m), Pandim (6691
m), Kabru (7338 m) and Rathang (6087 m). The awe
inspiring sight, instills a feeling of standing in the very lap of
Khangchendzonga, and gazing up at its face.
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Glaciers:
Glaciers are moving mountains of
ice. There are many of these in Sikkim among which the most
important ones are Zemu Glacier, Rathong Glacier and the
Lonak Glacier in North Sikkim.
Zemu Glacier:
The Zemu glacier is the largest and
the most famous glacier of the eastern Himalayas. It is 26 km in
length and is situated in a large U-shaped valley at the base of
the Khangchendzonga massif in northwestern Sikkim. The Teesta
River rises from the snout of this glacier.
Many tributary glaciers feed the
trunk glacier. The side valleys in which these glaciers lie open
into the main Zemu Valley from different directions. Icefalls and
waterfalls have formed at the junction of the tributary glaciers
with the Zemu glacier.
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Hot
Springs:
Sikkim has many
hot springs known for their medicinal value. The most important
are the ones located at Reshi , Yumthang and Ralang. These springs are considered holy as one of the
four holy caves is located here. This holy cave is called the Kadosangphu or 'cave of the occult fairies' and lies on the south
of the four cardinal points.
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Yumthang Hot Spring - At an altitude of 12,000 ft, 135 km
from Gangtok in North Sikkim, a few hundred metres off the road,
after crossing river Lachung over a wooden bridge lies a
small hut which houses a pool where sulphur water of hotspring is
collected for taking a dip. |
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Phurchachu Reshi Hot Spring - Around 25 km from Gyalshing, near Reshi,
after crossing the Rangit river by a pedestrian bridge, hardly ten
minutes from the highway is Phurchachu springs with medicinal
properties, ideal from skin disease.
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Lakes:
On the face of
it, one would not expect to find lakes on such a rugged terrain.
But surprisingly, Sikkim does have lakes though not very large in
size. These lakes are both spring fed as well as river fed. On the
highway between Gangtok and Nathu La, 34 kms. from Gangtok lies
the serene Tsomgo(Changu) Lake at an altitude of about 11,000 feet.
Khecheopalri lake is another well known lake that lies on a
bifurcation of the route between Gyalshing and Yuksom . Menmecho
lake, Green lake and Samiti lake are some other beautiful lakes.
Tsomgo(Changu) Lake
Tsomgo
literally means "source of the lake " in Bhutia
language. ' TSO' means lake and ' MGO' means head. At about
40 kms. away from Gangtok , this serene and holy lake is
situated at an altitude of 12,000 ft on the Gangtok - Nathu La
highway. It is about 1 km. long, oval in shape, 15 meters
deep. It is also a home of brahmini ducks besides being a
stopover for various migratory birds.
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The lake
remains frozen during the winter months up to mid-May. Between May
and August it is possible to see a variety of flowers in blooms,
including the rhododendrons, various species of primulas, blue and
yellow poppies, irises etc. It is also an ideal habitat for the
red panda and various species of birds.
Menmecho Lake
20 Kms. further away from Tsomgo(Changu)
Lake is this beautiful lake which lies cradled between the
mountains below the Jelep La Pass and is the source of river
Rangpo-chu. It derives its water from melting snows around. The
lake is famous for its Trout and a farm to cultivate these fish
also exist nearby.
Khecheopalri Lake
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Khecheopalri
lake is considered as one of the sacred lakes of this state both
by the Buddhist and the Hindus. The lake remains hidden in the
rich forest cover. It is believed that the birds do not permit
even a single leaf to float on the lake surface. There is a motor
able road from Pemayangtse right up to the lake area.
For those interested in spending a night
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Courtesy & ©
Siniolchu Tours & Travels |
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or two in the peaceful environment
a trekkers hut has been provided by the tourism office. The hut is
presently managed by a local person and provides comfortable stay
providing a taste of local cuisine which may include 'chang' brew
made of fermented millet. There is also a pilgrim's hut, managed
by the tourism department , which is meant to provide
accommodation to the people who come on pilgrim tours. |
Karthok Lake
Kathok and
Khecheopalri are two important lakes of this area. Khecheopalri,
known as the "Wishing Lake", is one of Sikkim's most sacred lakes.
A festival held every year at Khecheopalri Lake during
February-March draws people from all over Sikkim. Another is held
at Yuksam during Decembe-January in connection with Kathok Lake.
Green Lake
The Green Lake is
fast developing into a take-off point for mountaineering
expeditions to the peaks of this area. The Green Lake may in the
minds of many conjure up an image of beautiful, exotic waterbody,
but sadly it is not true. Infact in 1899 the lake had disappeared
according to D. W. Freshfield who writes, the hollow enclosed
between the covering moraines of Zemu and Green Lake Glaciers has
been lately a lake, and was now a lake basin.
Samiti Lake
As you climb
towards Gochala Pass and pause to take a deep breadth, you can
enjoy the colour of transparent torquise of Lake Samiti- A glacial
lake in the Onglathang valley. (a view from west sikkim)
Tso Lhamu Lake
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Tso
Lhamu is a lake which lies on the plateau that juts into Sikkim into
Tibet. From this moderately sized lake, the Teesta River takes
birth as a trickle hardly a foot wide. The water in the lake
flirts with ice before getting frozen in winter. The reflection of
the surrounding mountains doubles the beauty. Everything looks so
prehistoric that you
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almost expect to see a Dinosaur amble by. A flock of birds, the
cranes swims on the placid ice water of Chola
Mu. These birds are migratory from Russia, China and other parts
of India. |
Lakshmi Pokhari
It is a big natural lake cupped in
deep crater. The rim of the crater is so hard above the lake level
that it is easy t o photograph the complete lake without using a
wide angle lens. As you invoke the blessing on the bank of this
Pristine Lake, you cannot help thinking that it is here that God
really resides.
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Passes:
The mountain
ranges are interspersed with the passes which can be used to cross
from one side to another. On the Eastern Chola range the most
important passes are the Nathu La and Jelep La both at an altitude
of about 15,0000 ft. and Bhutah La at an altitude of about 13,000
ft. The first two lead to Tibet and the third to Bhutan.
On the west
boarder of Sikkim and Nepal, the most important pass is
Chiwabhangjang, which has an altitude of 10,300 ft. The other
passes on the west is Kang La. In the north one of the important
passes is the Kongra La.
Nathula Pass
Five kilometers
to the north of Jelap la pass, on the same altitude on a range
that runs into Tibet, is the rarely used Nathula pass on the
Sikkim-Tibet frontier. The zig zag track becomes steeper as it
leaves Gangtok, but makes up in the changing landscape which
becomes more sublime with ever inch of ascent till it
reaches the calm waters of the lake. Nuk Tahyi in a region,
bleak and dismal. from the submit two roads from both Jelap and
Nathula passes unit in a track leading to the Chumbi Valley of
Tibet. On the one side stands a change of imposing peaks
dividing from Tibet, on the other yawning abyss of ravines and
gorges.
At Nathula the
Chinese and the Indian troops face each other almost at
breathing distance. It was in the news quiet a lot when
skirmishes between the two countries occurred on this pass.
Jelap la was used by Younghusband to attack Tibet in 1903 and to
commemorate this the path through Jelap la is called the
Young husband track. Nathula and Jelap la passes for a part of
the trade route between India and Tibet till 1962 .
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Rivers:
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Flowing
almost right across the length of Sikkim is the River Teesta.
Teesta originates from the Cholamu
lake where it is hardly a stream. No one can imagine that this
innocuous looking stream would transform into a thundering mighty
river less than a hundred kilometers downstream. Meeting Teesta at
the border between Sikkim and West Bengal |
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is its major tributary the river Rangeet which originates from the
Rathong Glacier. |
During monsoons
the otherwise innocuous looking rivers of Sikkim become swollen,
swift, muddy and dangerous. The rivers are narrow, serpentine and
full of rocks and hence are not navigable. Because of swift
currents hitting rocks, the rivers are very noisy and can be heard
for miles together. The Teesta finally joins the Bhramaputra in
Bangladesh.
The rivers are
fed by snow melting on the mountains as well as rain that
accumulates in the catchment areas during the monsoons. Human
settlements usually must exist above the level of rivers and hence
even if flooding takes place life and property remain safe.
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Waterfalls:
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The verdant green landscape
of Sikkim is broken here and there by waterfalls that leap out of
the hillside to the valley floors in plumes of white. Waterfalls
are found almost all over Sikkim but there is a profusion of them
in North Sikkim specially on the road between Mangan and Lachung
as well as in the Dzongu area. Most of the waterfalls are
perennial and are spring water fed but there are many that
derive their water from |
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Courtesy & ©
Siniolchu Tours & Travels |
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melting snow. Except for a few most
of the waterfalls
are unnamed. |
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