| NORTH
DISTRICT
Meadows and Wild flowers Galore:
 Yumthang
is located in a flat valley whose sides reach up to
the towering mountains. About 149 kms from Gangtok,
Yumthang is also referred to as the Valley of Flowers,
and is a naturalist’s paradise in spring. Wild
flowers, primuale and rhodendron bathe the landscape
in rich colors. A must-see here are the hot-springs
at Yume-Samdong.
Phodong Monastery:
This monastery is located about a kilometer above the
North Sikkim Highway about 40 kilometer away from Gangtok.
The monastery was built by Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal sometime
in the first quarter of the eighteen century.
Labrang Monastery:
A kilometer further from Phodong, the Labrang Monastery
was built about 100 years later. This monastery belongs
to the Nyingmapa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the same
as that of Pemayangtse Monastery in West Sikkim.
Phensong Monastery:
Situated on a gentle slope between Kabi and Phodong
is the Phensong Monastery set amidst beautiful landscapes.
It belongs to the Nyingmapa Order and was built in 1721
during the time of Jigme Pawo.
SOUTH
DISTRICT
Of Deities
and Sprits, Views Spectacular
Ravangla:
Ravangla, Remniscint of a town from the Wild West, Ravangla
is a sleepy hamlet at about a height of 7000 feet. The
township comes alive during the Pang Lhabsol festivals
when the spectacular Warrior dance performed at the
Ravang Monastery by the locals.
Meanam:
Peak (10,300 ft) is a 12-km up-hill trek from Ravangla.
The route winds through a thick forest of oak, chestnut,
magnolia and rhododendrons. A natural habitat of the
Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear and many species of
deer, this area is designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
A short distance away is the legendary Bhaley Dunga,
a kind of rocky spur which juts out from the ridge top
above Yangang Village.
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