Trek Nepal, Trekking Nepal is a trekking company based in Nepal.

Small but beautiful, Sikkim is situated in the Eastern Himalayas. Spread below the Mount Khanchendzonga, (8603 mts.), the third highest Mountain in the world and revered by the Sikkimese as their protective Deity, Sikkim shares her borders with Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the East, Nepal in the West and State of West Bengal in the South.

With an area of 7,300 sq. kms. and measuring approximately 100 kms. from North to South and 60 kms. from East to West, the elevation ranges from 244 mts. to over 8540 mts. above sea-level. Amidst the grandeur of the mountain peaks, lush valleys, fast flowing rivers, terraced hills, Sikkim offers her visitors a rare and singular experience. Within a matter of hours one can move from the sub-tropical heat of the lower valleys to the cold of the rugged mountain slopes that reach upto the areas of perpetual snow.

Flora and Fauna:Nature has been generous. Sikkim is noted for her floral wealth and an estimated 4000 varieties of flowering plants and shrubs are found. There are over 600 varieties of orchids. From an altitude of 2400 mts. Rhododendrons can be found. The gentle slopes of the high altitudes are covered by a variety of beautiful flowers like the primula, meconopsis, gentians etc.

The rivers have trout salmon and carp. Naturalists have catalogued over 550 species and sub-species of birds, among them many flamboyant pheasants and over 600 species of butterflies. Animals abound in the dense forest of Sikkim : The dreaded Himalayan bear, musk and barking deer, marbled cats, red panda, the blue sheep etc.

People:Three main groups of people make up the population of Sikkim. The Lepchas, Bhutias and the Nepalese. Sikkimese by nature are simple, polite and non aggressive-a people with a natural gaiety.

Capital
Gangtok

Coordinates
Latitude 27° N - 29° N; Longitude 88° - 89° E

Population
0.54 million

Area
7,096 sq. km

Climate / Weather
Summers 10° - 28°C. Winters -5° - 16°C

Best time to visit
March to June and September to December.

Foreigners Entry Formalities:
Foreigners must obtain inner line permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim, the permits can be obtained from all Indian missions, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), New Delhi, Sikkim Tourism office, New Delhi, Sikkim Tourism Office, Calcutta and Sikkim Tourism Office, Siliguri on the strength of an Indian Visa. Foreigners are issued a permit for initial period of 15 days duration on the spot without any delay provided photocopies of Passport and Visa details along with two passport photos of applicants are made available then and there. It can be extended for further 30 days from the Home Dept., Govt. of Sikkim, depending on the merits of the case.

For those interested in going for trekking in the interior regions of the state, the department of Tourism issues protected area permit (PAP) at Gangtok which is available for certain specified area for groups consisting of 2 or more foreigners subject to the condition that the trekking program is arranged through a registered travel agency.

Foreigners interested in religious/ research work will require a special permit for long-term stay from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. Individual tourists should confirm permitted areas from the Tourist Information Centre, Gangtok

Accessibility:
By Flight:
The nearest airport is at Bagdogra (120 km. from Gangtok) which is connected by scheduled flights to Calcutta, Delhi and Guwahati. From Kathmandu, fly to Bhadrapur, east Nepal (1 hour), then drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border, 35 km), to Siliguri (37 km) and to Gangtok (114 km, 4 hrs). Or fly to Biratnagar.
Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation also operates a daily helicopter service flight from Bagdogra to Gangtok (20 minutes)

By Rail:
The new Jalpaiguri (NJP) and Siliguri railway stations have regular train services to other parts of the country. Both these facilities are in the State of West Bengal.

By Road:
Gangtok is at a distance of 114 km from Siliguri and will take 4 hours from Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Gangtok is connected by road with Darjeeling (4 Hrs) and with Bhutan, Phintsoling (6 Hrs)