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Tucked away in the foothills of
the Himalayas, Sikkim is a Himalayan wonderland with its
lovely views and exotic orchids, and its forest-trails. A
virtual Shangrila overlooked by Mt. Kanchenjunga, the
world’s third highest peak, Sikkim is attractive equally for
the sightseer, the adventure sports enthusiast and those
interested in Buddhism and Tibetology. Buddhism is the
predominant religion here, with many fine old monasteries
rich with frescoes, religious paintings on silk and statues
of the Buddha’s various incarnations.
Gangtok, the "Lofty Hill" or the "Hill made flat to build
the Gangtok monastery in 1716". Gangtok is a city, which,
till one sees it, one would believe exists only in
picture-story books. In the mystery-laden mists prayer flags
whip in the breeze; wheels spin in the hands of Lamas
mumbling invocations to God, in the distance are the snows,
on the streets amidst brightly painted pagoda roofed houses,
lined with friendly smiling people are silver, silk and
spice and jewellery to gladden an maiden's heart, from
across the seven seas are gadget and goods to delight the
collector of "imported goods', while directly overlooking
the city is the hill Lukshyma, the 'Mother of Pearl' citadel
of the magic mountain, Khang-Chen-Dzod-Nga. |
