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Situated in the Eastern Himalayas, the beautiful
state of Sikkim is sandwiched between the kingdoms of Nepal in the
West and Bhutan in the East, Tibet (China) in the North and the
Indian state of West Bengal in the South.
Sikkim is a land of rich and varied scenic beauty,
magnificent mountains, eternal snows, dark forests, green fertile
valleys, raging torrents and calm, placid lakes. Two principle mountain
ranges are the Singilela and Chola, which start in the north and
follow a more or less southerly direction. Between these ranges
are the principle rivers, the Rangit and the Teesta, forming the
main channels of drainage. These rivers are fed by the monsoon rains
as well as by melting glaciers.
 Sikkim
has a very rugged topography, so rugged that from the air, it looks
as though a giant plough had been carelessly run through it. Flat
lands are difficult to come by. The elevation of the state ranges
from 300 m to over 8540 m above sea level. 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 mountains 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. The Sikkimese
believe that this mountain 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.
Kanchendezonga lies on the western border, at 28,168 ft. Other peaks
that deserve mention are Simvo (6811 m), Siniolchu (6888 m), Pandim
(6691 m), Kabru (7338 m) and Rathang (6087 m).
Glaciers are moving mountains of ice. There are
many of these in Sikkim, but the most important ones are: Zemu Glacier,
Rathong Glacier, Lonak Glacier in North Sikkim.
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.
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.
 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 border 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.
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 zigzag
track becomes steeper as it leaves Gangtok, but makes up for it
in the changing landscape, which becomes more sublime with every
inch of ascent, till it reaches the calm waters of the lake. From
the summit, two roads from both the Jelap and Nathula passes unite
in a track leading to the Chumbi Valley of Tibet. On one side stands
a range of imposing peaks dividing Sikkim from Tibet, on the other
a yawning abyss of ravines and gorges.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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
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 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
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 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.
 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 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.
 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 melting snow. Except for a few most of the waterfalls
are unnamed.
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