Sikkim as a State
Sikkim, a small territorial land, which lies amidst the majestic Himalayan ranges, lush valleys and dazzling rivers in the north eastern part of India, has a lot to offer to its visitors and onlookers. A home to the small villages, big modernised cities, well cultured and hospitable residents and different religious faith, the state of Sikkim, with its capital at Gangtok, pampers all with the same values and same understanding.

Significance of Buddhism in Sikkim
Along with Hinduism, the thought of Buddhism also occupies a prominent place in the secular land of Sikkim. The school of Buddhism, which is also referred as a 'religion' with its main followers in Sikkim being the Tibetans and the Bhutias, traces its history in the land back to the 15th-16th centuries. It was in this period that a friction took place among the Tibetan Buddhists over the supremacy and the difference in other ideologies based on Tantric rituals. This discord resulted in the arrival of the old sect Nyingmapa(who believed in Tantric rituals) to Sikkim, while the liberal sect, Gelugpa leaded by the Dalai Lama gained ascendency in Tibet.

Today, Sikkim hosts a number of Buddhist temples, monasteries and learning centres which further reflect upon the tradition, culture and values of the Buddhist life in the Himalayan regions.


Major Buddhist Places in Sikkim

• Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre : Located 24 kilometers away from the capital city of Sikkim, Gangtok, the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre is the largest monastery of Sikkim. The centre, which follows the Kagyu order of the Tibetan Buddhism, also homes some of the world's most rare religious scriptures and other sacred objects.
  
  
• Do-Drul Chorten : The Do-Drul Chorten(Stupa) is the most sacred object in Sikkim venerated by all the Buddhists. It was constructed in the year 1945 by the Trulshi Rimpoche, the head of the Nyingma order of the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. The stupa, located in the campus of the Rumtek monastery, comprises a complete 'mandala' set of Dorjee Phurba(Bajra Kilaya), a set of holy books or the Kan-Gyur relics, mantras or Zung and other sacred items. The Chorten is also surrounded by 10 Mani-Lhakor or prayer wheels and two huge ststues of the Guru Padmasambhava(Guru Rimpoche).
  
  
• Deer Park : Located in Sikkim, the Deer Park commemorates the first sermon of the Lord Gautam Buddha at the Deer Park in Sarnath. The park, also known as the Rustamjee park(named after one of the Deewans of the Chogyals of Sikkim, Rustamjee who also wrote 'Enchanted Frontiers'), consist of a huge statue of the Lord Buddha with a butter lamp burning in front of it. At the bottom of the statue are compiled a few lines in golden letters by a renowned Buddhist scholar Shantiveda :
  
  "Shower forth, Ye Heavens sweet rains in season due,
  That Earth's rich harvest swell in ample stream,
  Holdfast, O' king, the path of righteousness,
  That world on world may rise to bliss supreme."
  
  
  
  
  Established in the late 1950s, the park is a home to Himalayan Bears, Red Pandas and species of Deer.
  
  
• Khecheopalri Lake : A sacred site, the Khecheopalri lake, hidden in the dense forests of the serene land of Sikkin, is revered by the people of both the sects : Buddhism and Hinduism.
  
  
• Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology : A famous centre of learning for the Buddhists, the Namgyal Reasearch Institute of Tibetology presents the largest collection of the books and manuscripts of the Mahayana Buddhism in the world. The institute presents around 30 thousand volumes and translations of the original teachings of the Lord Buddha Buddha along with that of the other Buddhist scholars of the world. Located in Gangtok, the place is also a home to a museum, and numerous crafted thangkas.

Other Major Attractions of Sikkim

• Yumthang Valley : Also known as the 'valley of flowers', the beautiful Yumthang valley lies at an altitude of 1180 feet above the sea level in the beautiful land of Sikkim amidst the majestic Himalayas. The picturesque valley is a home to the fast flowing tributary of the Teesta river, numerous hot springs of medicinal value and species of colourful flowers. However, the foreigners are allowed to visit the valley only if they have acquired a permit from the Sikkim Tourism department.
  
  
• Government Cottage Industries Institute : Located in Sikkim, the Hanloom and Handicraft Centre, which is also known as the Government Cottage Industries Institute, protects and promotes the artisans of Sikkim and their fantastic artistic skills. The institute exhibits and sells different products like handwoven carpets, blankets, shawls, wall paintings, furniture and handloom products.
  
  
• Orchid Sanctuary : A home to some of the rarest Orchid species in the world, the Orchid sanctuary in Gangtok attracts the tourists with its extensive collection of Orchids. The sanctuary, with its 454 species of Orchid collection, is a boon for the nature lovers.
  
  
• Changu Lake : The Changu lake, which means 'the source of lake' in Bhutia language, is located 35 kilometers away from Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim. The lake, considered 'sacred' by the locales, is about one kilometer long, 15 meters deep and oval in shape. The Alpine forest, which surrounds the calm lake, shelters animals like Red Panda and Brahminy Ducks, along with other birds, who are an add-on the beauty of the lake mesmerising the visitors. However, the foreigners are not allowed to visit the lake, whereas the Indian tourists need an inner permit to visit this restricted area.

Climate
The climate of Sikkim varies from place to place depending on the location and altitude of the place. The months of November to February witness minimum temperature falling as low as 2 degree Celsius, resulting in cold weather. The Summer months during the months between April and June are relatively hot though not much with the temperature rising up to 28 degree Celsius. However, the monsoon months between July to September receive heavy rainfall.

The best months to visit the regions of the Indian state of Sikkim are October, November and march. However, whichever month you chose to visit the place, a permit from the government tourism headquarters of Sikkim is a must, especially for the foreigners.