Author
Radha Devi Rai
Radha leads operations for the North Sikkim circuit. Born in Chungthang, she knows every driver, every permit officer, and the exact bend where you lose mobile signal.
16 articles by Radha Devi Rai
SeasonsSikkim in October: Kanchenjunga peaks, Dasain crowds, book early
October is Sikkim's peak season. Post-monsoon air clears, Kanchenjunga shows up on most dawns, every North Sikkim route is open, Old Silk Route is at its best. The trade-off is real: Dasain-Tihar crowds, top-of-year hotel rates. Book 6 weeks out or you won't get the room you want.
Travel Essentials7 things that go wrong on a self-planned Sikkim trip (and how to avoid them)
After 11 years running Sikkim tours we see the same seven mistakes on DIY trips: wrong permits, underestimated drive times, Gurudongmar bookings that ignore closure status, single-vehicle plans that Sikkim rules do not allow, skipped altitude acclimatisation, wrong-month choices, and no landslide backup. Each with its specific fix.
Travel EssentialsSikkim permit online 2026: ILP, PAP, Nathu La. How to apply
How to apply for Sikkim permits online in 2026: Inner Line Permit (ILP), Protected Area Permit (PAP) for North Sikkim, and the Nathu La day permit. Who needs what, documents required, fees, and how a registered Sikkim DMC processes them in-house.
SeasonsSikkim in June 2026: Weather, Temperature, Pre-Monsoon Window & What to Book
Sikkim in June 2026. Week-by-week weather, temperature ranges by altitude, the first-10-days pre-monsoon window (last reliable clear-weather slot before the rains), North Sikkim access, accommodation pricing, and the honest call on whether to book or wait. By a Sikkim Tourism Department–registered DMC operating since 2015.
Travel TipsEleven mistakes first-time travellers make in Sikkim and Darjeeling (and what we tell them instead)
The patterns we see repeat across hundreds of itineraries every year. From over-stuffed schedules to permit timing to packing wrong, the eleven mistakes that cost travellers good days. And what to do instead.
SeasonsSikkim rhododendron bloom: 40+ species, exact weeks, three altitude bands
Sikkim has over 40 rhododendron species across three altitude bands. Lower-valley species bloom in February-March, mid-altitude (Barsey, Tonglu) March-April, high-altitude (Yumthang, Singalila ridge) April-June. Here is the exact bloom calendar with the trails that work.
Destination GuidesNorth Sikkim: complete guide to the towns, lakes and permits at altitude
North Sikkim covers the area north of Chungthang. Five towns (Lachung, Lachen, Mangan, Dzongu, Chungthang), six major destinations (Yumthang, Zero Point, Gurudongmar, Cholamu, Thangu, Chopta), and three different permit regimes. Here is the comprehensive regional guide.
Destination GuidesBest places to visit in North Sikkim: 8 destinations with altitude and access notes
North Sikkim has 8 places worth your time across two main valleys. Lachung side (Yumthang, Zero Point) and Lachen side (Gurudongmar, Cholamu, Thangu). All require Protected Area Permits. Honest guide with altitude, best time, who can visit and what to pair them with.
StoriesSikkim wildlife and bird-watching: Khangchendzonga National Park's 550+ species and where to spot them
Sikkim has 4,500+ flowering plants, 552 bird species, 144 mammals (including snow leopard and red panda), and 900+ butterflies. Concentrated in Khangchendzonga National Park (UNESCO) and the connecting forest corridors. This is the local guide to wildlife and bird-watching across the state.
SeasonsSikkim in August: deep monsoon, Independence Day, what works and what to skip
August is Sikkim's second-wettest month. Independence Day weekend brings unexpected domestic tourist traffic. The 22nd day of the Tibetan lunar month falls in August. Janai Purnima festivities at monasteries. Lower-altitude towns work; high altitude does not.
SeasonsSikkim in July: the wettest month, what stays open, and why some guests love it
July is Sikkim's wettest month. Darjeeling averages 648 mm of rain across 23 wet days, Gangtok similar. North Sikkim is unreliable, Gurudongmar effectively closed. But monasteries, lower-altitude towns and tea gardens are at their most photogenic. Honest guide.
ItinerariesThe Old Silk Route in 6 days: our Zuluk-Nathang itinerary
Thirty-two hairpin bends, one quiet night at Zuluk, a sunrise at Thambi View Point. This is the six-day loop we've been refining since 2018. With the stops that actually matter.
Destination GuidesGangtok or Darjeeling: which to visit first?
We get this question every week. The short answer: it depends on whether you want toy trains and tea, or monasteries and mountain roads. The longer answer is in here.
Travel TipsSikkim landslides, roadblocks and weather emergencies: what to do if your trip hits a road closure
A practical safety and contingency guide for Sikkim road emergencies. What causes landslides, when they happen, how the BRO clears them, what to do if you are stuck, and how to plan a trip that absorbs them.
Travel EssentialsSikkim shopping guide: what to actually buy, where to buy it, and what to skip
Sikkim shopping ranges from churpi at Lal Bazaar to handwoven Bhutia carpets at the Tibet Road shops. Most "tourist shopping" sold to bus tours is cheap import. This is the local guide. What is genuinely Sikkimese, what it actually costs, and where to find the real version.
ItinerariesSikkim with elderly parents: realistic pacing, altitude limits and a working itinerary
A Sikkim trip with parents in their 60s and 70s works. With the right pacing, the right altitude ceiling, the right hotel choices, and an honest conversation about which destinations to skip. Here is the 8-day version we have run for 60+ multi-generational family trips since 2015.