Tashiding, Sikkim

Sikkim is a beatiful little state, lying in mountains covered with forestes, that hide ancient monasteries, quiet lakes, small villages, hot springs and steep trails. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable, in the morning there's often sun, the sky is clear and the Himalaya can be seen.














In the afternoon it can suddenly change and become very rainy. The people that live here are different: many Nepali, some Tibetan-like, called Lepcha and Bhutia, all very friendly and calm, probably because of the mountains :)





















Travelling around is most comfortable by shared jeeps, walking allows to see beatiful views of mountains, rivers and waterfalls, but carrying a heavy bag really diverts the attention from the landscapes to the unpleasant body sensations.
Stopping from time to time is a big relief and after the breath and heart beat become lighter, the views around astonish with wild tranquility and peace.
India invests a lot in the infrastructure of the state - most of the roads are in good shape, hotels are being build in villages, and probably in a few years these isolated places will see many more tourists.
I am travelling around Sikkim for a week with a Dannish guy, named Per, whom I've met in Gangtok, the capital of the state, day after arriving from Varanasi. We moved by jeep to Pelling and stayed there for two days, went to the nearby Pemayangtse monastery and the ruins of Rabdentse, Sikkim's ancient capital. From Pelling we went by foot down the hill and up again, total 20 km, to the Khecheopari lake, which is believed to have magic powers. It was raining when we arrived, and there was no electricity. We stayed overnight in a little room nearby the lake. Next morning the weather became better, we walked to Yuksom, the distance was shorter, but the trail much steeper, so we didn't believe when we actually reached the place. Yuksom is a really nice place. There's a little lake, perfect for meditation and watching the snowpeaks. One of the village's sights is a coronation throne, made of stone, with three seats. It's located in a middle of a garden with gigantic trees, probably hundreds of years old. The other is the Dubdi monastery, the oldest in Sikkim, high above the village. There are so many colors inside the monasteries, not a single part of the wall remains unpainted or uncovered by miniaturistic paintings of lamas, demons, animals, saints, and scenes from the scriptures. Metal statues of Buddha and Tibetan lamas watch from behing the glass.
From Yuksom we took a jeep to Tashiding, a tiny and friendly village, and now we are here, resting from trekking. Many good places for vipassana here, too :)
bolenat...