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SOUTH SIKKIM - PARADISE ON EARTH |
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RAVANGLA
(6,800 ft.), saddles the ridge between Maenam Hill (10,600
ft) & Tendong Hill (8,530 ft.). It is the sub-divisional
headquarter of South district & is famous for the panoramic
view of the snow peaks especially of Mt. Narsing (19,170 ft.
high). Just above the town is the Tibetan Refugee Settlement
Camp, which houses the Kheunpheling Carpet Centre where one
can buy fine Tibetan style woolen carpets.
It is also a transit point for trekkers who wish to go for a
short trek to Maenam Hill, Tendong Hill & Borong Hot Spring.
A trek down to the sacred cave ‘Shar Chok Bephu” one of the
four holiest caves in Sikkim, would be a memorable
experience.
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Places
to See |
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TEMI TEA GARDEN
Sikkim tea which is mainly grown in this Temi Tea Estate is
famous the world over & carries a big premium in the
International market. The tea is characterised by its exotic
taste & flavour & costs about Rs 100 a kilogram. It sells by
the brand name of “Solja” & “Kanchendzonga” & it is a good
idea to carry a few packets back home. Enroute Ravangla Temi
Tea garden is an opportunity to see how the aromatic leaves
are grown and processed with a visit to the factory. |
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RALANG MONASTERY
13 kms from Ravangla are the two monasteries at Ralang,
which follow the Kagyupa sect of Buddhism. The old monastery
was built in 1768 AD & legend has it that the 9th Karmapa,
head of the Kagyupa sect, blessed the site of the monastery
with grains of rice thrown from Tibet. “Pang Lhabsol” the
worship of Mt. Khanchendzonga & “Kagyed Chaam”(masked
dances) are held every year.
The new monastery – “Palchen Choeling Monastic Institute”
was built by the XIIth Gyaltsab Rimpochee & completed in
1995. The sacred Mahakala Dance is held here every year in
the month of November.
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SAMDRUPTSE
Samdruptse literally means ‘wish fulfilling hill’ in the
bhutia language. Situated near Namchi in south Sikkim it is
at a distance of 75 kms from Gangtok. A unique, awe
inspiring gigantic 135 ft. tall statue of Guru
Padmasambhava is one of the tallest statue of its kind
in the world. This statue designed & constructed under the
supervision of Kyabje Dodrupchen Rimpochee, conceptualized
by Shri Pawan Chamling, the Chief Minister of Sikkim is a
glowing tribute to the patron saint who blessed Sikkim in
the 8th Century & whose teachings permeate the very ethos of
the State. His Holiness the Dalai Lama laid the foundation
stone of the statue on 22nd October 1997.
What started off, as a logistic nightmare is today the
world’s tallest testament of faith. |
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SOLOPHUK
The place is regarded highly sacred by the Hindus & a
gigantic statue of Lord Shiva as equally big as Guru
Padmasambhava’ s statue is coming up. This place is soon
going to be one of the most ideal points which is a must
visit tourist destination as well as a famous pilgrimage
place for the hindus.
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