Best Time To Visit North Sikkim

Unlike most places in India, North Sikkim also has a distinct Autumn Season which forms an important season when it comes to festivals. Not only is the season after monsoon and just before the onset of winter the perfect time to visit for the adventure activities and trekking and hiking, but it is also the time when Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom in Sikkim. This results in some of the most enchanting views that are hard to find anywhere else in the country. The festivals of Dussehra and Diwali are also celebrated with much excitement and vigour during the autumn season. Lhabab Duchen which is the celebration of Buddha?s descent from Heaven to Earth is also celebrated in North Sikkim during this time of the year.

Sometimes unbearably cold, winters in North Sikkim are a torrent of continuous snowfall and temperatures ranging from 4 degree Celsius to 7 degree Celsius. Due to this reason, North Sikkim winters are not for everyone. However, if you brave to go to this region in the winter months, you will be greeted with the untouched beauty of the area where all the roads, lands and fields are covered in sheets of snow and the snow capped mountains are your constant companion in the background. Frozen lakes often make an appearance and add to the entrancing beauty of the season. The roads are also often blocked due to landslides, and the area is frequented with storms, due to which some places are strictly off limits in the winters.
As for the festivals and celebrations, winters in North Sikkim seem to be packed to the brim with them. The Mangan Music Festival held from the 12th to the 14th of December as well as the Losar Festival in February is amongst the famous ones. The Mask Dance at the Lachung Monastery during the start of December is also something that should be witnessed.

North Sikkim has a somewhat rocky monsoon season. The season is bombarded with heavy rainfall, which though lesser than that in the south, is still enough to make the roads slippery and dangerous for travel. Out of the three months of monsoon, July faces the brunt of the rainfall the most. The continuous rain makes the temperatures drop down to 4 to 15 degree Celsius. While there are downsides to the monsoon weather in north Sikkim, the waterfalls that add to the charm of the region almost make up for it. This along with the increased opportunity for bird watching has encouraged several travellers to make the trip to North Sikkim in the monsoon, despite the weather.