Mountains
Sikkim has a very rugged topography and the flat
lands are difficult to come by. The towering
mountains that define this paradise of the
nature also create a barrier to efficient agriculture.The
Singalila Range is an enormous spur of the
Great Himalayas. The crowning glory of this
range is the 8596 m elevated summit, of Mount
Khangchendzonga. The
two mountain ranges are:
Singalila: on
the Western Border. Chola: on
the Eastern Border.
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Glaciers
in Sikkim
Glaciers are moving mountains of ice. There are many of
these in Sikkim among which the most important
ones are Zemu Glacier, Rathong Glacier and the
Lonak Glacier in North Sikkim.
Zemu Glacier
The Zemu glacier is the largest and the most famous glacier of the eastern Himalayas.
It is 26 km in length and is situated in a large U-shaped valley at the base
of the Khangchendzonga massif in northwestern Sikkim. The Teesta River rises
from the snout of this glacier.
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Lakes
In Sikkim
Sikkim does have lakes though not very large in size.
These lakes are both spring fed as well as river
fed.
Tsomgo(Changu) Lake
Tsomgo (Changu) holy lake is situated at an
altitude of 12,000 ft on the Gangtok - Nathu
La highway.
Menmecho
Lake
20 Kms. further away from Tsomgo(Changu) Lake
Khecheopalri Lake & Karthok
Lake
Kathok and Khecheopalri are two important lakes of this area. Khecheopalri,
known as the "Wishing Lake", is one of Sikkim's most sacred lakes.
Green Lake
Samiti Lake
Towards Gochala Pass - A glacial lake in
the Onglathang valley. (a view from west sikkim)
Tso Lhamu Lake
Tso Lhamu is a lake which lies on the plateau that juts into Sikkim into Tibet.
Lakshmi Pokhari
It is a big natural lake cupped in deep crater. As you invoke the blessing
on the bank of this Pristine Lake, you cannot help thinking that it is here
that God really
resides. |
Sikkim
Hot Springs
Sikkim has many hot
springs known for their medicinal value. The most
important are the ones located at Reshi , Yumthang
and Ralang. These springs are considered holy as
one of the four holy caves is located here. This
holy cave is called the Kadosangphu or 'cave
of the occult fairies' and lies on the south of the
four cardinal points.
Yumthang Hot Spring - At an altitude of 12,000 ft, 135 km from Gangtok in North
Sikkim.
Phurchachu Reshi Hot Spring - Around 25 km from Gyalshing, near Reshi. |
Sikkim
Waterfalls
The verdant green landscape
of Sikkim is broken here and there by waterfalls
that leap out of the hillside to the valley floors
in plumes of white. Waterfalls are found almost
all over Sikkim but there is a profusion of them
in North Sikkim specially on the road between Mangan and Lachung as well as in the Dzongu area. Most
of the waterfalls are perennial and are spring
water fed but there are many that derive their
water from melting snow. Except for a few most
of the waterfalls are unnamed. |
Sikkim
Passes
The
mountain ranges are interspersed with the passes
which can be used to cross from one side to another.
On the Eastern Chola range the most important
passes are the Nathu La and Jelep
La both at
an altitude of about 15,0000 ft. and Bhutah
La at an altitude of about 13,000 ft. The first
two lead to Tibet and the third to Bhutan.
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