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Ravangla, a picturesque and serene town in South Sikkim is also known as Ravongla. It is an ideal spot to choose a brief stay while on a Sikkim trip as it has a perfect blend of beauty and excitement. Known for peace and lush greenery and nestled amidst the mighty Himalayas, Ravangla offers breath-taking views and a tranquil ambiance. The town of Ravangla is a gateway to exploring the natural beauty and cultural richness of South Sikkim from close quarters. Ravangla tourist highlights is a mix and match of man-made splendour and nature’s gifts to man among the folds of Himalayas.
Buddha Park, showcasing a magnificent statue of Lord Buddha, offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys and is a major attraction in Ravangla. The copper statue is approximately 130 ft in height and is adorned with beautiful ornamental designs. The architecture is an inspiring blend of the traditional and the modern. Located about 1 km away from Ravangla the Buddha Park has a calmness and serenity apart from being covered with lush greenery and having gardens with beautiful flowers. It also offers mesmerising views of the snow-capped hills all around.
Suggested Read: Places to visit in Ravangla & Things to do in Ravangla
| Location: | Located in the South Sikkim district of Sikkim state in India. |
| How to Reach: | The Buddha Park is a short distance from the town of Ravangla and about 80 km from Gangtok. Taxi services are available to this place from all major towns of Sikkim. |
| Timings: | The timings to visit this park is between 9.00 am to 6.00 pm every day of the week Sunday to Saturday. |
| Entry Fee: | The entry fee per person is INR 50 and the timings are 9 am to 6 pm. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit this Buddha Park is from April to June during the summer months when you can lush greenery. The months of September to November are perfect to get unforgettable views of the snow-covered Himalayan mountains as well as the colourful flowers dotting the Park, which will leave you spellbound. |
Also Read: Best Time to Visit Ravangla & How to Reach Ravangla
Situated close to Ravangala, the Ralong Monastery is a serene Buddhist monastery that dates back to the eighteenth century. The monastery showcases beautiful murals, exquisite artifacts, and offers a peaceful environment for meditation and spiritual contemplation. It belongs to the Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism.
Also Read: Places to visit in Sikkim & Things to do in Sikkim
| Location: | Located six kilometres from Ravangla in the South Sikkim district of Sikkim state in India. |
| How to Reach: | The Ralong Monastery is 13 km from the town of Ravangla and the way to reach it is by a joyful trekking. |
| Timings: | The timings to visit this monastery is between 9.00 am onwards every day of the week Sunday to Saturday. It is usually open as it houses resident monks. Return before sunset. |
| Entry Fee: | The entry is free for Ralong Monastery. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit this monastery is from April to June during the summer months when you can lush greenery all around. The month of August is perfect if you want to attend the annual festival of Pang Lhabsol, which is held in the month of August. |
Suggested Read: Best Time to Visit Sikkim & How to Reach Sikkim
This wildlife sanctuary is located about 7 km from Ravangala. Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is a haven for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. It showcases a wide variety of flora and fauna, including rare species of orchids, rhododendrons and animals like the red panda, Himalayan black bear and leopard. The word ‘maenam-la’ means “treasure-house of medicines” and it comes from the fact that The flora of this sanctuary is rich in a number of plants of great medicinal value. The Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of around 35 square kilometres. This sanctuary is also in news of late since it is the proposed site for the first wildlife skywalk in India spanning 22 km of joyous rope-way ride.
| Location: | Located near Namchi City in the Namchi district of the Indian state of Sikkim. |
| How to Reach: | Reaching Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary from Ravangla involves a trek. It takes approximately 4 hours to reach Maenam peak and then you can trek down to Borong Village. |
| Timings: | No specific timings, it is open 24 hours but not recommended after dark. |
| Entry Fee: | The entry to the wildlife sanctuary is free. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit this Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is from March to June, during the summer months when you can see lush greenery. |
Bonn Monastery, also known as Bonn Jhakri Monastery, was started in 2001 and the construction was completed in 2005. It is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery situated close to Ravangala, famous for its traditional Tibetan architecture. The Bonn Monastery serves as a spiritual centre for Bon practitioners, and is popular with visitors and travellers who are specifically interested in learning about the unique Bon tradition. You can enjoy the beauty of the statues, religious artifacts and knowledge of scriptures related to Bon practices. The monastery also hosts regular religious ceremonies, meditation sessions and various other cultural events. This monastery was first established by late Yung Dung Tsultrim in 1980 CE and is special on account of being the only monastery in Sikkim belonging to the Bon Sect.
| Location: | Located six kilometres from Ravangla in the South Sikkim district of Sikkim state in India, at Kewzing village. |
| How to Reach: | The Bonn Monastery is 6 km from the town of Ravangla and can be easily reached by road, in a taxi. |
| Timings: | The timings to visit this Bonn Monastery is between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm onwards every day of the week Sunday to Saturday. It is usually open as it houses resident monks. Return before sunset. |
| Entry Fee: | The entry is free for Bonn Monastery. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit this monastery is during Buddha Purnima when you can see the beauty of the monastery decorated for the occasion and listen to the special chanting of the prayers. |
The natural Hot Springs of Borong are famous for their therapeutic properties. The water of these springs is believed to have medicinal and healing qualities, which makes it a popular attraction located approximately 17 km from Ravangala. Exquisite natural beauty laden the Borong Springs offer a rejuvenating and relaxing experience in the middle of these towering mountains. These springs are locally popular by the name Borong Tsa-Chu and people flock here from far and near to take a dip in the magical water of these hot springs. The hot sulphur springs serve as winter spas.
| Location: | Located 21 kilometres from Ravangla and 10 km from Ralang in the South Sikkim district of Sikkim state in India. |
| How to Reach: | Reach Borong from Ravangla by road in a private or hired taxi and then trek 3 km downhill to reach the joyful hot springs. |
| Timings: | The best time to visit these natural spas would be from 7.00 am till 5.00 pm before it gets dark. |
| Entry Fee: | The entry is free. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit this monastery is from December to February during the winter months when you can enjoy the hot spa of the curative waters. |
Tendong Hill is picturesque as well as sacred and so it caters to the religious people as well as the lovers of natural beauty of the hills. It is located near Ravangala. The local Lepcha community has great reverence towards these hills and one can enjoy unhindered panoramic views of the surrounding valleys, mountains and the silvery cascading Teesta River.
| Location: | Located at a distance of 14 km from Namchi and 13 km drive from Ravangla. |
| How to Reach: | The Tendong Hill can be reached from Damthang via 6 km trekking. It is located at an altitude of 8530 ft above Damthang. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit these hills is from March to June during the summer months when you can enjoy the pleasant temperatures from maximum of 28 degrees Celsius to a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius. |
Kewzing Village is a quiet, peaceful, charming mountain hamlet located close to Ravangala. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, terraced farms and the warm hospitality of the local people. It is a typical Bhutia village that is rich in cardamom forests. Exploring the village is a one-of-a-kind experience to take in the beauty and enigma of traditional Sikkimese way of life. This village offers unmatched views of Mt. Narsing and Mt. Kabru.
| Location: | Kewzing Village is located at an altitude of 1402 m near Ravangla in South Sikkim. |
| How to Reach: | Kewzing Village is peacefully located approximately 10 km away from Ravangla in South Sikkim and is known as a bird watchers’ haven. |
| Entry Fee: | No entry fee. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit this village is from March to May during the summer months. Also, the months of October to November are pleasant, when the average daily temperatures hover around 15°C. Enjoy sunny days and a slight chill in the nights during this time, which is perfect for a vacation in a hill station. |
Situated a short distance from Ravangala, Temi Tea Garden was established in 1969. This is the only tea estate in Sikkim that covers an area of 440 acres approximately. Surrounded by the Himalayas, the tea garden offers stunning mountain views. It is one of the best tea gardens not only in India but across the world and offers an opportunity to learn in detail about tea cultivation and tea leaf processing. The Temi Tea Garden is an answer to many inquisitive questions that haunt a tea-lovers mind. Temi Tea has a great demand in international markets. The tea-covered rolling hills are a perfect spot for clicking pictures.
| Address: | The Temi Tea Garden is spread between Damthang and Temi Bazaar, close to Namchi, which is the main town of South Sikkim. |
| How to Reach: | The Temi Tea Garden is approximately 18 km away from Ravangla and can be visited on a day tour. The garden lies on a slope below Tendong along the highway to West Sikkim and is easily accessible. |
| Timings: | No specific timings to visit the gardens preferred timing would be between 7.00 am to 1.00 pm. |
| Entry Fee: | The entry is free. |
| Best time to visit | The ideal time to visit this monastery is from March to May during the summer months when you can see many beautiful spring flowers, exquisite rhododendrons and enigmatic orchids, adorning the sides of the gardens to have an enhanced experience. |
Picturesquely located at an altitude of 7000 ft., Ravangla is famous for its exquisitely beautiful view of the Greater Himalayan Range. This pristine beauty and blessed solitude make Ravangla a must-visit place in Sikkim for tourists looking for a vacation close to nature.
The people of Ravangla built this appealing Buddha Park which has the most gorgeous statue of Sakyamuni Buddha which can be seen crystal clear from all sides of Southwest Sikkim near Ravangla and from a few areas of West Sikkim.
You can visit the Ravangla Buddha Park from 9 am to 9 pm anytime of the day, every day of the week.
Some of the most majestic Himalayan peaks such as Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, Mt. Siniolchu, Mt. Kabru are visible from Ravangla.
The entry fee to the Ravangla Buddha Park is 50 Rs per person.
The Ralang Monastery of Ravangla, Sikkim, India, is also known as the Ralong Monastery. It was built by the 9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje, in the late 18th century. In his effort to spread Buddhism in the Himalayan region, he had established Ralang Monastery as an important monastic institution in Sikkim.
The Buddha Park is located approximately 1 km north of the city of Ravangla, in the South Sikkim district of Sikkim.
The Ralang Monastery or Rolang Monastery was originally built by 9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje, in the late 18th century. Later on in 1975-1981, the old monastery was reconstructed by the 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche. This new monastery has beautifully retained its Tibetan architecture.
The old Ralang Monastery dates back to the year 1768 AD and was constructed by the 4th Chogyal of Sikkim to celebrate his successful pilgrimage to Tibet. According to legend, when the 4th Chogyal came back from his pilgrimage, Karmapa performed the ‘Rabney’ or traditional blessing ceremony.
Some unique wildlife can be enjoyed in Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary such as Red Panda, Serow, Goral, Barking Deer, Leopard-Cat, Marbled-Cat, Civet-Cats, and a wide variety of bird species such as Common Hill Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Magpies, Blue necked Pita, Sunbird and Black Eagle can be seen. It is a treasure house for wildlife enthusiasts.
This sanctuary is famous for laying out incredible trekking walkways and a rich potpourri of biodiversity. It is located between 2300 meters to 3263 meters high. One can enjoy a refreshing trek to Maenam Peak and further to Bhaledunga through the pristinely beautiful nature covered with alpine forest and a stunning view of the Khangchendzonga snow peaks.
Sikkim has 3330.28 sq. km under the Protected Area zone . It includes 1 National Park, the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, and 7 Wildlife Sanctuaries. About 46.93% of Sikkim’s total geographical area is covered with protected forests and sanctuaries.
The red panda is the state animal of Sikkim. It is listed as Endangered in the IUCN red list of Threatened Species and under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The red panda enjoys acute legal protection.
Sikkim is the home to several rare and endangered species of animals. There is the Gray Langur, Javan Rhinoceros, Pygmy Hog and more.
Sikkim Mandarin is marked as the most important commercial fruit of Sikkim. Sikkim Mandarin is similar in taste and looks to the Mandarin found in adjacent Nepal, Assam or Darjeeling.
The perfect blend of dense forests, hills and mountains of Sikkim make it an ideal home to a huge variety of animal species such as Musk Deer, Red Panda, Bharal or Blue Sheep, the Himalayan Black Bear and the frantically elusive Snow Leopard. Due to continual encroachments and commercialization of the areas along with climate change, many of these species are now considered endangered or threatened.
The forests in Sikkim are mostly categorized as Reserve Forest, Khasmal and Gorucharan within the State.
National vegetable of Sikkim is called Chayote or Sechium edule. It belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceous vegetables.
Noble Dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile) is the official flower of Sikkim and is heavenly and beautiful with a distinctive long and thin-jointed stem. The flowers of Dendrobium nobile come in shades of pale to deep purple-pink with a characteristic dark velvety centre.
Dal Bhaat is the most common and traditional staple dish consumed in Sikkim along with other parts of India. It is lentils cooked into a flavourful soup known as dal and served with rice or bhaat. The lentil is cooked with a spread of spices until it is soft and mushy, while the rice is cooked separately until they turn fluffy.
Momos are an integral part of every home and kitchen in Sikkim. They are steamed dumplings containing a variety of rich veg or non-veg filling. The fillings are made of cabbage, mushroom, chicken or meat. This is a native dish of Tibet and Nepal and is enjoyed by all local Sikkimese and available widely across the state in every nook and corner.
The blazon comprising a lotus within a chain of 12 annulets is considered auspicious and important in Sikkim. The lotus acts as a symbol of purity and the lotus throne is a symbol of the attainment of enlightenment. It symbolizes authoritative or administrative power. Lotus thrones form the base of most important figures in Buddhist art.
Temi Tea Estate is very popularly known for its black teas. The tea estate has carried out large-scale manufacturing of its teas since it was started in 1977. Across decades, the tea estate has spread over nearly 500 acres of the mountain slopes.
Temi Tea Garden is owned by the Sikkim state government.
The Temi Tea Garden was established in 1969 and is currently administered and owned by the Government of Sikkim. It is located in South Sikkim region and is the only tea garden in operation in the state. The teas produced here are famous for their rich aroma and delicate taste and occupy a considerable share of the Indian and international tea market.
Nestled in Ravangla, Temi Tea Garden is one of the most picturesque gardens in North-Eastern India spread across the Himalayan ranges. It is very famous all across the world as the tea is produced purely by using organic fertilizers. The quality is supreme, and tea connoisseurs from all across the world visit throughout the year.
Take a taxi to reach Borong from Ravangla. A short trek of about 3 km downhill will take you to the Hot Springs in approximately an hour. The trek is quite steep and strenuous. The best time to visit the hot springs are the winter months of December to February.
