Namchi is the capital of South Sikkim. It resembles Gangtok in many ways (including the central pedestrian promenade), but is considerably more quiet and local in character, spared of the flood of domestic tourists and the catering industry that comes with it.

Understand

The town is located at an altitude of 1,675m and is inhabited by Sherpas and other people of Nepalese Himalayan ancestry. The town has a population of around 5,000.

See

• 1 Baichung Stadium. Built by the government in honour of th football player Baichung Bhutia. 
• Meanam Peak. 
• Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary (Treasure house of medicines) (25 kilometres from Namchi). A with rare flora and fauna. 
• Namchi Monastery. A Buddhist monastery. 
• Ralong Monastery (Buddhist Monastery) (accessible from Namchi via Ravangla (6 km from Ravangla)). This monastery is considered as one of the most important and most sacred monasteries of Sikkim. The Monastery was built in order to commemorate the pilgrimage of the fourth Chogyal to Tibet. 
• Salleybong Bul Cave (30 mins by road from Namchi). A popular wishing cave, of which the locals believe that wishes come true in, but also a Hindu holy site. 
• Rock Garden (A few km out of town on the way to Samdruptse). great picnic spot with magnificent views on Mount Kanchendzonga (the hird highest peak in the world). 
• Solophok. A Hindu temple with huge statues of Lord Shiva and temples dedicated to the pilgrimage of Char Dham Yatra. 
• Statue of Guru Padmasambhava. Statue of Guru Rinpoche (an 8th century Buddhist sage) - at a height of 118 feet, it is reputed to be the world's largest statue - located on a hill 7.5 km from the from the town. The foundation stone was laid by H.H. the Dalai Lama in October 1997 and the statue was consecrated in November 2003. 
• Tendong Hill. 
• Tendong State Biodiversity Park (16 km from Namchi). With the greatest choice of medicinal plants from the Himalayas. 

Go next

• Jorethang
• Ravangla