Today is our third attempt to reach Sikkim, but this time we are allowed to enter Sikkim and we also have a nice chat with the border guards. In Sikkim, people are more Asian, and are therefore friendlier and more helpful than the people in the rest of India. Many people wave at us from their houses and when they see we are confused about the road, they help us without having to ask for it.

Is This Sikkim or Nepal?

The landscape of Sikkim resembles Nepal, with better roads then, but there are no snow peaks to see, it’s quite foggy and the falls have almost no water because the rainy season is already long gone.

Again an Almost Completely Dried up Waterfall

The first night we sleep in Singtam, where we have to rush to get something to eat because everything is already closed at 8pm. The second night we sleep in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. We decide to get a beer because we really like Kingfisher (Indian beer) and alcohol is in the state of Sikkim a lot cheaper than elsewhere in the country. We want to go to a bar, but in Sikkim it’s not allowed to smoke in public places, even on the streets. Therefore, we decide to grab a beer from the shop and drink it at the rooftop terrace at the hotel, overlooking the valley of Gangtok.

Gangtok by Night

The last night we sleep in Yoksum, the ancient capital of Sikkim, a charming village which is known as a base for trekkers. It was a little too cold for us to go trekking, although it must be a beautiful trip.

Yoksum, the Ancient Capital of Sikkim

Here we have the coldest night we've had on our trip so far, and there is no heating in the rooms here. The next morning it is with some reluctance that we crawl from under our sheets to leave again. Just left, we are faced with a bridge which is closed.

The Closed Bridge

A car fell through one of the panels that cover the bridge and they are now reinforcing this. They tell us it can take up to three hours but after an hour we are back on the road.

Probably the Most Common Road Sign in India

The Beautiful State of Sikkim

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