Temples of Sikkim are the faces of the religious humdrum amidst the mountains. When it comes to Sikkim, Buddhism is the chief religion and the array of Buddhist Sikkim Temples in and around the state, than the Hindu temples in Sikkim. And as a consequence one can find as many as 200 Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim as against a few Hindu Sikkim Temples. Approximately there are 200 monasteries but only a few Hindu temples in Sikkim. Amongst all the temples in Sikkim, the Hanuman Tok is the most popular and important Hindu temples in Sikkim. Located at about a height of 7200 feet exceeding the sea level in the capital city of Gangtok, this attractive temple offers a ostentatious and panoramic view of the snow covered peaks of the legendary mount and a wonderful view of Gangtok and its ambiance. Ganesh Tok is another famous temples Sikkim, located at an elevation of about 6500 feet on the Nathula-Gangtok road. This temple is so petite that only a single person can crawl into the temple at a time. The Thakurbari temple and Sai Baba Mandir are other Hindu Sikkim temples located at Gangtok and Balwakhani respectively that are also famous temples Sikkim.
Above and beyond the Hindu Sikkim Temples, the Lachung Gompa is a Buddhist temple positioned atop a hill is one of the most striking Buddhist Sikkim temples in Sikkim. The Pemayangtse Monastery, Pedong Monastery, Tashiding Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, Enchey Monastery located in and around the Gangtok city are other Buddhist famous Sikkim temples that magnetize lot of tourists from diverse parts of the world. Sikkim the second smallest state after Goa is less inhabited state in the Indian Territory with a populace of around 550,000 in an area of around 7,096 square kilometers. Located amidst the panoramic Himalayas, the state is hub of tourist activity with more than 28 mountains, 80 glaciers, and 227 high-altitude lakes including the famous Tsongmo Lake, Gurudongmar Lake and Kecheopalri Lake. There are also five Hot Springs and more than a hundred rivers and streams.
The most imperative tourist destinations in Sikkim apart from the famous temples in Sikkim include the Research Institute of Tibetology, Phurben Chorten and the Ridge, Pinetum, Tashi View Point, Menmecho and Changu Lake, Kechopari Lake, Yumthang and Phurchachu Reshi Hot Springs, Rabdantste Palace Ruins, Yuksom among many others. There are a lot of mountains in and around Sikkim and the ones that are more than 20000 feet altitude includes Siniolchu, Pandim, Kabru, Rathong, Kokthang, Talung, Kanglakhang, Simvo and Jonsang. Passing through the picturesque mountains are the equally picturesque Mountain passes that allows one to cross from one border to another. Two of the most prominent Mountain Passes are the Nathu La and Jelep La Pass at an altitude of more than 14500 feet altitude. Both these Mountain Passes lead to the Chumbi Valley in the Tibet. The Bhutan La Pass at an altitude of around 13000 feet altitude leads to Bhutan.
The famous temples in Sikkim include:
* Hanuman Tok
* Ganesh Tok
* Thakurbari Temple
* Balwakhani Temple
* Rumtek Monastery
* Pemayangtse Monastery
* Enchey Monastery
* Phensang Monastery
* Phodang Monastery
* Tashiding Monastery
