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5 Places to Visit in South Sikkim (2026): Tourist Spots, Timings & Entry Fees

South Sikkim is the gentle side of the state, built around two hill towns. Ravangla has the giant Buddha Park and Ralang Monastery; Namchi has the Char Dham pilgrimage complex and the Guru Padmasambhava statue on Samdruptse, facing each other across the valley. Between them is Temi, Sikkim's only tea estate.

Sikkim tour packages →Best time & how to reach

  1. 1.Buddha Park, Ravangla

    Ravangla, Namchi district

    The 130-foot Buddha statue at Buddha Park, Ravangla

    Tathagata Tsal, the Buddha Park at Ravangla, centres on a 130-foot Buddha consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 2013, with Kanchenjunga behind it on clear days.

    Timings
    About 9am–5pm or 6pm daily
    Entry fee
    About ₹50 for Indians, ₹100 for foreigners (2026 reports)
    Distance
    About 77–85 km from Gangtok; 44 km from Pelling
    Time needed
    1–1.5 hours
    Best time
    October–December for mountain views; March–May for flowers

    Buddha Park, Ravangla: full guide, how to reach and tips →

  2. 2.Char Dham, Namchi (Siddhesvara Dham)

    Solophok Hill, Namchi, South Sikkim

    The giant Shiva statue at Char Dham on Solophok Hill, Namchi

    Char Dham (Siddhesvara Dham) on Solophok Hill near Namchi has a giant Shiva statue above replicas of the four dhams and twelve jyotirlingas, with views over South Sikkim. Entry fee, timings and how to reach.

    Timings
    Roughly 7 am to 7 pm; check locally
    Entry fee
    About ₹50 per person
    Distance
    About 5 km from Namchi; about 75–80 km from Gangtok
    Time needed
    1–1.5 hours
    Best time
    October–May

    Char Dham, Namchi (Siddhesvara Dham): full guide, how to reach and tips →

  3. 3.Samdruptse (Guru Padmasambhava Statue)

    Samdruptse Hill, Namchi, South Sikkim

    Giant Guru Padmasambhava statue on Samdruptse Hill near Namchi

    Samdruptse Hill above Namchi has one of the world's tallest statues of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), Sikkim's patron saint, facing Char Dham across the valley. Timings, entry and how to reach.

    Timings
    Roughly 8 am to 5 pm
    Entry fee
    Small fee, reported as about ₹20–30; check locally
    Distance
    About 7 km from Namchi; about 75 km from Gangtok
    Time needed
    45 minutes–1 hour
    Best time
    October–May

    Samdruptse (Guru Padmasambhava Statue): full guide, how to reach and tips →

  4. 4.Temi Tea Garden

    Temi, Namchi district, South Sikkim

    Rows of tea bushes covering the slopes of Temi Tea Garden in South Sikkim

    Temi Tea Garden is Sikkim's famous tea estate, set up in 1969 by the last Chogyal on a long hillside between Ravangla and Namchi, now growing organic tea. Walk the rows, visit the factory and drink a cup where it's grown.

    Timings
    Daylight; factory visits on working days
    Entry fee
    Free to walk the roadside rows
    Distance
    About 20–22 km from Ravangla and Namchi; 55 km from Gangtok
    Time needed
    1–2 hours
    Best time
    March–May and October–November

    Temi Tea Garden: full guide, how to reach and tips →

  5. 5.Ralang Monastery

    Ralang, near Ravangla, South Sikkim

    Ralang Monastery's main prayer hall near Ravangla, South Sikkim

    Ralang Monastery near Ravangla is one of Sikkim's largest Kagyu monasteries, with a richly painted prayer hall and masked dances in winter. Timings, festival dates and how to reach.

    Timings
    Roughly 7 am to 5 pm
    Entry fee
    Free; donations welcome
    Distance
    About 13 km from Ravangla; about 120 km from Gangtok
    Time needed
    45 minutes–1 hour
    Best time
    October–May; the Pang Lhabsol and winter dances draw crowds

    Ralang Monastery: full guide, how to reach and tips →

Best time to visit South Sikkim

October to May. October to December gives the clearest mountain views; March to April brings cherry and rhododendron blossom. The monsoon (June to September) is wet but the hills are green.

How to reach South Sikkim

Namchi is about 75–80 km from Gangtok and about 100 km from Siliguri; Ravangla is about 25 km beyond Namchi. South Sikkim fits neatly on the drive between Gangtok and Pelling. No permit is needed for Indian travellers.

See South Sikkim with a local team

Private trips with a driver, hotels and permits arranged, built around the places above.

Sikkim tour packages →

South Sikkim: frequently asked questions

How many days are enough for South Sikkim?+

One full day covers Char Dham, Samdruptse, Temi and Buddha Park; stay a night in Ravangla to add Ralang Monastery.

Do I need a permit for South Sikkim?+

Not if you are Indian. Foreign nationals need the Restricted Area Permit for entering Sikkim.

Is South Sikkim on the way to Pelling?+

Yes. Many trips go Gangtok to Pelling via Namchi and Ravangla.

What is South Sikkim known for?+

Its giant statues (Buddha Park, Samdruptse and Char Dham), the Temi tea garden and quiet monasteries.

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