Yuksom

A dose of nature's gift aptly personified-Yuksom is a quaint village in Western Sikkim. Nestled in the Kanchenjunga National Park, surrounded by greener hills, the town provides entry to the Mount Kanchenjunga base camp. Yuksom is also the starting point for some of the best treks in Sikkim. There's plenty of sightseeing making it one of the dream places to visit in Pelling, and you just can't miss out on the local food.

The people of Sikkim consider Yuksom village very important because they crowned the first Chogyal there in 1642. Yuksom has several religious and historical sites, including the Dubdi and Sangachoeling temples, which the first settlers built in Sikkim.

The beautiful Khecheopalri Lake, which is sacred to the people of Sikkim, is a popular spot for tourists. Yuksom is a lovely and historic town and the starting point for the Khangchendzonga Trek. However, you can't see the high mountains very well from there. These destinations are often included in Pelling tour packages, offering visitors a chance to explore Sikkim's natural and cultural beauty.

Biodiversity festival

The Forest Department of the Government of Sikkim holds the Biodiversity Festival every year in Yuksom. This keeps the local people informed about their culture and natural history. The board at the event displays pictures depicting natural diversity in plants and animals as well as cultural history. It emphasizes the consequences of deforestation and importance of conservation. 

They further stress the importance of hillside stabilization, conservation for cooking energy with local food, and garbage reduction. These will also include reuse and replacement, composting organic waste, and encouraging crafts and textiles, puppetry, music, and dance. Yuksom is called the 'Biodiversity Hub' because of this, and everyone eagerly participates in the program.

Trekking Routes Starting from Yuksom

•    The town is a well-known place for walking, and here are some of the trekking tracks you can explore:

•    Yuksom to Dzongri walk: During this walk, you will see the stunning scenery of Sikkim and impressive mountains like Kabru, Ratong, Kanchenjunga, Koktang, Panding, and Narsing. You can also see beautiful rivers and watch the sunset at places like Tiger Hill.

•    The walk from Pemayangtse to Yuksom takes about six hours and goes through Barey and Orange orchards.

•    The trip from Yuksom to Bakhim takes about five hours and goes through thick woods and mountains that are between 2500 and 3500 meters high.

•    Bakhim to Dzongri and return: It is a six-hour trek that passes through beautiful flower meadows.

•    The walk from Bakhim to Yuksom to Pemayangtse takes 4 hours to get back to Yuksom. After that, you need to drive back to Darjeeling, which is a lovely trip along the River Teesta.