Amidst the last Himalayan 'Shangri-las', the grandeur of the mountain peaks, green valleys, fast-flowing rivers, terraced hills and ancient Buddhist monasteries, Sikkim offers her visitors a rare and singular experience. Small but beautiful, Sikkim is situated in the eastern Himalayas. Spread below the Kanchenjunga (8534 mts), the third highest mountain of the world.

It was never easy to visit here and, even now, you need a special permit to enter, though this is easy to obtain. All the same, access to the eastern part of Sikkim along the Tibetan border remains restricted, and trekking to the base of Kanchenjunga has to be organised through a recognised travel agency.

Until 1975, Sikkim, or New House, was an independent kingdom, albeit under a treaty which allowed the Indian government to control Sikkim's foreign affairs and defence. However, following a period of political crises and riots in the capital, Gangtok, India annexed the country and Sikkim became the 22^nd Indian state.