Sikkim named top region to visit in 2014 by Lonely Planet

[third eye]

A good choice. Sikkim stands out not only for its pristine beauty but also its low population density & cleaniless. Gangtok is among the best Capitals I have seen. This should give a fillip to tourism to the region including Darjeeling & Kalimpong.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...14-named-by-lonely-planet-20131028-2wbpm.html

MELBOURNE: Scenic Sikkim has been named as the best region to visit in 2014 by a leading global travel guide, with Brazil emerging as the top destination in terms of countries.

Lonely Planet's 'Best in Travel 2014' has come out with a list of top 10 destinations in different categories such as best countries to visit, best regions to visit, best cities to visit and many more such guiding lists for travel next year.

Sikkim was chosen as the best region to go to, with Paris the top city in a list that also included Cape Town, Shanghai and Chicago, while the Greek Islands were seen as the best-value destination.

"Picking up national accolades in 2012 for being India's cleanest state with the most innovative tourism project, Sikkim has set new benchmarks for responsible travel in the country," the guide says.

"Checkbox sightseeing has rapidly made way for sustainable community-based tourism in less developed areas, while eco-friendly policies have lent new vigour to the virginal Himalayan wilderness that drapes the region's mountains," the Melbourne-based guide book publisher says.

Praising the food in the region, the guide notes that organic farming is the new mantra in Sikkim and is being promoted in a big way.

With a new airport scheduled to open near Gangtok, the guide says in 2014 several hours of transit time will be cut and one could fly in directly from major Indian metros.

The Kimberly region in Australia came in second after Sikkim in the list of best destinations to visit in 2014 in terms of regions.

The list included other regions of great natural beauty and splendour such as Yorksire in the UK, Hokuriku in Japan, Texas in the US, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia, Mallorca in Spain, West Coast in New Zealand, Hunan in China and Ha'apai in Tonga.

In terms of countries, Brazil topped the list of best destinations to visit in 2014. Antarctica and Scotland were also named in the top three.

Other countries to make it to the top ten were Sweden, Malawi, Mexico, Seychelles, Belgium, Macedonia and Malaysia.

Published this week, Lonely Planet's ninth annual roundup of best destinations around the world for the upcoming year was based on "scores for topicality, excitement and that special x-factor," as determined by their inhouse experts and outside writers.

In addition to the more standard roundups, there are also some more inventive lists ranging from "10 essential travel destinations for Beatlemaniacs" (it's the 50th anniversary of the Beatles going to in New York) to "The cat's meow: top 10 destinations for feline fanatics".

Top 10 cities

1. Paris, France
2. Trinidad, Cuba
3. Cape Town, South Africa
4. Riga, Latvia
5. Zurich, Switzerland
6. Shanghai, China
7. Vancouver, Canada
8. Chicago, USA
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand

Top 10 countries

1. Brazil
2. Antarctica
3. Scotland
4. Sweden
5. Malawi
6. Mexico
7. Seychelles
8. Belgium
9. Macedonia
10. Malaysia

Top 10 regions

1. Sikkim, India
2. The Kimberley, Western Australia
3. Yorkshire, England
4. Hokuriku, Japan
5. Texas, USA
6. Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe
7. Mallorca, Spain
8. West Coast, New Zealand
9. Hunan, China
10. Ha'apai, Tonga

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...nely-planet-20131028-2wbpm.html#ixzz2jCqreOCG

 

[OrionHunter]

Spot on! My wife's from Sikkim too! The place is amazing! A trip to Chhangu Lake and Nathula Pass is as exhilarating as it comes.

 

[haviZsultan]

Spot on! My wife's from Sikkim too! The place is amazing! A trip to Chhangu Lake and Nathula Pass is as exhilarating as it comes.

Are the streets of Sikkim really so clean or is that some special area. People tend to throw rubbish everywhere from what I remember of my trips to Lucknow. Its the same here in Pakistan.

 

[third eye]

Spot on! My wife's from Sikkim too! The place is amazing! A trip to Chhangu Lake and Nathula Pass is as exhilarating as it comes.

Besides the Eastern Distt, North Sikkim is breathtaking.. Lachung, Lachen..Yumthamg..Valley of Flowers ..amazing.

Yumthang Valley is a grazing pasture surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim district of Sikkim, India. It is at an elevation of 3,564 metres (11,800) above msl at a distance of 150 km from the state capital Gangtok.

It is popularly known as 'Valley of Flowers'. It is also home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, and has over twenty-four species of the rhododendron, the state flower. A tributary of the river Teesta flows past the valley and the town of Lachung, the nearest inhabited centre. Yumthang is closed between December and March due to heavy snowfall.

 

[Kill-The-Enemy]

Wow please don't make Sikkim a crap like we've made to Himachal Pradesh

 

[third eye]

Are the streets of Sikkim really so clean or is that some special area. People tend to throw rubbish everywhere from what I remember of my trips to Lucknow. Its the same here in Pakistan.

The main streets of Gangtok are even cleaner than this ! Besides, they have channeled music playing along the roads .

To me its an example what can be done if the Govt AND the people want.

I recall the dirty looks & stares I got for throwing an empty packet of Chips like I always do. An old man sitting on a bench pointed to a bin without saying a word. I got the message.

Each time I go I notice a sense of pride among the locals quite akin to what I see in the Delhi Metro.

 

[third eye]

Gangtok MG Road:

 

[third eye]

 

[third eye]

 

[third eye]

 

[OrionHunter]

Are the streets of Sikkim really so clean or is that some special area. People tend to throw rubbish everywhere from what I remember of my trips to Lucknow. Its the same here in Pakistan.

Yep! Real clean unlike most other cities. And as Third Eye mentioned, I really like the piped music playing softly in the background whilst walking down the main street shown above. And thank God no damn taxis and cars are allowed to ply on the Mall, polluting the pristine atmosphere.

 

[Kill-The-Enemy]

I wish our national capital 'New Delhi' would look like this some day . Although it is clean but some patches are filthy and ugly and pollution is top notch..

 

[haviZsultan]

The main streets of Gangtok are even cleaner than this ! Besides, they have channeled music playing along the roads .

To me its an example what can be done if the Govt AND the people want.

I recall the dirty looks & stares I got for throwing an empty packet of Chips like I always do. An old man sitting on a bench pointed to a bin without saying a word. I got the message.

Each time I go I notice a sense of pride among the locals quite akin to what I see in the Delhi Metro.

In India and Pakistan much can be done by the people if they remember their duty to land and nation. Throwing rubbish in the street is a small example. If we wait until we find a trashcan it would definately help in keeping the streets clean. But instead people just throw rubbish everywhere. There is one such zone here in Karachi as well.

It shows the potential of what could be...

 

[Ayush]

great..

 

[asad71]

Is foreigners' entry still restricted?