The essence of our whole Sikkim tour with OurGuest
Take a look at these 5 homestays in which we stayed in.
1. DORJEELEE HOMESTAY, GANGTOK
Location:- Tathangchen, Gangtok, Sikkim
An old ancestral homestay in Gangtok restored by one of the most versatile hosts, Pempo, is located away from the hustle-bustle of Gangtok. Tucked away in some quiet corner of Gangtok, Dorjeelee Homestay takes you back in time within minutes you step in. You will stay busy in listening to the interesting stories which Pempo narrates with utter proud, who also performs as one of the masked-warrior dancers during The Pang Lhabsol Festival.
The homestay which is a mix of both Bhutia and Lepcha architecture has got wooden carvings all over the place reminding us of how many years old the house actually is.
It was built in the 1930s by the present owner`s great-grandfather who was the Muktiyar of King Tashi Namgyal and in charge of royal private estates and monastic lands of the north. The rooms on the ground floors were used as imprisonment cells after the civil suit.
We were pretty surprised by such historical knowledge about the place we were staying at.
2. MUNLOM NATURE RESORT, DZONGU, NORTH SIKKIM
Location:- Hee-Gyathang, Dzongu, North Sikkim
Apart from the tent room, there are other log-cabin styled rooms as well and the resort is completely made out of felt -wood and preserved by an application of engine oil over the wood.
The porch area remains my favourite, from where these lofty peaks are easily available.
3. YANGSUM HERITAGE FARM, RINCHENPONG, WEST SIKKIM
Location:- Yangsum, Rinchenpong, West Sikkim
Yangsum Heritage Farm is and offbeat homestay in West Sikkim and offers a unique experience to travellers with it's rustic architecture, organic farms, well-maintained lawns, mesmerising view, and warm hospitality. The property is a heritage farmhouse spread over 44 acres of mountain farm landscapes of exotic flora and fauna.
The property retains the rustic charm yet offers all the modern amenities and comfort. Made of locally sourced stone and timber, the five rustic Tibetan style rooms have a yurt-like vibe–three Heritage Rooms in one block beside two independent Standard cottages with spacious verandahs overlooking the mountains. The hosts, Mr. Thendup and his family, arrange for a lot of exciting and adventurous activities for the guest like nature walk, hiking, monastery tour, etc. Food was amazing, loved the Sikkimese delicacies they served us, every meal was a delight. Loved the forest trail around property and the lovely dogs. Overall it was a memorable experience.
4. GNATHANG RESIDENCY, NATHANG, EAST SIKKIM
Location:- Nathang Valley, Sikkim
Getting a chance to stay near to Indo-China border doesn’t knock your door every day and here we were standing in the coldest valley of East Sikkim.
We were 70kms away from Gangtok living in the cosiest place of Gnathang, The Gnathang Residency.
This wonderful homestay in East Sikkim is run by the warmest family who still herds Yaks and welcomed us with some Yak butter Tea. A small family, also consisting of Baby Hissey, Amla and others, kept us engaged throughout our stay since we couldn’t get enough of playing with Hissey.
Even at such an altitude, the homestay had all the amenities ranging from hot water to cosy beds. The food was specially cooked with love by Hissey`s mother who wasn’t surprised to see how hungry we all were.
5. DHUNGKAR HOMESTAY, LINGTAM, EAST SIKKIM
Location:- Lingtam, Sikkim
A Bhutia home tucked in an absolute corner of the wilderness, by the flowing river, Dhungkar Homestay completed the circle of taking us back in time as our first homestay in Sikkim did.
By the vicinity of the Silk route, Lingtam village sits quietly and peacefully in the lap of untouched bits of nature. That’s exactly where we were going to spend our last days in Sikkim. We were also welcomed by a pet dog who was relaxing in the balcony area. The rooms made us feel at home with the cosiest vibe. The kitchen was separate as per the Bhutia architecture. Hosted by Rinchen and her parents, we were greeted and treated in the warmest way with home-cooked momos to an extensive Sikkimese meal. The surroundings were perfect to camp or have a bonfire night as the sound of the flowing section of the river constantly reminded us of our closeness with the authentic Sikkim.
Few things to note:
Written By: The Iffy Explorer (Niharika Arora) when she travelled to SIkkim with OurGuest in 2018