Aritar tourism and travel guide
Overview
Aritar a true offbeat destination characterized by thick vegetation and lush-green forests, snow-covered mountain peaks, glacial lakes, roaring waterfalls, and rivers; surrounded by the majestic Himalayan peaks and the Rangpo river carving its path beautifully through the lush green forest this beautiful hamlet is a must visit. Located at an altitude of about 1,500 feet Aritar is considered as a true hidden gem in Sikkim which offers serene landscapes and tranquil atmosphere making it a place that could easily win your heart and if you are a newlywed couple then you could surely include Aritar in your Sikkim Honeymoon Packages. This comprehensive Aritar Travel Guide will provide you with all the relevant information that you need for your Aritar Tour Packages selection. Let’s start our journey!
Cuddled cozily in the foothills of Himalayan range, Aritar have few ancient monasteries, temple and a British-built bungalow called Dak Bungalow from the late nineteenth century. Some of the Top Places to Visit in Aritar include Lampokhari Lake, Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir and Aritar Gumpa.
Feel close to nature while visiting Lampokhari Lake in midst of dense alpine forest in the shape of boot, this lake offers nature’s harmonic serene view that make you feel at ease, forgetting all your stress and worries. Sojourn in the rich culture of Aritar while visiting Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir, dedicated to Lord Shiva this place oozes with spirituality and Aritar Gumpa is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim, offering a panoramic view of the scenic landscape surroundings. There are various activities you can indulge into, like trekking, sightseeing, exploring surrounding landscapes and trying homestays. Aritar have all sorts of accommodation from comfy, cozy hotels to homestays, that let you know day-to-day life of locals and their tradition and culture. The adrenaline junkies can enjoy the beauty of the undulating Himalayan terrains while visiting here. The best time to visit Aritar is from March to May as the weather is pleasant and the beauty of mother nature is at its peak.
Aritar will make you feel a part of the nature and its serenity is beyond words to explain making it a must visit place in your Sikkim Tour Packages itinerary.
Rich in natural beauty, Aritar is an isolated spot located on the famous Silk Route in the Rongli subdivision and makes for the perfect spiritual retreat. The geographic terrain of the place is a photographer’s delight. Nature seems to be abundant here – the silence of the place is broken at times with the light winds, the flowing water in the streams, rivers, waterfalls, and the chirping of numerous bird species.
The Landscape of the place is such that it offers the best opportunity for adventure activities like paragliding, hiking, trekking, camping, rock-climbing, boat rides, and sporting activities like archery and horse-riding.
Aritar enjoys a colder climate than many other parts of Sikkim, receiving a good amount of snowfall from November to January. The right time to visit Aritar is either January or between April to June.
Aritar is populated by about 714 families with about 3000 people (Census 2011). The village is administered by the local Sarpanch, who the residents of the village elect. Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, Gurung, Limbu, and Newari are spoken here. The ethnicity of people here is mostly Nepali, Bhutia, Sunwar, and Sherpa.
One of the must-visit occasions is during the Lampokhari Festival. It is one fair in Sikkim that gets handsome footfalls. Held in the backdrop of the scenic beauty of Aritar, the festival is the right place to catch a close glimpse of the ancient cultural and heritage of Sikkim. The festival was held for the first time in 2007 and now is held annually in April. Tourists can expect flower exhibits, local food, adventure activities, cooking competitions, dance and cultural shows, boat rides, archery contests, and more.
The cuisine is mostly limited to local delicacies. There are several small eating joints here. The not-to-miss cuisine here is the Tibetan and Indian cuisine. You also get to buy Chang, local alcohol.
This picturesque town amid the Silk Route has several places of interest for tourists and is being developed as a tourist destination.
One of the first stops is the Mankhim Top. It is a Hindu Temple revered by the Rai sect of Nepali ethnicity. The temple is located at an altitude of 6,500 ft above sea level. The view of the Lamphokri Lake from here is breathtaking. You can take a trek to the Mankhim Top from Aritar and choose to stay back at Mankhim Top for a night,
One of the beautiful and most sought-after places to visit near Aritar is Lampokhri Lake, located at 4600 ft above sea level. It is also called the Aritar Lake and is one of the known for being the oldest natural Lake in the region. The clear blue water of the Lake offers the backdrop for a soulful boating ride. The Aritar Lake is the only Lake in Sikkim where boating is permitted.
Besides these two places, you can visit the Aritar Gumpa made by the Kagyuapa order and is revered as one of the holiest in the region. The painted murals, the icons, and the manuscripts speak eloquently about the architectural and cultural richness of the monastery.
Another holy place of visit is the Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple attracts thousands of Hindu devotees every year during the monsoon or the Sawan months.
The other must-visit pious place near Aritar is the Nirmal Dham dedicated to Nirmal Guruji or Kopchey Baba, known for his healing powers.
Nature lovers can stop by the Changey water fall near Lampokhari and Lonely Falls at the Rorathang-Rongli Road. The Lungchok Valley is a wonderful destination for trekking.
