I have always been somewhat different from the people of my age. The rat race of jobs, hustle for money, and high-paced, high-energy communities have never really piqued my interest. I feel the most comfortable in silence and solitude, where I get to hear my thoughts, arrange them, challenge them, and correct them. This is how spirituality presents itself to me. My country, my upbringing, my belief system – all are deeply rooted in spirituality. I cannot deny that my country has moved away from this path of spirituality, slowly every year, distracted by the materialism of life. However, there are some places where the people have struck the perfect balance of spirituality and sustenance of life. The perfect example of such a place, in my humble opinion, is Sikkim.

Sikkim is the 22nd state of India, located at the upper valley of the Teesta River in North-East of India. It is surrounded by the Singhalila Range with Nepal in the West, the Dongkhya Range from North to North-East, and the mighty Kanchenjunga in the East.
The word ‘Sikkim’ is believed to have originated from the Limboo word ‘Sukhim’, which means ‘new house’. Bhutia tribe people call it ‘Denzong’, meaning ‘Valley of Rice’.

But keeping the hard facts aside, Sikkim is a land connected to spirituality in every subtle aspect. The welcoming calmness before sunrise, the orchestra of chirping birds among bamboo trees, the fog-covered layers of mountains, the prayer flags lining almost every road, the prayer wheels adorning modern houses, the echo of prayers from the monasteries through every alley, the design and architecture of buildings, the paintings on the windows, the symbolism of dragons in almost every store, the resilience and wisdom behind the eyes of the elderly, the softspoken honest approach of the natives, the deep commitment of people even in trivial daily chores, the huge effort of nature preservation and much more.

The traces of spirituality and its necessity in this life and after are clearly evident in every element of Sikkim ranging from the illustrations of monks in keychains to huge monasteries among the giant mountains, one just needs to be willing enough to slow down and observe.