Aritar

Aritar is a region which is situated in Eastern part of the Indian state of Sikkim under Rongli Sub-Division. It is famous for its natural and landscaped beauty. Aritar is located on the edge of the Himalayas, and can be reached in about four hours' drive from Gangtok either via Pakyong or Rangpo.

Aritar is isolated from the rest of the state, on the far eastern border of Sikkim and surrounded by Mt. Kanchendzonga, the region is distinguished by lush forest, mountains and rivers. The Aritar Lake (Ghati-Tso) is one of the nearby attraction, and also the traditional villages and monasteries such as Lingsay are the attracting places where tourists can pay a visit.

Source of Income of Aritar

The main source of income for the peoples in Aritar is tourism. Ecotourism had a significant impact on the economy of Aritar which makes a marked increase in employment opportunities for people in Aritar and also generates foreign revenue which is utilized for regional and local development.

Homestays and Accommodation

Aritar has come up with numerous homestays providing pocket friendly as well as clean accommodations to its visitors. The homestays are well furnished providing all kinds of modern amenities including Geyser, western style attached bathrooms, televisions in few homestays. You will also get homemade local food prepared from the farm fresh vegetables. Homestays are also a major source of revenue for people in Aritar.

Things to do in Aritar

Take the roads less travelled which will lead you through rural hamlets to a place, you haven't witnessed before whenever you reach the place you will realize that you have found a paradise, Aritar is sure to startle you with its mesmerizing beauty and indefinable charm. Nestled in the lap of nature, Aritar is a region situated in the East Sikkim district. Opening up to the breathtaking views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Aritar also serves as a viewpoint for extremely alluring Himalayan panorama. Take a tour of this fairy land, dotted with engaging tourism attractions and captivating sightseeing places.

Aritar is a delightful place for spirituality seekers- 'Aritar Gompa', 'Mankhim Temple', 'Nirmal Dham' and 'Parbateyshwar Shivalaya Mandir' are few of the religious sites which are the must visit places for tourists and which are sure to leave every religious-hearted with a divine experience unmatched.

Aritar is also an ideal place for trekking enthusiast, the nearby 'Lungchuk Valley' is a famous trekking destination for tourists in the region and provides every trekking enthusiast with a never-ending fun of thrill, adventure and exhilaration.

Apart from sightseeing, there are several other interesting things to do in Aritar. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride across Lampokhari Lake, one of the oldest natural lakes in Sikkim. Trekking enthusiasts can trek the enchanting trails to Lokdara and Chujachen. Spending a day besides the peaceful Aritar Lake, will again be an amazing experience. Being surrounded with flora and fauna, this place also serves as a great spot for bird watchers. Tourists who are searching beauty and solace, Aritar any time will be the best choice to make. If you are looking forward to an unforgettable escape from your daily monotonous life, do make a visit to this celestial place.

Places to visit in Aritar

• Lampokhari Lake: Lampokhari is one of the prehistoric natural lakes in Aritar Sikkim; however some artificial construction has been done to provide bathing facilities for the tourists which is the primary attraction for tourists.
  This place is located at an elevation of 1,420 meters and offers boating facilities for tourists as well.
• Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir, Aritar: Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is congregate by the visitors, especially in the Hindu month of 'Sawan'.
• Trekking, Aritar: Aritar apart from offering beautiful panoramic vistas is also a paradise for adventure enthusiasts, without any hesitation make sure to interact with locals for more information about the routes.
• Dak Bunglow, Aritar Overview: Dak Bungalow is an old British bungalow, which was built in the year 1895. The dak bunglow building has got its fame because it is Sikkim's first treasury and the Sikkim police was also raised here.

How to reach Aritar

Aritar is situated in East Sikkim and can be reached in just 4 hours from Gangtok via Pakyong or Rangpo. The nearest airport is Pakyong which is around 46km from Aritar.

Bagdogra is another major airport and it takes roughly 5-6 hours of drive to reach Aritar from Bagdogra. New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station and it also takes 4-5 hours to reach here.

How to Reach Aritar by Road: You cannot count on the busses as there are very few buses which go from New Jalpaiguri to Aritar. However, there are buses which travel from Siliguri to Gangtok. From Gangtok, you can avail a car or jeep to reach Aritar.

Local Transport in Aritar: You can hire a cab for transport purpose and sightseeing at Aritar.

Best time to visit Aritar

Summers in Aritar start from March and ends around June. Since this town is located at a higher altitude, the weather is very pleasant during this season. The temperature remains between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius and thus this time is preferred by the tourists.