In order to celebrate the pride of Sikkim (The Flowers) an international flower festival is organised by Tourism Department of Sikkim, which shows 600 species of orchids, 240 species of trees and ferns, 150 varieties of Gladioli, and 46 types of Rhododendrons and also wide variety of magnolias and various leafy plants can also be found. As being the hill station the tourist from all over the world come here to have a glimpse of this rare beauty. Rhododendron and varieties of bamboo are the main attraction of this Flower Festival.
This festival is held during the summer from April to March, which is considered to be the blossoming season of Sikkim. During this season the beauty of the place overwhelming as it become vivacious with the colour of lively flowers. The Flower show is held near the White Hall which is close to Gangtok, capital of Sikkim. This festival has given an opportunity to the people who are interested in floriculture and horticulture can really feel the unusual and breathtaking experience, even they can attend lectures and seminars by the experts. This International Flower Festival has given a platform for the bounding of international relation with countries like Netherlands, Australia, Taiwan and China and would also help us to know the better horticulture and better ways to enhance the future prospect of flower plantation. In one of the show one renowned person said that "Sikkim after getting the Rhododendron it has found its London's Buckingham Palace.
Sikkim is also famous for its wide spread beautiful mountains and its beauty of lusty green valleys. Tourists from all over the word come to relish the ultimate beauty of this place.
As festival includes food, fun and happiness, so the tourist department also have food stalls, you can enjoy the traditional cuisine of Sikkim. Some of the famous dishes are Momo (steamed dumpling), Tomato Achar (Pickle), Thukpa /Gya-Thuk (Noodle soup), Kinema curry (Fermented soybean), Gundruk and Sinki Soup (Fermented vegetable soup), Gundruk ko Achar (Pickle), Chhurpi Soup (Traditional cottage cheese), Chhurpi ka Achar (Pickle), Chhurpi-Ningro Curry (Chhurpi with wild fern), Sel Roti (Fermented rice product), Shimi ka Achar (String bean pickle), Pakku (Mutton curry) and Mesu Pickle (Fermented bamboo shoot). People store foods and vegetables in order to ferment ate, as fermented foods are very popular in here in order to make alcoholic drink.
Apart from everything you can have go for an exciting and enthusiastic adventure of river rafting. This is comparatively new to Sikkim but it is extremely remarkable experience. For one hour you will have a casual floating then after that the soapy water will lash in cold and thrilling water. A journey of this rafting will be always laid in your heart.