Aritar, Pedong - Best Season to Visit, Things to Do

At a distance of 30 km from Pedong, Aritar is a tiny hill town situated in Rongli Sub-Division of East Sikkim district. Known for its natural and landscaped beauty, Aritar is situated on the old silk route and is among the popular places to visit near Pedong.

Isolated from the rest Sikkim, Aritar is characterized by lush green forests, sweeping hills of paddy fields and placid lakes. Lampokhari Lake and Kali Khola Falls are the two interesting places to visit in Aritar. Also known as Aritar Lake, Lampokhari Lake is one of the oldest lakes in Sikkim. It is a boot shaped lake where Pedal boating is the popular activity. At an altitude of 4600 feet, it is the only lake with boating facility in Sikkim. One can also visit a small shrine on the banks of the lake dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava.

Also known as Kuikhola falls and Lonely falls, Kali Khola is a natural spring originated from the foothills of the Himalayas. Falling down from a height of 100 m, the waterfall is blessed with immense natural beauty which makes it one of the most attractive waterfalls in this region. The spectacular view of its crystal clear water, crackling from the lush green hills and falling over the rugged pieces of mountains allures large number of tourists.

Mankhim Rai Temple is also known as Mankhim Dara and Maney Dara, is a famous temple in Aritar belonging to the Rai sect of Hindu origin. The most popular attraction of this temple is the celebration of Sakewa Puja, which starts when the plants grow. There is a view point near the temple called Mankhim Top Viewpoint which offers a mesmerizing view of Aritar and the boot shaped Lampokhari Lake. One can also visit Rhenock Gumpa or Aritar Monastery, a small monastery belong to Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism.