The small and beautiful northeast Indian state of Sikkim is nestled in the lap of the Himalayas. The state sprawls below the Mount Khanchendzonga. The tourists are bound to be mesmerized at the picturesque scenery of the state. The state is located in the midst of the grandeur of the mountain peaks, lush valleys, meandering rivers and hills. The visitors to the state can move from the sub tropical heat of the lower valleys to the cold of the rugged mountain slopes that reach up to the area of perpetual snow within a few hours.

The Tourism Department of Sikkim has chartered a tentative blue print to organize all year round activities for its ambitious project in the year 2010 that is the Year of Tourism. The draft plan has a proposal of about thirteen tourism festivals. The entire plan aims at reinforcing the image of Sikkim as premier tourism destination in the nation along with strengthening village tourism in the State.

It has also been proposed in the draft plan that Year of Tourism 2010 will set off from the month of March- April with Sikkim Discover Festival followed by Rabong Discover Tourism Festival, Aritar tourism festival and Temi-Tarku Ram Nauvami festival. On introducing the plan, the government aims to seek a 30 per cent increase in the tourist inflow during the Year of Tourism celebrations as in the present years a huge number of tourists have visited Sikkim. Bearing in mind this objective, the State Tourism department has drafted a tentative itinerary that proposes to host tourism- related activities throughout the year 2010.

The month of May will witness the celebration of the International Rhododendron Festival at Shingba Lachung in North and Varsey in West districts. It has been proposed that the Rhododendron festival will be held from the 3rd of May to the 20th of May. The Hee-Bermoik Cultural Heritage Festival in West Sikkim will also be held in the same month.  The world environment day on 5th June will also be celebrated in the Sikkim government with grandeur and pomp. The monsoon festival will be celebrated on the 5th of August at Tharpu in West Sikkim.

The tourist department has also proposed to organize two-day World Tourism Day celebrations in September. It is here that eco-adventure, camping, village tourism and home stay activities will be organized. In the festive month of October the tourist department plans to conduct Dasia as a tourism festival along with Namchi Mahotsava and the winter festivals like the Magan Music Festival. The Khangchendzonga Festival will be celebrated in Pelling and Gangtok

The tourism plan is likely to set a boost to the promotion of tourism in Sikkim on a wide forum.