This picturesque town amid the Silk Route has several places of interest for tourists and is being developed as a tourist destination.
One of the first stops is the Mankhim Top. It is a Hindu Temple revered by the Rai sect of Nepali ethnicity. The temple is located at an altitude of 6,500 ft above sea level. The view of the Lamphokri Lake from here is breathtaking. You can take a trek to the Mankhim Top from Aritar and choose to stay back at Mankhim Top for a night,
One of the beautiful and most sought-after places to visit near Aritar is Lampokhri Lake, located at 4600 ft above sea level. It is also called the Aritar Lake and is one of the known for being the oldest natural Lake in the region. The clear blue water of the Lake offers the backdrop for a soulful boating ride. The Aritar Lake is the only Lake in Sikkim where boating is permitted.
Besides these two places, you can visit the Aritar Gumpa made by the Kagyuapa order and is revered as one of the holiest in the region. The painted murals, the icons, and the manuscripts speak eloquently about the architectural and cultural richness of the monastery.
Another holy place of visit is the Parbateyswar Shivalaya Mandir, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple attracts thousands of Hindu devotees every year during the monsoon or the Sawan months.
The other must-visit pious place near Aritar is the Nirmal Dham dedicated to Nirmal Guruji or Kopchey Baba, known for his healing powers.
Nature lovers can stop by the Changey water fall near Lampokhari and Lonely Falls at the Rorathang-Rongli Road. The Lungchok Valley is a wonderful destination for trekking.
Aritar is populated by about 714 families with about 3000 people (Census 2011). The village is administered by the local Sarpanch, who the residents of the village elect. Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, Gurung, Limbu, and Newari are spoken here. The ethnicity of people here is mostly Nepali, Bhutia, Sunwar, and Sherpa.
One of the must-visit occasions is during the Lampokhari Festival. It is one fair in Sikkim that gets handsome footfalls. Held in the backdrop of the scenic beauty of Aritar, the festival is the right place to catch a close glimpse of the ancient cultural and heritage of Sikkim. The festival was held for the first time in 2007 and now is held annually in April. Tourists can expect flower exhibits, local food, adventure activities, cooking competitions, dance and cultural shows, boat rides, archery contests, and more.
The cuisine is mostly limited to local delicacies. There are several small eating joints here. The not-to-miss cuisine here is the Tibetan and Indian cuisine. You also get to buy Chang, local alcohol.
