India, Aug. 30 -- Perched between Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, the tiny state of Sikkim captures an astonishing range of landscapes and cultures within its small borders. Within a few days, you can hike through rhododendron forests, sip butter tea in a monastery, devour a plate of freshly steamed street-side momo and gaze into the turquoise mirror of a high-altitude lake. Though one of India's smallest states, it contains a microcosm of the Himalayas - snowbound summits, subtropical valleys, and layers of history in between (proof that grandeur sometimes comes in compact packaging). From its vibrant festivals and monasteries to its trekking trails and healing hot springs, these are the best things to do in Sikkim.

Sikkim's history and cult...