Culture and history · Pakyong
A walk through Pakyong's organic farm terraces
Walk the farm terraces below Pakyong, where families grow maize, ginger, cardamom and vegetables in a state that declared itself fully organic in 2016. A quiet half day that shows the countryside behind the airport.
In January 2016 Sikkim was declared India's first fully organic farming state, after more than a decade of phasing out chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The change is easiest to understand on a small farm, and the slopes around Pakyong are full of them. Terraces step down the hills planted with maize, rice in the lower fields, ginger, turmeric, large cardamom in the shaded gullies, and kitchen gardens of beans, squash, chillies and mustard greens.
There is no formal farm-tour circuit here, so the best approach is to ask. Your driver, a homestay host or someone in the bazaar can usually point you to a footpath down through the fields, or find a young person who will walk with you for a small tip. Go in the morning, when people are at work and the light is soft. October and November are harvest time for many crops; winter brings oranges and mustard flowers.
Ask before entering fields or photographing people, keep to the bunds and paths, and close any gates. Buy what is offered if you want to: fresh ginger, seasonal vegetables, local pickles. Carry water and wear shoes with grip, as paths between terraces can be steep and muddy after rain.
Cost: Free · tip a local guide ₹300–500
Questions people ask
Good to know
Is Sikkim really a fully organic state?
Sikkim was declared India's first fully organic farming state in January 2016, after phasing out chemical fertilisers and pesticides over several years. Farming around Pakyong follows the state's organic rules. As anywhere, practice varies from farm to farm, but chemical inputs are restricted by law.
Can we visit a farm near Pakyong?
Yes, informally. There is no fixed farm-tour system, but drivers, homestay hosts and people in the bazaar can often point you to a footpath or a family happy to show visitors around. A small tip of ₹300–500 for someone who walks with you is fair.
What crops are grown around Pakyong?
Farmers around Pakyong grow maize, some rice, ginger, turmeric, large cardamom and a wide range of vegetables, with oranges at lower levels in winter. Most farms are small and family-run, selling in local markets and in Gangtok.
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