Sikkim is the home of Rhododendrons and the Government of Sikkim is hosting three weeks long Rhododendron Festival from 25th April to 14th May 2010. The main venue will be at Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary in Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim- spread over 43 sq. km. of rhododendron forests. The Sanctuary was established some 20 years back and it is the repository of around 26 large leaved species of which R. hodgsonii, R. falconeri,                 R. thomsonii, R. campylocarpum, R. campanulatum,       R. decipiens,        R. cinnabarinum, R. wightii, R. niveum, R. sikkimense and many others will be at their best. The Rhododendron Festival, first of its kind in the Indian Himalayas, will showcase the importance of this spectacular genus in the plant kingdom both from tourism and conservation standpoint. More...