Remote, spectacular and closer to Nepal than India in cultural terms, this former independent kingdom was only annexed by India as its 22nd state in 1975. Tucked between Nepal and Bhutan in the high Himalayas, and just north of Darjeeling, Sikkim is hard to get to but well worth the effort for its ancient Buddhist monasteries and truly awesome mountain scenery, not to mention the wonderful plantlife, rare animals and extensive birdlife. With a tiny population (whose main language is Nepali) that includes several ethnic minorities such as the Lepcha, the state now has a reputation for having the most environmentally-conscious government in India.