Gangtok

April 16th, 2016 by Abhijit Chakraborty

Gangtok, the capital city of the state of Sikkim, is a beautiful hill station nestled in the Himalayas. Have a look at these stunning images of places in and around Gangtok that will surely make you want to travel.

Find Best hotels in Gangtok

Top 11 places to visit in Sikkim

  1. Rumtek Monastery
  2. Nathula Pass
  3. Tsomgo Lake
  4. Hanuman Tok
  5. Kanchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
  6. Namchi
  7. Do Drul Chorten Stupa
  8. Tsuk La Khang Monastery
  9. Flower Exhibition Center
  10. Kabi Town
  11. Saramsa Garden

1. Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek Monastery

One of the most enchanting places to visit in Gangtok, the monastery belongs to the Kagyu Buddhist sect who lived in Tibet in the 12th century. It is easily one of the most important places that you can visit in Sikkim and the architecture is inspired from the monastery at Tsurphu in Tibet. You may reach the monastery from the airport directly via a taxi and the distance is about 34 km.

Timings: 10 am to 5pm in winters and 8 am to 5 pm in summers.

2. Nathula Pass

Nathula Pass
Nathula Pass

The Nathula is the most important corridor of passage between India and Tibet and is historically very important. Located at a height of 14, 450 feet, one can pass through the beautiful Tsomgo Lake. The pass is also one of the highest motorable roads in the worlds and hence is very popular among adventure enthusiasts. However, special permission is to be acquired from the zonal office to visit the pass. Shared vehicles are the best way to reach the pass, which will cost around INR 900 per head, including the permit fees. The place is very close to the border and you can see the Chinese on the other side of the border.

Timings: April to June and October to November. Open Wednesdays to Sundays.

3. Tsomgo Lake

Tsomgo Lake
Tsomgo Lake

Located at an altitude of 12, 400 feet on the Nathu La Highway, the Tsomgo Lake, also known as Changu Lake, is a wondrous beauty, surrounded by mountains from all sides. You cannot leave Gangtok without visiting Changu Lake, especially because you will never see such clear turquoise water anywhere else. The road leading to the lake is very steep, known as Jawaharlal Nehru Road and yak and mule rides are the best away to reach the lake. There are a number of eateries selling hot noodles, tea and coffee here.

Timings: March to October

4. Hanuman Tok

The almost ancient Hanuman mandir is located at a height of 7,500 feet and you will get the most mesmerizing views of the Kanchendzonga from here. The place has a wonderful amalgamation of spirituality and beauty and the temple compound, through not large, is a great place to sit and bask in the sun. The Kanchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is located just near to the temple. There are a number of taxis available from the station that will take you to the temple.

Timings: The temple is open from 7 am to 5 pm.

5. Kanchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

The natural habitat of Gangtok is a rich with flora and fauna of every kind and houses many endangered and extinct species. The reserve is spread over an area of 850 sq km and it is one of the few high altitude reserves in the country. There are musk deer, snow leopards, and the Himalayan tahr to be seen here. Ticket prices are very low and photographers are sure to love this place for the wonderful sights it offers.

Timings: 10 am to 6:30 pm.

6. Namchi

Namchi Town
Namchi Town

Namchi, meaning, Top of the Sky, is easily one of the best places to visit in Sikkim. From here, one can see the Kanchendzonga and the Rangit River simultaneously, which is why the view from here is so special. One can also see a 135 feet statue of Guru Padmasambhava from here which is perched high on the Samdruptse valley in Namchi. The Namchi Bazaar is also famous for buying woolen garments and local artifacts. The Dechen Choling monastery and the Rock Garden is also located close by so it is a wonderful place to visit.

7. Do Drul Chorten Stupa

The Stupa has always attracted those who are looking for peace and spiritual enlightenment and this is one of the most peaceful locations in the entire city. There are 108 prayer wheels and many people come here from far and wide to spend a couple of peaceful hours here. The place is not much crowded, so it is the perfect location to contemplate. The stupa is located only 2km from Gangtok town in the Deorali area.

Timings: 8 am to 6 pm on all days

8. Tsuk La Khang Monastery

This is clearly one of the more ornate monasteries that you have ever seen and it is sure to take your breath away. The monastery is huge and palatial and there are ornate paintings on the walls with images of Buddha and Bodhsatva, and other idols from tantric Buddhism. The monastery is extremely well maintained and every wall will give you something new to gaze up to. The monastery is located about 3 km from the main city of Gangtok and one can get a bus from Gangtok SNT bus station.

Timings: 7 am to 5 pm everyday

9. Flower Exhibition Center

The flower exhibition center in Gangtok is a real treat for your eyes. The exhibition is held near the Ridge Park in Gangtok and organizes the orchid show. March to June is the best time to visit this place and one can come across orchids of various types here. The park is full of flowers and the butterflies it attracts.

Timings: March to June, 9 am to 5: 15 pm.

10. Kabi Town

Although a small town, this place has historical significance because of the treaty that was signed here between Lepcha chief Te Kung Tek and the Bhutia chief Khey Bum Sar. A small monastery can be seen here as well. There are some good cafes here and the people here are very warm towards tourists. If you are looking for homestays in Sikkim, then this where you will find quite a few of them. There are a number of good taxi services as well between Gangtok and Kabi.

11. Saramsa Garden

This garden is the perfect spot to relax and have a picnic and if you are tired with all the sightseeing, and just want to spend a day in between doing nothing but unwind and spend some quality time with your friends and family, then this is where you should head towards. The garden itself is managed by the Sikkim Forest Department and is very well maintained. Children will find it very educational to look at the wonderful trees and plants that are found here. The River Rani flows just by the garden. The garden is just 45 mins drive away from the city center and you will find a number of taxis.

Timings: 8 am to 6 pm

Where to stay in Gangtok:

Since Gangtok is a popular tourist destination, there are a number of hotels here where you can stay in, both budget hotels and high-end ones. You can book through the OYO app to book rooms of your choice. The rooms with mountain views, especially with views of the Kanchendzonga are the most in-demand. On the other hand, if you are thinking of availing public transport more often for your sightseeing, then you can book rooms near the Gangtok SNT bus stop. There are also a number of hotels en route to the Bagdogra airport and the NJP railway station. You can use the various filters on the OYO app or website to book rooms of your choice.

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