Gangtok Travel Guide
Gangtok is a hill station situated in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is the capital of the state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located on the eastern side of the Himalayan range. The place lies on a ridge overlooking the Rainpool River. Gangtok means High hill or Hill top. It has as an average altitude of 5,800 feet above the sea level. Languages spoken here are Nepali, Sunwar, Mangar, Limbu, Rai, Lepcha, Gurung, Sherpa, Tamang, Newari and Bhutia.
The setting of the place is spectacular with the fine views of the Kanchenjunga range. Gangtok is the hub of the tourism industry in Sikkim. The mesmerizing view of Kanchenjunga peak and the natural beauty around is the main attraction of the place. Thousands of tourists throng to the place to enjoy the natural beauty of this place which brings a soothing relief to both the eyes and heart.
Buddhism has a great impact here in Gangtok and it is also considered as a Buddhist Pilgrimage. There are several Buddhist monasteries and Buddhist learning centers here in Gangtok. Several local festivals are celebrated here all the year round, along with the major festivals of Diwali, Holi, Christmas and others.
The favorite cuisine of this place is Momo alongwith with a noodle soup named thukpa. The ethnic cuisine here as well as traditional is shah-phaley (It is in the shape of a samosa which is made of spiced minced meat and Sikkimese patties)
How to Reach Gangtok
- By Air — Bagdogra is the nearest airport, about 124 kms away from the town. Taxis and rented vehicles can be taken from the airport to the town.
- By Rail — New Jalpaiguri is the nearest rail head. Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata have regular train connectivity to New Jalpaiguri. A taxi will take you from the station to Gangtok in 4 Hrs.
- By Road — situated at a distance of 114 kms from Siliguri, driving is an option that has to be done via taxis or rented cars in this town
Distance of Gangtok from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Siliguri |
115 |
|
Darjeeling |
75 |
|
Pelling |
132 |
|
New Jalpaiguri |
688 |
|
Bagdogra |
124 |
Weather
Gangtok Temperature:
- Summer (Mar to May) – Temperatures are mild and range between (8°C) to (21°C)
- Monsoon – (Jun to Sep) – Regular rainfall happens. This is not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are low and range between (4°C) to (18°C)
- Best Time to Visit – April to May and Oct to Dec are the best season for tourism
What to See in Gangtok
Mt Kanchenjunga
Mt Kanchenjunga is the third largest mountain peak in the world. The superb view of the snowy mountain ranges with surrounding natural beauty is a breath taking away view. The sunrise view is an ultimate view from here
Ropeways Cable Car is available from the Deorali market. A trip on this cable car gives a wonderful view of the whole city. The cable car makes three halts in three altitudes and the beauty of the Kanchenjunga and its surroundings can be viewed from the three heights
Tsangu Lake
It is a beautiful oval lake receiving water perennially from the snow capped mountains. It remains frozen during winters. It is one of the most enchanting landscapes. In the spring, one may see wild flowers like poppy.
It was built in the memory of Baba Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan Singh used to be a military personnel working for the border forces. It is said that during the Indo China warfare he got disappeared. Then his fellows saw him in dreams with the desire to build a temple for him. Hence this temple was built honoring his sacrifice for the nation
Rumtek Monastery
This well known and revered monastery is representative of Tibetan architecture. Located at a distance of 23 km from Gangtok, it is one of the largest monasteries of Sikkim. Rumtek monastery is set in a picturesque background with waterfalls and majestic hills bordering it on the sides. Inside the monastery, is a large prayer hall
It is a circular viewing area, 8 km from Gangtok. The specialty of this site is that it enables tourists to get panoramic and beautiful view of the Mount Kanchanjunga with its two monasteries. The view is more heavenly during sunrise as the sun rays fall on the snow caps making it glimmer. To have a clearer view, one may see through binoculars which is provided here on the spot
Banjhakri Falls is located 4 km away from Gangtok is another important place to visit. This place is built on a garden comprising an area of 2 acres. The garden is well decorated with sculptures figures resembling the Jhakri culture. Amidst of all the wonderful waterfall which is the main attraction of the park. A wooden pool is built and some artificial splash is built over the small stream
Do-drul Chorten is a Stupa which was built in the year of 1945. It has a golden top to the south where it contains relics and a complete set of holy texts. The surrounding 108 prayers wheels is an important feature of the Stupa and it must be turned in a clockwise direction
Other Details
What to Do
- Go for a rope way ride to see the birds eye view of Gangtok
- Enjoy momo and other local delicacies around the Mall
Where to Eat
- Thalung –Mahatma Gandhi Marg. This is located in an old wooden building. The beef momo and noodle soup is the specialty
- 9’INE Street— MG Marg. This is the place to go if you are looking for some great Sikkimese food.
- Taste of Tibet – MG Marg. Go there for authentic Tibetian food
What to Buy
- Sikkim’s tea
- Woolen Carpets
- Handmade Paper
- Traditional Sikkim Style Ensembles
Get Around
Taxis and rented cars are the best ways to get around this dreamy little town. Taxi stands are located after each kilometer within the city limit
Top Destinations - Sikkim
– Aritar Lake
– Gangtok
– Lachung (Yumthang)
– Lachen (Gurodongmar Lake)
– Pelling
– Zuluk
Popular Tour Plans - Sikkim
4-6 Days
1. Darjeeling-Gangtok (6N/7D)
2. Gangtok-Pelling (5N/6D)
3. Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Darjeeling-Pelling-Gangtok (8N/9D)
2. Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung-Pelling (8N/9D)
3. Aritar-Zuluk-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung (8N/9D)
4. Darjeeling-Kalimpong-Pelling-Gangtok (9N/10D)
5. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung (9N/10D)
>10 Days
1. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung-Pelling (11N/12D)