Location :
Sikkim
Tourist Attractions : Enchey Monastery, Nam Nam View
Point
Local Tongue : English, Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan
STD Code : (91)- 3592
Best time to Visit : February-May &
September-November
About Gangtok
The mountain state of Sikkim is known for its immense natural beauty that
lay hidden in its umpteen enchanting hill stations. Gangtok, the capital of
Sikkim is an exotic destination which is known for its picturesque environs
as well as ancient Buddhist monasteries. With changing times Gangtok has
also developed a cosmopolitan flavour and today besides retaining its old
world charm, welcomes its visitors with contemporaneity in the form of well
built roads, a maze of flyovers, modern markets, modern buildings,
discotheques and more.
Climate & Best time to Visit
Gangtok being a hilly region experiences cool weather throughout the year.
The temperature rarely exceeds 30 degrees celcius in summers while it
remains below 10 degrees for most part of the winters. While the place can
be visited any time of the year, the best time for a visit is from February
to May and September to November.
Tourist
Attractions in Gangtok
Enchey Monastery
Just 3 km from Gangtok, this 200 years old monastery looks as exotic as the
legend associated with its founder. The monastery was built by Lama Druptop
Karpo, a proficient tantric master who was known for his tantric powers
including that of flying. The walls of the monastery are decorated with
murals of gods and Buddhist leaders. January is the time of Chaam, a masked
dance festival celebrated over a period of two days.
Nam Nam View Point
A gentle walk from the Sikkim press will take you up to the Nam Nam View
point which affords a beautiful view of the surroundings and the Tsomgo
forest. The place is ideal as a picnic spot.
Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology
The research institute is a treasure house of ancient Tibetan manuscripts,
some dating back hundreds of years. Consisting of other rare objects of art,
the institute has today become an important centre for learning Buddhist
principles and philosophy.
Tsongo Lake
The serene lake is situated at a distance of 40 km from Gangtok at an
altitude of 3780 mts above sea level. The surroundings of the lake are
filled with a variety of flowering plant and tree species while a few
animals are also found. The lake freezes during the winters, presenting a
beautiful sight.
Things to Do
Shopping
Gangtok is famous for its handicrafts items including embroidered carpets,
curries, carved wooden items, hand bags, woolen clothing etc. Beautiful
showpieces made of bamboo are also worth appreciation. The major shopping
areas at the city are the Naya Bazaar, Old Bazaar and Lal Market.
Stay At
Gangtok is an important hill station and Buddhist pilgrimage centre of the
north east region, being frequented by tourists all round the year.
Accommodation at the city is available in the form of a number of quality
hotels, which are suited for both budget and luxury travellers. Among the
best hotels in Gangtok are Hotel Dew Pond (3 star, situated on P.S. Road
near the city centre), The Oriental (3 star equivalent, situated on Mahatma
Gandhi Marg 124 km from airport & 112 km from railway station), Hotel
Tibet (3 star, situated on Paljor Stadium Road just 1 km from the bus
stand), Hotel Tashi Delek (4 star, situated on Mahatma Gandhi Marg near the
bus stand), Hotel Central (3 star, situated on the National Highway near the
city centre) and Nor Khill Hotel (4 star, situated on Paljor Stadium Road
just 0.5 km from bus stand).
Getting
There
By Air : The nearest airport is situated at Bagdogra,
just 124 km from Gangtok. Regular buses are easily available from Bagdogra
to reach Gangtok. Indian Airlines operates regular flights from Delhi to
Bagdogra (except Wednesday and Sunday) which leave Delhi at 10:00 AM and
arrive Bagdogra after a journey of around 2 hours.
By Rail : Siliguri (1143 km) and New Jalpaiguri (125 km)
are the nearest railheads which connect the area with other major Indian
cities. Buses and hired taxis are again the available means for getting to
Gangtok from there. A major daily train between Delhi and Siliguri is the
Mahananda Exp. (Dep. 6:40, Arr. 14:00) while those between Delhi and New
Jalpaiguri include the North East Exp., Brahmaputra Mail, Mahananda Exp and
Avadh Assam Exp.
By Road : Gangtok is well connected to other cities in
the region including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri and other cities in
Sikkim. State transport buses provide regular services to and from Gangtok.
Distance from Major Cities
- Calcutta : 720 Km
- Gaya : 647 Km
- Guwahati : 589 Km
- Patna : 583 Km
- Shillong : 689 Km
