Places to visit in Gangtok
Snuggled in the lap of the North east Himalayas, Gangtok is the capital of the East Indian State of Sikkim. Truly magical, the hill station is one of the must-visit places in India. The backdrop of the Himalayas, the view of the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga makes the hill town a charming locale to spend memorable holidays. If the breath-taking vistas, Buddhist shrines, exquisite flora and fauna, including hundreds of varieties of butterflies, adventure pursuits are your style, then Gangtok tours is the best option for you!
The unexplored gem of Sikkim and its capital Gangtok has a huge list of places to visit and things to do. Tourist attractions in Gangtok include The Do Drul Chorten, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim and India, solitary temple of the Enchey Monastery, the marvelous collection of orchids in the Orchid Sanctuary, etc. The Namgyal Institute of Research and the Tsuk la Khang, are a depository of a large collection of scriptures and the principal place of worship for the local Buddhists, are definitely worth visiting. The Rumtek Monastery is one of its kind in Sikkim and the Phodong Monastery, one of the most beautiful monasteries in the region, are also well worth visiting.
For a bird’s eye view of Gangtok there is ropeway, which on clear weather days offers a great view of the Khangchendzonga range, the town and the valley below. The picturesque Tashi Ling provides an astounding view of the Kanchenjunga range. Ganesh Tok, 7 km from the town offers truly breath-taking views of the snow-covered peaks. Hanuman Tok, a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman set at an altitude of 7200 ft. is also a blissfully calm and quiet hilltop. Lukshyama, the royal cremation grounds have stupas and chortens that have the mortal remains of the erstwhile royal family members of Sikkim. Besides the tourist attractions, there is much more to do. A visit to the Nathu La Pass, the Tsogmo Lake, hill towns of Lachung, Lacheng, Pelling, Yumthang Valley, etc.
Gangtok is also equipped with all possible tourist amenities. MG Marg is the chill-out hub of the town. The clean policy and the no vehicular traffic brings all the people in the town here. Lined with shops, eateries and more, shopping is an added pleasure as is the taste of the north-eastern dishes, especially Tibetan momos, which must definitely be a part of a visit to Gangtok.
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a Tibet museum in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, named after the 11th Chogyal of Sikkim, Sir Tashi Namgyal. The institute employs researchers and one of its new research programs is a project which seeks to document the social history of Sikkim's approximated 60 monasteries and record this on a computer. Another project seeks to digitize and document old and rare photographs of Sikkim for knowledge distribution.
Rumtek Monastery
The Rumtek Monastery is one of the largest and most significant monasteries in Sikkim, perched on top of a hill 23 km from Gangtok. Originally called as the Dharma Chakra Centre, it belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhists who originated in Tibet in the 12th century. Verdant green mountains surround the monastery and thus serves as a visual treat besides being a focal point for spiritual solace. If you climb on top to the Rumtek Monastery, you can have a breathtaking view of the whole Gangtok town situated right opposite the hill. Besides this, the architecture of the striking monastery is one of the finest in the world
Tsomgo Lake
Perched between the mountains at a dizzying height of 12400 ft above sea level, the Tsomgo Lake is one of the few high-altitude lakes in India situated on the Gangtok - Nathu La highway. Also popularly known as Changu Lake, it is a part of every tourist's itinerary and for a good reason - the overwhelming scenic beauty. Enveloped by steep snow-capped mountains and resting between a bright green carpet of alpine forests, the charming beauty of Tsogmo Lake is bound to leave you in awe. The lake's mesmerising scenic allure combined with its legendary significance to the locals definitely makes it a must visit attraction of Sikkim.
Ban Jhakri Falls Park
The Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park is a recreation centre and tourist attraction near Gangtok, in the state of Sikkim, India. The park's statuary and other displays document the Ban Jhakri, or traditional shamanic healer who worships spirits living in caves around the falls. Ban means "forest", and jhakri means "healer". The park is in a thickly forested part of Swastik, next to an army camp, about 7 kilometres from Gangtok on National Highway 31 to North Sikkim.
Nathu La Pass
Nathula, one of the highest motorable roads in the world, is a mountain pass in the Himalayan peaks that co-joins Sikkim and China. Situated on the Indo-Tibetan border 14450 ft. above sea level, Nathu La is one of the most important Himalayan passes in the country. Nathu means 'listening ears', and La means 'pass'. Nathula is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China and is famous for its picturesque beauty and beautiful environment. The temperature here remains low for most parts of the year, and it becomes a hotspot for tourists during summer.
