Tourist Places in Gangtok City, Sikkim

Oh! It was a pleasure visiting Gangtok. I felt like being in different world like in China. It is exactly on border between India, China, Nepal and Bhutan.

I've found here plenty and plenty of woman working here. Looks like gender inequality is very less here. While my visit from Bagdora airport to Gangtok I saw that most vegetable vendors were women.

Short Facts about Sikkim

• Sikkim is surrounded by 4 countries
• Total population around 6 lacs
• Size of the state is 7096 sq km( same as area of 85 km x 85 km)
• House to world's third highest mountain Kanchanjunga which is visible from Gangtok
• One of least crime state in India
• Most of livelihood is through tourism and agriculture
• Most people here are Nepalese looking

History

Sikkim was a Himalayan kingdom ruled by a King. Lepcha's and Bhutia's were the native people here. I'm not sure but what I've heard that the native people here are lazy and given to mostly drinking. Instead the women and ladies work the most. The kings were too were given to enjoyment ( of luxury and ladies). Just to get the work done, one king decided to get people from Nepal since those are dynamic. The result is that most of people are Nepalis and Nepali is the official language. Even in the legislative assembly, Nepali is the common language.

According to legend, the Buddhist guru Padmasambhava visited Sikkim in the 8th century AD, introduced Buddhism. Sikkim's Namgyal dynasty was established in 1642. Over the next 150 years, the kingdom witnessed frequent raids and territorial losses to Nepalese invaders. In the 19th century, it allied itself with British India, eventually becoming a British protectorate. In 1975, a referendum abolished the Sikkimese monarchy, and the territory was merged with India.

It became part of India in 1975. Local driver told me that during 1975 Biharis here kidnapped the king of Sikkim (who was already very unpopular) and forced him to cede Sikkim to India.

The last king Palden Thondup Namgyal (May 23, 1923 – January 29, 1982) was very unpopular. He even married an American  Hope Cooke who finally left and went back to USA with their two children.

 The Chinese government recognized Sikkim as an Indian state in 2003, on the condition that India officially recognise Tibet as a part of China.

(Some excerpts from Wikipedia)

Facts about Gangtok

• It is the largest city of Sikkim and also the headquarter of East Sikkim district.
• It's height is 1650m above sea level.
• It's population is around one lac.
• Gangtok rose to prominence as a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site after the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840. 
• In the early 20th century, Gangtok became a major stopover on the trade route between Lhasa in Tibet and cities such as Kolkata (then Calcutta) in British India.
• Gangtok's meaning is "Hill Top".
• Gangtok is a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning, with the presence of several monasteries, religious educational institutions, and centres for Tibetology.
• The native of Sikkim are not interested in running business. As a results most shops are owned and run by Biharis(I was shocked to see this).

Reference here

Tourist Places

The native people Lepcha's and Bhutia's are particular about cleanliness. That's why you will find Gangtok very clean. While Darjeeling(West Bengal) nearby is very dirty. Throwing garbage here and there is not allowed and will attract fine from local police.

These are the tourist places you should visit in Gangtok:

• Nathula Pas : An exciting journey to above 4000 m up in Himalayas on Indo-China border. This is perhaps the most important tourist place to visit near Gangtok
• Tsomgo Lake : A sacred lake lies in the way to Nathula Pas
• Changu Lake
• Lingdom monastery : Contains Buddhism artifacts
• Rumtek monastery : Contains rare Buddha's golden statue and rare artifcats. It is protected by ITBP jawans. You need to park the vehicle and there is a long way to reach this monestry. Inside the prayer hall photography is not allowed
• Gonjang Monastery
• Dro-dul Chorten stupa
• Banjahakri Falls : It is perhaps one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've seen. At least 3 hours is required to enjoy this and is 4 km from Gangtok. It contains 2-3 beautiful waterfalls where you can get down and enjoy to the lowest. (See photos below)
• Baktham Waterfalls : Nice place to sit, relax and enjoy. While returing from Ganeshtok we stopped here.
• Tashi View Point : from here you can see Kanchenjunga peaks( around 60 km away) when there is no clouds around which is between Oct - April.
• Nam Nang View Point: Opposite to Sikkim legislative assemble give a nice view of the forests.
• Handicraft Center
• Ganeshtok(6000 ft) : A hill top location from where you can see whole Gangtok from bird's view. This is probably the best place to take your photograph in front of the city
• Hanumantok(7000 ft) : It has Lord Hanuman's temple and offers even better view of city.
• Himalayan Zoological park : You can see black bear, barking deer, leopard cat, snow leapard, red pandasetc.
• Namgyal Istitute of Tibetology( Tibetology Museum) : houses a huge collection of masks, Buddhist scriptures, statues, and tapestries.
• Flowershow : It's a show of flowers but it's a small one. Just keep it as a last priority.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Gardens : The local driver told me that it's waste of time visiting this. The govt bureaucrats take salary for doing nothing here.
• Ropeway : For a small amount enjoy the long ride of the ropeway giving nice view of the city. Unfortunately you need to keep standing in it.
• Namagyal Memorial Park : a tribute to a Chogyal king
• Sikkim Science Center : There isn't really anything useful - as told to me by my driver
• Tsuklakhang : It is the king's palace within the city
• MG Road : Main shopping area of Gangtok
• Kanchanjanga cultural village tourism complex : It is a big amusement park with Jhulas(Swings), Toy train and many more for children's amusement. There is good astronomy show of 30 minutes in Hindi but the sound quality of speaker is very bad and isn't audible all. It requires minimum half day to enjoy here. Be prepared to walk a lot here since the area is big enough. There is a lovely restaurant decorated like real night forest and the food, pricing is also good. Make sure you don't miss this restaurant

More Information for enjoying Gangtok

Many tourist places are outside of Gangtok and outskirts road condition is very poor. The taxi simply crawls. To see all tourist places in Gangtok it should take you 2-3 days. With the current road condition and the distance you'd need to walk to reach various monasteries, Kanchanjanga cultural village tourism complex, Banjhakri Falls is simply too much.

I strongly suggest you make a list of how much time will take in each tourist place. Then only negotiate with the taxi driver. We paid Rs. 1800 for whole day city trip from Lingdom monastery to Ganeshtok and back. We missed many tourist places.

If children are with you then take 4-6 hours at Kanchanjanga cultural village tourism complex. Minimum 1-2 hours each at Lingdom and Rumtek monastery. Minimum 2 hours at Banjhakri Falls. Minimum 1 hour at Ganeshtok.

Hire taxi only through your hotel.

Taxi Rates

Click here to see typical taxi rates. Remember in peak season it should double. Without agent, the cost of hiring a vehicle to Nathula Pass was Rs. 4000 during off season in July. You can compare this cost when you go there. Through hotel it'd cost you around 5000 with Rs. 1000 as their commission. Travel agents will charge even more.

Selecting a hotel

You may have a different reason but I suggest that you book a hotel after feedback of any of your acquaintances. You should go for a hotel with clean mountain or Kanchanjanga facing view and secondly the hotel should be neat and clean.

I personally like staying on the main shopping area like the MG Marg there. Here are the list of hotels on the curvy MG Marg:

• Hotel Dongkheala
• Hotel Anola
• Hotel Tashi Delek
• Doma Residence
• Hotel Sun & Snow
• Htel Bayul Dzomlee
• Hotel Golden Pagoda
• Hotel The DZong
• Hotel Alfa Family
• Hotel Kanchendzonga
• Brothers guest house
• Green hotel lodging
• Hotel Zam-den
• Hotel golden heights
• Hotel Mig-tin
• Rhenock Hotel
• Hotel Mazong Residency
• Norphel guest house
• Sunshine lodge
• Hotel Annapurna ( The worst and dirty hotel we stayed, contains lices and polluted water which made me and my wife sick for a month)
• Hotel Rumtek
• Hotel Sernya

Try doing a Google search and call each restaurant and bargain with them, then pay advance to them by NEFT.

Souvenir Shopping

The cheapest on the MG Marg to buy Chinese souvenir is the one "Omprakash Hanumanlal". Remember every week twice Tibetans come through Nathula Pass in a trade market to sell Chinese artifact in India. Those only are sold in the souvenir shops in Gangtok.

Restaurants on MG Marg

Hardy any good ones are there. The Parivar Restaurant is tasteless. There is one good and serves very tasty food is "Masala Pure Veg". Don't miss it.

Tibetan Flags

You will wonder flags in fields, or on ropes between roads - those are Tibetan's. These represent wish from the Lord.

Colorful : for fulfilment of one's wish.

White: For dead, the higher hoisted the more chances of dead attaining heaven.

Peak Season

I went in the off season( June - July). It was all cloudy and raining everywhere. Perhaps the worst season to visit.

The rates of taxi's double and hotel rates increase to 2-3 times in the peak season which is this:

• March - April
• Sept - Oct
• Dec - Jan (mid)

Who are the tourists

Most of visitors are from West Bengal as it is touching upon Sikkim. Plenty are government servants who come to Sikkim as it is very far off and gives more value of their free money from government LTC account.

How to go to Gangtok

The nearest Railway station is New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri which is 125 km from Gangtok. Siliguri is one of the largest cities in West Bengal.

The nearest airport is Bagdora Airport from where you can take taxi with drive of around 5 - 6 hours.

Siliguri is quite spread out on the highway 31A NH to Sikkim. A plenty of cantonment area is also there. Once cantonment area ends the Himalayas will start. The Himalayan soil is sand like and highly unstable that's why you'll find many landslides which going during Rainy season.

Click here to see Gangtok on Google Maps

Help in Gangtok

If you want any price information, hotel rates I suggest you call this nice gentleman, be sure you'll be helped honestly: Mr. Karma 09593782324