Gangtok Tourism | Gangtok Travel Guide

Gangtok, Sikkim’s capital means “hill-top” and rightly so. It offers an amazing view of the 3rd highest mountain peak in the world. Located at the foothills of the Kanchenjunga mountain ranges, it attracts numerous tourists every year. Pristine beauty, wonderful trekking trails, alluring skyline and a perfect blend of different cultures are its USP. If you also wish to tour the paradise in Northeast, then you have come to the right place. We provide you with every detail about Gangtok and its charming attractions. Gangtok introduction would be incomplete without mentioning some of the major attractions of this city. Among the various attractions here are Tsomgo Lake, Tashi viewpoint, Do Drul Chorten, Enchey Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, etc., not to forget the Teesta river which is an excellent spot for white water rafting in entire Northeast India.

Travel Guide for Tourists

More About Gangtok Tourism

Located at a height of 5500 feet, Gangtok remains covered in clouds. The city offers an excellent view of the Khangchendzonga, a UNESCO World Heritage site, National Park and Biosphere Reserve. A perfect blend of culture and communities, Gangtok was an important transition point for people traveling between India and Tibet. It has a great mix of old-world charm and modern amenities to look forward to. Being cosmopolitan in nature, it offers a wide range of cuisines as well. The city is the country’s first litter free zone.

What to see in Gangtok?

The major attraction of Gangtok is the MG Marg which sports a festive carnival look during tourist season. The annual Gangtok Food and Culture festival is celebrated here in December with much fanfare. You can enjoy the multi-cultural cuisines along with shopping, music, and dance here.

Cable ride from Deorali to Tashiling Secretariat costs merely INR 30 and offers a bird’s eye view of the town, valley and Khangchendzonga range. The 1 km ride accommodates 25 people at a time and takes around 7 minutes to complete. Getting down at Tashiling Secretariat, you can walk to Ride Park and be mesmerized by the enchanting Flower Festival that is held below the park.

Ganesh Tok has located 7 km from the capital city and offers you a view of the entire town as well as Mt. Khang-Chen-Dzonga and Mt. Siniolchu. A temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman is situated at Hanuman Tok. Located 9 km uphill from Gangtok, it has an altitude of 7200 ft. You can have a blissful view of Mt. Khangchendzonga from here and see Selep waterworks that supply drinking water to the entire town.

Lukshyama is the royal cremation ground where mortal remains of the royal family of Sikkim are cremated. Several stupas and chortens are located here. If you are interested in Tibetan history, Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology is a must-visit place, where you can find numerous rare Sanskrit, Lepcha and Tibetan manuscripts, statues and Thankas (rare colorful draperies used in Buddhist worship).

Know this before you plan your Gangtok trip

If you wish to soak in the sights and sounds of this beautiful town and look forward to exploring its nooks and corners, you need to plan your trip well in advance.

Best time to visit Gangtok

The state rich in flora and fauna can be best explored in autumn (September to November) and spring-summer season (March to June). The climate is ideal for sightseeing in these months. Monsoons should be avoided as heavy rainfall often leads to landslides.

The temperature during the autumn months ranges between 15-20 0 C with a slight dip in the months of November. During peak winters (December–January) the temperature is between 2-8 0 C. Winters offer a panoramic view of the snow-clad mountains and vibrantly colorful flowers. You can enjoy river rafting as well as paragliding, apart from trekking during this time. You can stroll and explore different parts of the hill station in summers, however, be prepared for heavy traffic owing to the tourist season.

Events not to be missed

1.) The International flower festival is celebrated every year in May and showcases different varieties of orchids, roses, gladioli, etc. It is accompanied by a food festival where local delicacies can be sampled.
2.) The Saga Dawa is the anniversary of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and Nirvana and is celebrated on the full moon day of the 4 th month of Buddhist calendar.

How to reach Gangtok?

By air : the Nearest airport is Bagdogra (124 km), in West Bengal which is connected to major cities across India. Taxis (shared & private) take 2 hrs to reach Gangtok. Helicopter services take 20 min.

By train : the Nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri which is connected to major Indian cities. It takes 5-6 hrs. by road to reach Gangtok through state-run buses or taxi.

By road : You can drive down from Kolkata, Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong. The roads generally well-maintained might be broken at some places.

Popular Tourist Attractions in Gangtok :

The capital city of Gangtok boasts of numerous attractions. Loaded with natural beauty, this place is known for its temples, monasteries, and amazing treks. Seven separate waterfalls combining to form one magnificent one is a representation of the geography of the region. You can use the ropeway to watch it from up close. Located on National Highway, you need to hire cabs to get here.