Top 10 places to visit in Gangtok

Top 10 places to visit in Gangtok

Gangtok is the beautifully located capital city of Sikkim, its situated at an altitude of 5500 feet above the sea level and lies in the eastern Himalayan region. The name Gangtok means "lofty hill". If you love mountains, nature and adventures, visiting Sikkim could be your chance to turn your dreams into reality. Here are the top 10 places to visit in Gangtok.

Tsomgo Lake

The Tsomgo Lake is located at an altitude of 3,780 meters above the sea level. It is a 2 hours drive, about 40 km away from Gangtok. The glacial lake is surrounded by mountains and is covered by snow during winters. The Chinese border Nathula can also be reached through this route. There is also a temple and memorial honouring Indian army soldier Baba Harbhajan Singh.

Rumtek Monastery

The monastery is approx. 23 km away from Gangtok. It is one of the largest and the most eloquent monasteries of Sikkim, as its located on top of the hill it gives us an exceptional view of the entire Gangtok. The religious scriptures, murals, statues and thangkhas inside the monastery along with its architecture makes the visit beyond spiritual. The Golden Stupa is where the tomb of the 16th Karmapa is placed and the monastery is also known as the Dharmachakra centre.

Tashi Viewpoint

The famous viewpoint is at a distance of 8km away from Gangtok. The majestic Kanchenjunga peak can be seen from this point. As if the peaks were not enough to take your breath away, the view of the nature, valleys and hills of the surrounding areas will surely be able to mesmerise you. You can also enjoy the view with a cup of warm coffee or tea as there are shops around and also take a souvenir home to remember this place. If you wish to have a closer look from the viewpoint you can pay the fee of Rs.10 and enjoy the landscape through binoculars and telescope available there.

Banjhakri Waterfalls

The fall is located 7 km away from Gangtok. It is a 2 km stretched landscape consisting of a 100 foot waterfall, Shaman culture themed architecture, statues of jhakris, forest with paved pathways and footbridges decorated with ornamental trees and flowers. The park has a manmade lake with a dragon statue in the centre with the boating facility. Banjhakri meaning forest priest has always been famous among the folk tales. The tale suggests that the priest drive away evil spirits. The Banjharini also known as lemlemey are infamous as they are believed to be evil. This park is called the energy park as well because it runs with solar power and has an area where it promotes  awareness on solar energy.

MG Marg

MG Marg or the Mahatma Gandhi Road is the heart of the town. It is a stretch of about a kilometer and what makes it more welcoming is its amazing ambience. The Marg is beautifully planned with benches for seating, there is an ample amount of area provided to stroll the Marg which is covered with cafes, shops, hotels, restaurants and many more stores. The marg is decorated with flowers, lights and water fountain. What makes this place more attractive is the rich culture and local cuisines. Many events take place in MG Marg from commercial, food, cultural, traditional to many more. You may also be able to enjoy the exquisite winter carnival which is held in MG Marg.

Ganesh Tok

It is at a distance of 6 km away from Gangtok. The name Ganesh Tok is given because it has the temple of Lord Ganesh. People come here to offer prayers and to enjoy the refined scenery which can be seen from the top of the temple. As the temple is located right above the town they have a circular balcony with a viewing lounge from where we can get an amazing sight of not only the entire Gangtok also mountains dusted with snow. If interested you can also rent the cultural outfits from the local shops and take pictures.

Hanuman Tok

Its situated at a distance of 9 km away from Gangtok. Hanuman Tok is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. As soon as you reach the stairs the religious song(bhajan) and prayer bells can be heard. You will be able to feel spiritual, divine and heavenly when you reach the temple top. Its believed that Lord Hanuman rested on this very place on his way to Lanka from the Himalayas. Away from the bustling noise of city the temple gives you a serene atmosphere and the view of the adjacent mountains, valleys, hills and Kanchenjunga will be refreshing.

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

Established on 1st October 1958, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology(NIT) is a Tibet museum named after the 11th Chogyal of Sikkim, Sir Tashi Namgyal. It is located in Deorali which is at a distance of about 2 km from Gangtok. The foundation stone of the institute was laid by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1957 and was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru in 1958. This institute does research work on Tibetan culture and language. The museum is built on the Tibetan architecture and it remains one of the finest till date. The museum also has a library which has the world's largest collection of Tibetan literature and documents. The museum has many rare collections of coins, Tibetan art work, statues, old scrolls with hand paintings and embroidery work, ancient manuscripts in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Lepcha. The museum gives us a chance to take a peek into the history which makes the visit worth it.

Bakthang Waterfalls

Its situated at a distance of about 5 km away from Gangtok. The waterfall originates from Ratey chu, the main wellspring of water for Gangtok. Though the height of the waterfall may not be huge but the way it cascades down the rocks finally into the small pond formed at the end makes the view more captivating and perfect for a picture. Not to forget that there is a small but thrilling activity which could be done at this place is the rope sliding. We can also get a view of Kanchenjunga peaks from this place.

Cable Car Ride

The cable car ride also known as the ropeway is a must do in Gangtok. Opened in 2003 it operates from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm from Deorali to Namnang till Tashiling. The tickets are available at a reasonable price of Rs.110 per person(adult) and Rs.70 for children. It is a 2 km ride and takes about 10 minutes. It is a double cable zig and gives us an astounding view of Kanchenjunga snow peaks, valleys, river and the entire of the Gangtok township. This experience will leave a significant mark to you trip.