Gangtok

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim, the newest and the second smallest state in India. The city is located at an altitude of 1547 meters above the sea level. Steep snow tip mountain, mountain slopes, surrounded by lush rice terraces, hot water spring, swift flowing, gurgling, foaming rivers reflects unique ambience. Phodong & Labrang - The Monastery is located about a kilometer above the North Sikkim Highway about 40 kilometers away from Gangtok and was built by Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal sometime in the first quarter of the eighteenth century.  A kilometer from Phodong, the Labrang monastery was built about 100 years later than the Phodong Monastery. Tsomgo Lake – This frozen lake is about 1 kilometer long, oval in shape, 15 meter deep and is considered extremely sacred by the local people on the way is Kyangnosla Alpine Sanctuary with numerous waterfalls fast rushing mountain streams and the Rhododendron rich. Rumtek Monastery - The Dharma Chakra Centre and the seat of his holiness ‘The Gyalwa Karmapa’ who is the head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Kabi Longtsok is marked by a stone amidst the shadows of a dense wooded area. The statue of unity erected near the Thakurbari Temple in Gangtok is in memory of the event.

To see

• Directorate of Handicrafts & Handlooms
• Nam Nam View Point
• Tashi view Point
• Ganesh Tok
• Enchey and Rumtek Monastery
• Flower Festival
• Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology
• Butterfly Park
• Sikkim Time Corporation
• So - Ngor Chorsong Centre
• Himalayan Zoological Park
• Saramsa Garden
• Hanuman Tok
• Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden

One day Excursion

• Fambong La Wild Life Sanctuary
• Tsomgo Lake, Nathu – La Pass, Baba Mandir
• Arhitar Lake
• Phodong monastery & Labrang
• Rumtek monastery
• Kabi Longtsok
• Namchi
• Rumtek

To Reach

By Air – The closest air port is at Bagdogra, which is 125 kilometers from Gangtok and connected with all important Indian metros with regular flights from Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, etc. Helicopter / Chopper services to Gangtok from Siliguri and back  is regular service. Mountain flights and other such tours to North Sikkim are also conducted.

By Rail – The nearest railhead is at New Jalpaiguri which is 130 kilometers from Gangtok. NJP is well connected with all major cities in India. At Gangtok, railway bookings can be made at the booking counter of the Sikkim Nationalized Transport Terminus.

By Road – Gangtok is connected with Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri by the national highway 31A. The Sikkim Nationalised Transport plies regular bus services between Gangtok and Siliguri, Darjeeling and within Sikkim. Private buses, taxis and jeeps are also available from Siliguri & Bagdogra. Gangtok is at a distance of 130 kilometers from Siliguri and will take 4 hours from Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Gangtok is connected by road with Darjeeling 125 kilometers (4 hours), Kalimpong 75 kilometers, Nepal 155 kilometers (4 hours) and with Bhutan, Phuntsholing 220 kilometers (6 hours).