A slice of ethereal beauty on earth Gangtok, the capital of northeast Indian state Sikkim, sits within the Great Himalayas, endowed with the mind-stirring landscapes of Mt Kanchenjunga. Blessed with mild weather, Gangtok is where you can plan your holiday almost any time of the year. However, people who’re sensitive to cold should avoid winter months.
On the other hand, monsoon is not a favorable time to explore Gangtok. Owing to frequent downpours and landslides during monsoon, this place is best avoided in the rainy season. A number of the best hotels in Gangtok make your search for quality or luxury accommodation easier. Plus, there are various budget hotels in Gangtok to take your pick.
Best time to explore Gangtok
To witness the ardour of Gangtok, map out your Gangtok holiday plan in the months of late March, April, May, late September, October, November, and December.
Know 5 top locations in Gangtok
Regarded as the Land of Monasteries, Gangtok is home to various spectacular tour attractions. Make sure to follow travel guidelines to enjoy a secure, and satisfyingly eventful Gangtok holiday experience.
Below are shortlisted five best places to visit in Gangtok, the lively capital of Sikkim:
Tashi Viewpoint
Tashi View Point is a local sightseeing option in Gangtok, picturesquely perched at a height of 6100 feet. Located at a distance of 7 km from the heart of Gangtok, Tashi View Point serves a spectacular and extensive view of Gangtok city and Himalayan peaks, such as Mt Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu.
Sites like Phodong Monastery and Labrang Monastery are seeable from Tashi View Point. A cafeteria is there. Tashi View Point is famous for its sunset and sunrise views. You can enjoy wearing cultural Sikkimese dresses there. Avail of the best hotels in Gangtok near Tashi View Point at reasonable prices.
Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre
Rumtek Monastery is located at a distance of about 23 km from the heart of Gangtok, the largest monastery in Gangtok and Sikkim. The monastery was built by Gyalwa Karmapa, the 16th Karmapa of the monastery, in the 1960s.
Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre is a dwelling place for community monks, surrounded by lush greenery. Inside the monastery, there are murals, silk paintings, a golden stupa, thangkas, statutes, and numerous sculptures from the 16th Karmapa.
Tsomgo Lake
Tsomgo Lake is one of the star attractions in East Sikkim, an incredible glacial lake with a surface elevation of 3753 m. Tsomgo Lake, popularly known as Chhangu Lake, is nestled about 40 km from Gangtok. The interesting thing is that this lake appears in various colours in different seasons.
An absolutely scenic at the same time thrilling site in East Sikkim, perched close to Gangtok. On the outskirts of the lake, during the middle of May month, bloom Rhododendrons.
Nathula Pass
Nathula Pass, Baba Mandir, and Tsomgo Lake are known as a 3-point-tour. The adventurous, winding roads of East Sikkim heading to Nathual Pass surrounded by snow-shrouded areas fascinate the senses. The height of Nathula Pass is 4310 m., settled on the Dongkya Range between India and China’s Yadong County in Tibet.
This extremely high-altitude mountain pass undergoes heavy snowfall during winter (the temperature drops to -25 degree Celsius). You need a special permit (known as Inner Line Permit) to approach Nathula Pass because of the vicinity of the international border.
Old Baba Mandir
Old Baba Mandir is located in East Sikkim, one of the sacred sites in the region, wholeheartedly dedicated to Harbhajan Singh. He was a soldier of the Indian Army who died near Nathula Pass, close to Changu Lake.
Old Baba Mandir or Adi Baba Mandir is the Samadhi of Baba Harbhajan Singh, located at a height of 1300 feet. From Gangtok, the location is about 56 km apart. Nathula Pass and Old Baba Mandir are some 40 minutes apart. And, from Tsomgo Lake, it takes some 50 minutes to reach this sacred site.