Gangtok - Fairyland of Sikkim

It is the coldest weeks of winter, and many places in North India are receiving the first snowfall of the season. Why not head to the hills of Sikkim for some beautiful views of snow-capped peaks, and if you are lucky, even see some snow?

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is a popular hill station. This small town lies atop a ridge at an altitude of 5,800 ft, amidst a Himalayan setting and overlooking the river Ranikhola. The snow-covered Kanchenjunga, the world’s third tallest peak, is seen towards the east of the town.

Gangtok, meaning ‘lofty hill’, was a small village until it gained the status of an important pilgrimage centre with the building of the Enchey Monastery in 1840. In 1975, with the end of the monarchical rule, Sikkim was made an official state of India with its capital at Gangtok.

Sightseeing Highlights

Gangtok is known for beautiful views of the Himalayan peaks, as well as ancient Buddhist monasteries. It is also the gateway to the Northeast, and serves as a convenient place to continue your travels to other destinations in the area. Start your trip by visiting the famous 200-year-old Enchey Monastery or gompa, located in the middle of a forest and offering a brilliant view of the Kanchendzong range. Also, catch the famous masked dance performances called ‘Cham’ in the month of January.

Then visit the Tashi Ling Monastery, 6 km away, known for its sacred pot (bumchu). It is said that the pot is filled with holy water, which has never dried for the last 300 years. Catch one of the many captivating views of the Kanchenjunga from here.
You could also take excursions to visit some other famous monasteries of the area. The Rumtek Monastery is the centre for the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism and is the largest monastery in the eastern side of the Himalayas. Seen in direct light, it looks like a sparkling jewel on the hillside. On the northern side of Sikkim is Phodong Monastery, another significant gompa of Sikkim. Tsuk la Khang, located on the grounds of the palace of the erstwhile rulers or Chogyals, is another monastery where Buddhists assemble and pray.

A must-visit in Gangtok is the Namgyal Institute, built in 1958. It has the world’s largest book and rare manuscript collection of Mahayana Buddhism, and is home to a large number of fascinating artefacts. Don’t miss the chance to explore the natural beauty of the hills. Go trekking or on nature walks to see birds, butterflies and rare flowers, especially orchids. Visit the Deorali Orchid Sanctuary that houses 200 different species of birds. It also has an exhibition centre displaying varieties of orchids.

Your visit to Gangtok is not complete without a visit to the beautiful Tsomgo Lake. Situated 35 km from Gangtok, this 1 km long lake has a Shiva temple along its shores. In winters, the lake freezes and during summers it comes alive in a riot of colours with a variety of flowers blooming here.

WHERE TO STAY

There are plenty of hotels in Gangtok, suited for all budgets. HolidayIQ lists 87 hotels for Gangtok. As many as 67 of these offer rooms for Rs 2,000 and below; 14 have rooms in the range Rs 2,001 to Rs 5,000; five have rooms between Rs 5,001 and Rs 10,000; one hotel is listed as offering rooms for a price above Rs 10,000. Most of the hotels are mountain or hill resorts. A couple of them are home stays, while another two are heritage hotels.

QUICK FACTS

State: Sikkim
District: East Sikkim
Language(s) spoken: Nepali, Sikkimese, Bhutia, Lepcha,
Hindi and English
Weather: Summers 10 - 28 C.
Winters -5 - 16 C

GETTING THERE

Nearest Airport: Bagdogra Airport (16 km)
Nearest Train Station: New Jalpaiguri (124 km)
Main Highway: NH 31A
Best time to visit: March to June; October to March

TOURISM INFO:
Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation Head Office M G Marg, Gangtok; Phone: (03592)23425

Top travellers’ query on HolidayIQ Xchange Forum:

We plan to visit Gangtok in January and February. How is the weather during this time of the year? Where can we see snow?

HolidayIQ members:

Gangtok is very cold, but beautiful in January and February. Make sure you carry plenty of warm clothes, gloves, woollen socks and mufflers, especially if you are travelling with children. The weather will not be cloudy or rainy, so you will have clear unobstructed views of the scenery, especially the Kanchenjunga in all its grandeur.

It does not snow very often in Gangtok. However, you will surely be able to see snow in the sub-zero temperatures of Tsomgo Lake and Natula Pass.

(Reply from HolidayIQ members)

HolidayIQ Traveller’s Review:

Gangtok is a cool and a charming place in Sikkim, a must-visit for people travelling to this part of the country. So neat and clean, the city and in fact the whole state is an example for India to follow in its neatness drive.

There are many excursions in and around Gangtok that every visitor must take - the Tsongo Lake, Nathula Pass (for the patriotic types), Baba Mandir, Bun Jhakri falls, Ropeway etc. If you are lucky, then there is river rafting in Teesta, some 50 odd km from Gangtok. You need at least three days in Gangtok if you wish to travel to Nathula as well.

Keep warm clothes if you are travelling in winter, as it can be very chilly. An important note for people travelling to Nathula and Baba Mandir - since these places are at very high altitudes (14,200 ft), you may face breathing problems. Hence, a simple solution is to keep ‘kapur’ (used for a flame) with you and smell it when you have breathing problems.

Shopping is comparatively expensive here and things are not authentic. Most items are Chinese-made with life of 4-6 months.

Pratik, Pune

(If you have any interesting facts about gangtok mail us at: bm.trippin@indiatimes.com)