Gangtok

Gangtok Tourism    
Gangtok, the land of monasteries, is also the largest town of Sikkim. Situated in the Shivalik Hills and lying at an altitude of 1437 m, it’s an important Buddhist Pilgrimage Centre. Gangtok gained religious significance among the Buddhists after the construction of the Enchey Monastery in the latter part of the 19th century.

History of Gangtok
It was an important trade centre between the British and Tibet during the 19th century. Gangtok was made the capital of Sikkim in 1894 by Thutob Namgyal, who was a monarch under the British Rule. When India gained independence in 1947, Sikkim chose to be an independent monarchy and Gangtok continued to be its capital.

Fact File:

    Area: 25 sq.kms
    Altitude: 1,437 m above sea level
    State: Sikkim
    Distance from nearby towns/ cities: New Jalpaiguri – 148 kms, Bagdogra – 124 kms
    Take away: The cute doll key-chains, pretty wall hangings or a figurine. Sikkim is famous for its fruit processing and tea aside from the local handicraft. Passion fruit Squash, Alpine Cheese, Temi Tea & Maha Gurudev Tea are some of the local products.
    Rainfall: 325 cm per annum.

 For shopping, the hill resort has plenty of small shops stuffed with Tibetan items which include lovely idols of Lord Buddha, silver jewelery, tribal handicrafts, trinklets , silk robes, aromatic spices and several other items. For a gastronomical blast, devour steaming hot noodles or hot momos, easily available at every cafe.

 Treat yourself to a holiday to Gangtok, the pristine hill resort which invites every visitor to linger and dream. Feel the fragrance of soft, scented breeze of the flower - beaded valley, glow with the dazzling Kanchenjunga and let yourself immerse in the glory of nature.

What to carry:

    A good pair of walking shoes.
    A light weight jacket for cool summer evenings and warmer gear if visiting in the winter months.
    Also carry some waterproof outfits as it can start raining just about anytime.

Travelling within Gangtok
SNT buses and private buses are available for travelling within Gangtok. SNT buses can be boarded from the SNT bus stand located on Paljor Stadium Road. For places such as Pelling, Yuksom and Tashiding, buses depart at 7 am and 12:30 pm from the SNT bus stop. An hourly service is also available for places like Ravangla, Namchi, Jorethang and Geyzing.

Taxis and shared jeeps are also available, usually at MG Marg and Lal Market. Taxis are not metered so it is best to negotiate the fare before boarding.