Gangtok is the capital of the north-eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim in India. Sikkim is a small but very picturesque state.
There are many picturesque places to visit in this beautiful state. Gangtok is an urban area. It is a favorite tourist destination of tourists due to its connectivity to Bagdogra airport by road.
The sightseeing places here are not only captivating, but they are also of various types. A variety of attractions like flower displays, Buddhist monastery, Himalayan Zoological Park, Institute of Tibet Studies, waterfalls, and Mahatma Gandhi Marg full of hustle and bustle will satisfy you here.
Gangtok Nagar Attractions
The purpose of this edition of mine is to make you all aware of some of the popular sightseeing places that can be included in the trip to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.
Some of these places are within the city of Gangtok and some are around the city where you can visit by car on a day trip. At the same time, you can do far-away places through organized tours of the city.
Gangtok City Flower Show
The entire city of Gangtok, its residences, and roads are all filled with beautiful flowering plants. Some were grown on the earth, while some were sheltered in pots.
The climate here seems to be perfect for gardening. A flower show is organized in the middle of Gangtok city itself. You must take advantage of the opportunity to see colorful and different types of flowers.
Here you will see such types of flowers which you have never seen in your life. You will be stunned to see the same type of orchids. The best part is that there is no restriction on painting and photography. The entry fee is also only nominal.
Mahatma Gandhi Marg
Ahmedabad taxi service
In the center of the city is Mahatma Gandhi Marg or MG Marg, where you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city while taking a stroll. If the sky is clear then you can even see the Kangchenjunga peak of the Himalayas.
Driving on this route is prohibited. You can walk here without any hassle. There are many food and drink shops, souvenir shops, and many other shops on either side of the road. People walking together make this walk even more hilarious.
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a Tibetan museum that promotes and sponsors research on Tibetan civilization, religion, language, art and culture, and history.
The Institute has many original and rare collections of thangka paintings, Buddhist prayer objects, objects related to Buddhism, manuscripts in Tibetan and Sanskrit, etc.
Do Drul Chorten Stupa
Two Drul Chorten stupas are located near the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. According to my estimate, this stupa is the largest stupa in Sikkim. There is a cover of golden letters on its summit.
Chorten Lhakhang and Guru Lhakhang surround two Drul Chorten. Visit the two Drul Chorten and express your wish by rotating the prayer circles.
Attractions around Gangtok
Gangtok city is situated on the slopes of a mountain. Its surrounding area and hills are full of many attractive sightseeing places. You will need a car to see these tourist places.
Public transport is not convenient. I want to tell you some of the beautiful sightseeing places around Gangtok city.
Bakthang Waterfall
It is a small waterfall situated on the road leading to Banjhakhari Falls. Located about 3 to 4 km from Gangtok, this waterfall is on the main road itself.
Some exciting sports are also organized here, such as rope climbing, rappelling, etc. Tourists can also take their photographs dressed up in the traditional costumes of Sikkim.
Being a hilly area, the surrounding landscape is very beautiful from here. It is necessary that the sky is clean. In the local language ‘Bak’ means forest or forest and ‘Thang’ means plain.
The origin of the natural water source of this waterfall is situated in the dense forest situated above this place. The Forest Department protects this forest area in the name of Smriti Ban. You can enjoy nature by staying here for 15-20 minutes while going towards Bhanjakari Waterfalls.
Banjhakari Waterfall
Ajmer taxi service
This waterfall is also called Banjhakari or Ban Jhakri waterfall. Banjhakari Falls is a perennial ie a perennial waterfall.
The water stream coming out of the water source located at a height comes down in different stages, falling on the rocks, bouncing, and doing giddiness.
The height of this waterfall is about 100 feet. The first straight fall of the waterfall is about 40 to 50 feet high. This waterfall is located at a distance of about 7 km from the city in the landscape garden.
There is a garden around the waterfall which has been created with utmost beauty and artistry. Many types of statues and artifacts are not only enhancing the beauty of this garden but also present a beautiful concept of Jhakri culture.
These statues also provide information about the traditional rituals, remedial rites of Sikkim, and the method of entry into shaman i.e. animistic religion.
The ban means forest and Jhakadi literally mean traditional healer. Ban Jhakdi is a mythological character whose existence is seen only in the legends of the Nepalese community of Sikkim.
Himalayan Wildlife Park
The Himalayan Zoological Park, located near the town of Gangtok, is a great place to get acquainted with the Himalayan animals and birds.
Here you can learn about the flora, fauna, and local forest trees found in the Himalayan regions.
In this zoological park, Himalayan wildlife has been kept in large enclosures. These enclosures are designed in such a way that they provide almost natural surroundings to these creatures. Snow leopard and red panda are the major attractions here along with other rare creatures.
The sight of this vast, lush greenery and conservation center of rare Himalayan species, that too in a cool, refreshing atmosphere, will make you swell. While seeing it, you can easily tell 1 to 2 hours as per your wish. The entrance fee to the park is also nominal.
We thoroughly enjoyed our walk in the hilly area of this Himalayan Zoological Park. On any day when the sky is clear, you can also see a variety of birds. It was raining the day we came here. So we could not see the birds.
Rumtek Buddhist Monastery
One of the largest and oldest Buddhist monasteries, Rumtek Buddhist Monastery is about 20 kilometers from Gangtok. Many sacred objects are kept on the premises of the Ruktek Dharma Chakra Center.
The most special and grand among them is the 13 feet high Golden Stupa. The garden developed on the premises of this monastery is also very visible.
One Day Trips from Gangtok
Chardham, Namchi
Rishikesh taxi service
The Char Dham of Namchi situated on top of the hill is a replica of the revered Char Dhams of India. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here admiring the wonderful temples and the huge idol of Lord Shiva.
The atmosphere here is very pleasant. The clouds and the rays of the sun enchant us by playing a game of hide-and-seek with each other.
Temi Tea Gardens
Temi Tea Garden is the largest tea garden in Sikkim. This plantation is on the road from Gangtok to Namchi. You will be mesmerized by the landscape of lush green tea gardens peeping through the clouds.
Going by car on the winding roads and passing through them is a different experience. It will captivate your memory and eyes with its beauty.
Ravangla Buddhist Park on Sandaruptse Hill
The 120 feet high Buddhist Padmasambhava statue on the Sandarupatsey hill is the largest statue of him in the world. It is one of the Buddhist pilgrimage centers for Buddhist pilgrims.
Padmasambhava, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche, is the patron guru of Sikkim. There is also a rock garden i.e. rock garden nearby.
Sightseeing near Gangtok – Exciting Tours
Sikkim is an area surrounded by Himalayan peaks, so the adventure will also be included in the journey. That too not far from the city of Gangtok! Here are some popular options:
Nathula Pass and Songmo or Changu Lake
Nathula Pass is about 60 km east of Gangtok. The road to reach here is one of the highest motorable routes. A permission letter is required to visit Nathula Pass.
Also, it is necessary to choose the facility for planned travel from Gangtok. These planned trips are determined by weather conditions.
On the way to reach here, there is Songmo or Changu Lake which freezes in winter. The cold frozen lake, snowfall, and the landscape here are special attractions for tourists.
Some other attractive places of interest in Sikkim are Gurudongmar Lake in East Sikkim, Kangchenjunga Falls, and Rabdentse Ruins in Pelling in West Sikkim.
