Sikkim : A slice of heaven in lower himalayas
Why do we travel? I believe we travel in search of new stories. Now, what makes us travel to a specific place? Is it just about the beaches, the snow-capped mountains, deserts or the waterfalls? For me, it’ s not just nature, but the culture, food, fashion, and civilization as well that bring me to a place. Gangtok Sikkim being a plethora of all of the above is exactly what brought me and my family to this hill town. With a population of around 100,000, Gangtok is the largest town in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is situated at an elevation of 1650 m; the air gets cooler to roughly cold as one approaches nearer to Gangtok due to high altitude.
How to reach Gangtok Sikkim:
The best and most preferred way to reach Gangtok is via railways. The nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), which is nearly 150 km from Gangtok. NJP is well connected to most of the major cities in India. For train bookings, visit IRCTC.
Outside the New Jalpaiguri station, you can catch a shared taxi for Gangtok. The fare is around INR 200 – 250. Drivers might try to charge high, so double check with other taxi drivers. It takes around 3-4 hours to reach Gangtok. If you prefer to travel by bus, you can get the same from Siliguri bus stand (Rs 150 per person). Remember due to the hilly terrain, buses are slower compared to sumo/safari.
Permits required to visit Gangtok:
Sikkim being a border state has several areas marked as restricted or protected. Indian nationals do not require a permit to visit Gangtok. But yes, foreign nationals do require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit this part of the state. Check Sikkim tourism website for more details.
How I wandered in Gangtok Sikkim:
I visited Sikkim during my winter vacation with my parents 3 years back. After strolling around the city for about an hour, we managed a room for us to stay for our trip. The accommodation was really good.
And also I am happy I took that walk across the city amidst the low clouds which made me fell in love with Gangtok. Visit this part of India to experience mist, monk, and monasteries spread all over.
There are many points from where you get the magnificent view of Mount Kanchenjunga (3rd highest peak on planet Earth) and other Himalayan ranges. Sighting depends on your luck, as the low clouds disrupt the view often.
We were lucky enough as the weather was clear and we could see the mighty Kanchenjunga. A couple of viewpoints offer mesmerizing backdrops, sunlight falling on the snow-capped Kanchenjunga was one amongst them.
I tried to frame it in a picture with my camera but realized that my eyes did more justice to the beauty that this place beholds than any stupid pair of a lens. I sat there peacefully for about an hour, taking in all that it offered me.
Places to check out in Gangtok Sikkim:
MG Road
It is considered the center of the Gangtok town and is a great place to chill out. The road is lined up with shops, restaurants, and bars on both sides. What I liked is that the entire area is free of smoke, litter, and vehicles.
Rumtek monastery
Located 24 km away from Gangtok, Rumtek Monastery is one of the sacred pilgrimage centers for Buddhists. The monastery showcases many sacred paintings, art, objects, manuscripts and religious scriptures. The calm and serene environment which reverberates with the chants is only too captivating. To reach Rumtek from Gangtok, you can catch a shared taxi (INR 50) from taxi stand in MG Marg.
Ganesh tok
Situated at a height of 6500 meters above the sea level, it offers a spectacular view of the snow-capped Himalayan range. It can be reached after a 6 kilometer steep ascend from the main town.
Ban Jhakri Falls, Baba Ka Mandir and Tashi view point are the other popular attractions of Gangtok.
What I liked most about Gangtok:
What I liked most about the city is that it is very well managed, unlike other Indian cities. All drivers follow the traffic rules religiously and strictly; everyone drove in lanes. There were dustbins in every few meters; no spitting on roads. Benches are placed at regular intervals on the footpaths as a pit stop for people who’ d like to rest. All public areas are no smoking zones.
Where to eat?
Most good eateries, cafes, and restaurants are located on MG Road. If you are a coffee lover, Bake’ s café is a must visit. If you want to try the Sikkimese food, Nine Native cuisine is the one I would suggest everyone. It offered the best Sikkimese food I had ever had during my stay in the state.
Best time to visit Gangtok:
The best time to visit Gangtok is March to May. The weather majorly remains clear and visitors are gifted spectacular views of the Himalayas.
Stay options in Gangtok:
Gangtok has become a tourist hub of India. Ask at least at 5/6 hotels or lodges for cheap stays and you might be lucky enough to find one. Thus it will reduce your expenses a bit and you all can spend more in roaming and shopping.
Sikkim is truly nature’s paradise. Darjeeling which is located at about 100 kms from Gangtok, is simply majestic. You can check out my post on Darjeeling – Hidden Town in the Himalayan Beauty.
Also, you can take a 2-days tour to North Sikkim to visit Lachung, Yumthang Valley, and Zero Point. Check out the post on Zero Point, Sikkim – Where Civilians Road Ends to Heaven
Our religiously diverse country has a beautiful chapter of Sikkim. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bag for a misty holiday.
THE END
THE TRAVEL MANIAC 