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 | Glorious Gangtok |  |  | | | | | | | | | Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim in the North east, lies at an altitude of 1,437 meters in the Shivalik hills of the Himalayan ranges. The word Gangtok means lofty hill owing to its altitude. This stunning little hill station up in the north east, has lots to offer the discerning traveler. With the white of the snow peaks of the Kanchenjunga at a distance, brightly painted pagodas in the town and azure sky with pure white clouds, Gangtok presents an enchanting picture to the visitor. The ethereal presence of the Kanchenjunga lends a mystique touch to this Himalayan hill station.
One of the tallest peaks in the world, the Kanchenjunga lies to the east of Gangtok. Kangchendzonga or Kanchenjunga is revered as a deity by the people of Sikkim. Lying to its east and west are two streams, namely Roro Chu and Ranikhola, respectively. The mountains, streams, the natural surroundings and the climate make it a destination worth visiting. | |  | | | | Gangtok is a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning and an important religious centre.
Because of its elevation, the climate in Gangtok is always mild and temperate. Winters are cold, but one would still like to visit it at this time, to get a view of the snow clad slopes. | | | | | | | | | | Places to see | | |  | | | | | | |  | Institute of Tibetology - The Institute of Tibetology for the study of the Tibetan language, culture and spiritual literature is definitely worth seeing. The institute houses some priceless antiques and rare scriptures. | | | | Kangchendzonga National Park - Sprawled across an area of 850sq km, Kanchendzonga National Park is the largest wildlife reserve in Sikkim. | | | | The Ridge - The ridge is a promenade lined with plants and trees. Walking along the Ridge viewing the scenery is an enjoyable experience. | | | | Tsomgo Lake - 40-km drive out of Gangtok is the magical Tsomgo Lake. This scenic lake and its surroundings appear to be like a painting. It remains completely frozen in winter. | | | | Kechopari Lake - Kechopari Lake which means wishing lake is another one of the picture perfect lakes in Gangtok. It is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. The water is crystal clear and appears like a mirror. Even nature plays its role in keeping the lake clean. If a leaf drops on the surface of the water, it is immediately picked by a bird. | | | | Deer Park - The park called Rustomji Deer Park is an open enclosure in which, animals like the red panda and the Himalayan Bear are kept. The park also houses a big statue of Lord Buddha, commemorating his preaching of the noble truths in the Deer Park at Sarnath. | | | | Rumtek - 24 kms from Gangtok is the Rumtek monastery - the largest monastery in Sikkim and nearly 300 years old. Rumtek has some magnificent Thangka paintings (special art of the state). | | | | Pelling - Around 145 km from Gangtok is Pelling - a small town. The view of the Kanchenjunga is breathtaking from this point. The mountains appear to be so close, as though you could reach out to them. | | | | Pemayangtse - Pemayangtse is one of the most important and revered monasteries in Sikkim. There are monks as young as five years. A big annual Buddhist festival is celebrated here every year in the month of February. | | | | Ganesh Tok - About 7km from Gangtok is Ganesh Tok. From this spot one gets birds view of sprawling Gangtok town down below. | | | | Hanuman Tok - Just above Ganesh Tok, there is a Hanuman Temple where devotees come and offer prayers. | | | | Tashi View Point - The point from where one can get a breathtaking view of Mount Khangchendzonga and Mt. Siniolchu, one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. It is about 8 kms from Gangtok. | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fact File | | | | | | | | | | | | The nearest airport is Bagdogra which is 125 km. | | | | The nearest railhead is at new Jalpaiguri which is 120 km. | | | | Gangtok is well connected with Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Siliguri | | | | | | | | | | | |