Oktatabyebye

Gangtok has a number of places of tourist interest like Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok and Tashi View Point. The best way however, if you can, to explore Gangtok is on foot. Just head out of the main town and take small walks to nearby areas. The scenery is beautiful and on a clear day you may see the Kanchenjunga and other peaks staring you on the face. Some other places worth exploring in Gangtok include:

Enchey Monastery: The 200-yar old Enchey Monastery is situated next to the Tourist Lodge, about 3 kms from the centre of town. The monastery is worth a visit particularly if you're in Gangtok in December-January when annual religious dances are performed here.

Deer Park: An important landmark, the Deer Park is a popular viewpoint located next to the Secretariat building. The park as the name suggests has deer and a statue of the Buddha, which is a replica of that stands at Sarnath near Varanasi. A good time to visit the park is when the deer are fed at 7.30 am.

Namgyal Institute: Travellers interested in Buddhism must visit the Institute of Tibetology or Namgyal Institute. Home to priceless antiques, rare scriptures and gorgeous thangkas, the institute specializes in the study of the Tibetan language, culture and spiritual literature. The Namgyal Institute was built in the year 1958. Built in a traditional style, this institute has world’s largest collections of books and rare manuscripts on Mahayan Buddhism, in addition to the works of art and silk embroidered Tankhas. The institute also houses samples of Lepcha scripts, relics of monks, masks and sacred objects like Kapali, a bowl made from a human skull, and the carku, a flute made from a thigh bone.

Lall Market: A good place to roam around and shop, Lall Market is also the main landmark from where you can get shared jeeps to go to Rumtek and other nearby places. Old Bazaar and Super Market are other places to go for shopping.

Tsomgo Lake: The magical Tsomgo Lake is a scenic 40-km drive out of Gangtok.

Phodang Monastery: Situated at Thumlong, 40 km north of Gangtok, Phodang Monastery has recently been rebuilt but just above it is Labrang Gompa where the original construction is still intact.

Best time to visit Gangtok: September to May

By Air: The closest airport (5 hr by taxi) is in Bagdogra, 120 kms south of Gangtok. Indian Airlines and other private airlines have regular flights to Bagdogra from different parts of India.

Sikkim Helicopter Service arranges the flights between the airport and Gangtok.

By Train: The closest railway station is in New Jalpaiguri (130 kms).
Best train to board from Kolkata is Kachenkanya express (route – Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri (NJP)). Its leaves Sealdah at 7.30 p.m. and reaches NJP at 6.30 a.m.

On reaching NJP, you can hire a Sumo to Gangtok, which goes via Siliguri or reach Siliguri (12 kms from NJP) and take a bus to Gangtok from there.

Road Transport*: Buses should be booked in advance, especially during the Durga Puja festival (Sept/Oct). The booking office is open 9 am to noon and 1 to 2 pm. There are state buses to Darjeeling (7 hr), Kalimpong (3 hr), Bagdogra (4½ hr) and Siliguri (5½ hr). Private buses departing from the private bus stand go to Siliguri, Kalimpong and Darjeeling.

*Time mentioned may be subjected to change.