Gangtok is the capital of the state of Sikkim in north-eastern India. But for me, it is a city of flowers. Everywhere I looked around I saw flowers blossoming along the roadside, boulevards, and fences and balconies along the houses. Colorful flowers, green hills and people in fashionable clothes make quite a view to enjoy in Gangtok.
I was there during the second week of May, 2016. With pleasant weather and abundance of hotels and transport, Gangtok serves as a perfect base for exploring various scenic places in North and West Sikkim. For more information, travel photos and itinerary, check out:
- Sikkim Diaries: Visiting a Piece of Heaven Called Gurudongmar
- Sikkim Diaries: Waterfall-breaks on the Way to Lachung
We returned to Gangtok after Gurudongmar trip and stayed there for one night and two days. Gangtok sightseeing comes in packages such as 3-point, 7-point, or 10-point tours for half-day or full day. We booked a 7-point tour package, which covered the following places:
- Rumtek Monastery
- Shanti View Point (There is nothing much to see here. However, we enjoyed Momo sold here at reasonable price – Rs 40 for a plate)
- Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
- Do-Drul Chorten
- Suicide Point (Don’t be afraid! This is just another view point. 😉 :D)
- Flower Exhibition
- Handicrafts & Handloom Center (You’ll find a variety of Tibetan handicrafts including mask, clothing accessories, carpets, wall rugs, bags, and many more at authentic price.)
It was a half-day tour. We started at around 9:30 in the morning and completed by 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The post-lunch session was meant for a ropeway ride and shopping at the main market at MG Marg.
Rumtek Monastery
More than an hour drive from Gangtok, Rumtek Monastery is a must see. The monastery is a center of Tibetan Buddhism offers beautiful and quiet surroundings where you would love to spend some time watching the rituals by the little monks, listening to their chanting, and praising the colorful architecture of the monastery.
Oh yes! Before you leave, don’t forget to stop by this handicraft shop once. You may find something interesting to buy.
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
If you want to delve deeper into the Tibetan culture this is a place to be. The institute conducts different programs to promote research Tibetan history, religion, art and culture. Exquisite silver accessories and beautiful thangkas caught my eyes as soon as I enter the museum.
Do-Drul Chorten
A Tibetan Buddhist shrine and a peaceful place for prayer Do-Drul Chorten is situated right beside the Institute of Tibetology. The snow white stupa is surrounded with prayer wheels. I peeped through the window of the prayer hall to find that young priests were chanting and learning their part.
Suicide Point
I don’t know why this beautiful place has a terrible name like this! But I loved walking along the canopied trail that took me to the spot from where I could see green slopes all around and a winding river stream deep down the gorge.
Flower Exhibition
This is a must-see in Gangtok. A variety of flowers with their scientific names and descriptions are displayed in a greenhouse-like place.
Ropeway
After the day-trip we came back to hotel for lunch. I could see the ropeway cable cars moving up and down sitting right at our hotel’s dining room. By 3:30 pm we set out again for a ropeway ride and walked to the station near Butterfly Bridge.
However, we had to wait for nearly two hours at the ticket counter as there were only two cable cars with a capacity of 24 people each. By the time we boarded the cable car the sun was about to set beyond the hills. 😦
However, it’s a short 15 minute ride which offers colorful panoramas of the city, Gangtok.
MG Marg
With a lively atmosphere, numerous shops and restaurants, MG Marg is the pulsating heart of Gangtok. Sikkim government’s Tourist Information Center is also located here. From beautiful accessories to delicate handicrafts to fancy umbrellas there are many things you can buy as souvenirs.
Well, if you don’t like wasting money in shopping, just sit on a bench at the plaza and watch people and activities around you. People-watching is a nice time pass, isn’t it? 😉 😀
Awesome post and incredible natural photography
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Thank you for the visit and kind appreciation.
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Gangtok is a amazing place for visiting.Beautiful views.A variety of flowers are wonderful Great post!! thanks for sharing.
http://www.sikkimtourismplace.com/
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Thank you 🙂
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Great post Moon. Have been there before, but feel like going there again after reading this 🙂
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Yeah…same here. It;s such a lovely and lively palce 🙂 Thanks! I am glad you visited my blog.
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Gangtok is beautiful…
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Yess 😊 and thanks for dropping by.
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Marvelous colors everywhere!
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Thank you! It is a very colorful place.
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Great post on this stunning land, Moon 🙂
I always wanted to explore Sikkim, but, it’s still not happened…
I would rank this post as one of the most inviting one to explore Sikkim and Gangtok in particular 🙂
I missed quite some action here in wordpress this year…
Hope you are doing good and thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Have a beautiful day 🙂
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Thanks so much Sreejith for reading the post. This is one of the most inspirational comments I have received so far. I am glad that you liked it this much. 🙂
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Have visited Sikkim so many times, still, the post made me want to go there, right now!
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I love mountain view places
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Such a lovely place- lush and beautiful!
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on Journal Edge and commented:
Article Source: footlooseforever.com
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Thanks for reblogging, Vikas.
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My Pleasure 🙂
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Your trip sounds awesome. I’m going to Gangtok with 3 friends in April and we’re planning some of the same things you did
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Great! Enjoy a happy trip! 🙂 Thanks
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I lived in gangtok for 4 years. And I have lived at other places . But that place has a special place in my heart. Thank you for making me relive some of my memories.
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I am really glad to know that you liked my post, specially when you have lived there for so long. Thanks for the comment.
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You are welcome, I lived there when I was you know small about 12 years or so…but still the memories refresh me
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I believe it was hard to leave the place. Gangtok is such a lovely and lively place!
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Indeed it was…but now there is an aim ….a wish…a dream to visit that place once again with same free-mindedness
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Wow! Thats such lovely photography! You have made Sikkim look more enticing. And such useful information with it…
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Thank you so much! I am so glad you liked this post. 🙂
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wow – just amazing., the colours are simply brilliant!
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Thank you Andrew!
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Beautiful captures of Gangtok! Just looking at the pictures we get a kind of soothing feeling! 🙂
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Thank you for visiting my blog. Glad you liked the post! 🙂
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That was lovely. A virtual tour. Nostalgic for me since I was there a few years ago and spent a day more than was planned because I loved the place.
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Thank you for sharing your memories here, sir. It’s a lovely place!
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Wow.. awesome post.. great captures.
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Lovely colourfull pics.
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Wonderful photos. Gangtok is so vibrant and colourful
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So happy to revisit Gangtok through your lovely and colourful post.
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Thank you Kalpanaa
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What a beautiful colours!
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Yeah… entire Gangtok is a lively and colorful place. 🙂
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