In & Around Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery : A drive through the picturesque
terraced rice fields will bring you to the head quarters of the
Dharma Chakra Centre, the present seat of His Holiness, the
Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kargyupa Sect. The main monastery is
a recent structure, built by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in strict
accordance with the traditional designs of his monastery in
Tsurphu in Tibet.
Tashi
View Point : Worth visiting in pre-dawn hours to catch
the awe-inspiring sight of the sun rising on the snow capped
peaks of the Mount Khangchendzonga.
Hanuman Tok : A short distance from the town centre gets
you to this unpretentious mandir and offers splendid
photography.
Ganesh Tok : Located just above
the town this Ganesha temple offers splendid views of the
surrounding hills.
Nehru Botanical Garden :
Just ahead of the Rumtek Monastery is the Nehru Botanical Garden
which has a mix of tropical and temperate plants and trees as
well as a big greenhouse of exotic orchids. It’s a good place to
stop for a while. For children there is a small playground with
swings and a see-saw and a winding footpath is ideal for a
stroll.
Orchid
Sanctuary :
The Orchid Sanctuary makes a must visit in Gangtok. The
sanctuary is famous for its rare and extensive collection of
orchids. The sanctuary’s collection also varies depending on the
seasons. However, the wide spread orchid sanctuary has almost
454 species of orchid found in Sikkim. An interesting place to
visit especially for nature lovers.
Sikkim Himalayan Zoological Park :
In a bid to save one of nature’s rarest and most
beautiful animals, the Red Panda, the Sikkim Himalayan
Zoological Park (SHZP) in Gangtok has embarked on a breeding and
conservation programme. Red Pandas are much smallerthan the
giant panda. The state animal of Sikkim, the Red Pandas are
found in six protected areas of the State. But they are facing
extinction due to habitat loss caused by construction activity
and over grazing. To preserve and restore the habitat of the shy
and reclusive animal, the Sikkim Himalayan Zoological Park (SHZP)
has been working on various conservation programmes since 1997.
Red Pandas being the State animal of Sikkim, and also an
endangered species of global importance, high precaution is
being taken for their conservation in the Himalayan Zoological
Park. And the Forest Department of the Government of Sikkim is
trying to save these pandas in the wild as well as in the
captive condition.
Ropeway
:
If you are at Gangtok you must visit ropeways or cable car
located at Deorali mraket. This rope way of about 1 km long has
three entry points or stops. The lowest point is at Deorali
market and the highest point is at Tashiling (below the state
secretariat). There is a mid point stop at Nam-Nang. One can
enter from any point and return to same point after touching
other two points. Cable car journey provides spectacular view of
Gangtok market, valley and assembly hall of state of Sikkim on
its 15 to 20 minutes journey.
Pecac Garden : These botanical
gardens dedicated to the nature and display of the flora of
Sikkim is an ideal picnic sport on your way back from Rumtek.
Namgyal
Institute of Tibetology : A unique institution, devoted
to Tibetolgy the only one of its kind in the world. On display
is perhaps the largest collection of Tibetan artifacts outside
Tibet.
Do-Drul Chorten and Gompa : An impressive stupa encircled
by prayer wheels. Close by there are two giant statues of the
lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava.
Deer Park : This park located
adjacent to Tashiling houses a statue of the Buddha, similar to
the one in Bodhgaya. There are wide enclosures for deer and a
number of local animals, such as Red panda, are housed in cages
on these grounds.
Enchey
Monastery : Built in 1909 this sit on a spectacular ridge
with views across Gangtok and as far as Mount Khangchendzonga
Surrounded by prayer flags this 19th century Nyingma pa Gompa is
a heaven of tranquility.
The Ridge : The Ridge is a small stretch of plain and
flat road above the town of Gangtok. It is just about five
minutes walk from the main market. The Ridge has the White hall
and the Chief Minister's official residence on one end and the
beautifully designed Palace Gates on the other. The ridge is
lined with plants and trees when in bloom are a riot of colour.
White Hall : Located on the
Ridge this building was built in 1932 in memory of the first
Political Officer of Sikkim, Claude White. There is an Officers
Club and a badminton court in the White Hall. The adjoining
Flower Shows, which attracts tourists from all over the world.
The exhibition features a wide variety of orchids and other
Himalayan flora.
The
Royal Chapel, Tsuklathang : The royal chapel, Tsuklakhang,
is within the palace grounds. It is the principal place of
worship and assembly and the repository of a vast collection of
Buddhist scriptures.
White Water Rafting : The
Teesta and Rangeet rivers offer excellent opportunities for
white water rafting holidays. The starting point is at Singtam
which is about an hours drive from Gangtok. The rapids down
stream are rated as per the Colorado River Standards as grade 2
and 3. Rafting trips are organized by several travel agencies
Government Institute of Cottage
Industries : The best place to pick up local handicrafts
such as wooden hand carved artifacts and hand woven woolen
carpets. You may see artisans at work.
Mountain Flights : For something
special Sikkim Helicopter Services offers a flight over West
Sikkim, Yumthang, Khangchendzonga and joyrides around Gangtok.
These flights are give you a great opportunity to see the
mountains up close and are very reasonably priced and are sure
to leave you spell bound.
Ban
Jhakri Falls :
Located en route to Ranka and 4 kms away from Gangtok, the Ban
Jhakri Falls, lies amidst a lush green valley spread over two
acres, surrounded by trees and a gushing mountain river. The
Park has a shamanistic theme. Hence, while the location of the
Park penetrating the forest spreads seeks to enhance the essence
of the occult and the unknown, the place itself is littered with
ethnic sculptures and figurines of the Jhakri culture.
Bakthang Falls :
20 minutes drive from Gangtok is Bakthang Water Falls along the
31 A National Highway leading to North Sikkim. It originates
from Ratey Chu, the main water source of Gangtok area. Suggested
to visit with a view to relax and to take photographs..
Khangchendzonga Tourist Park, Ranka :
Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum-Socio-Cultural and Amusement
Park, which has been created in a manner that will not only make
tourists comfortable, but also give them the opportunity to
acquaint themselves with the local culture and lifestyle. The
President of India, inaugurating the project congratulated the
Government of Sikkim for the vision and foresight to have
conceptualized and created this world class tourism
infrastructure, in a time-bound manner.
Lingdum
Monastery :
Located an hour's scenic drive from Gangtok, Lingdum Monastery
is a destination for Buddhist pilgrims and devotees of fine art
alike. The sprawling complex, set amid serene forested hills, is
a specimen of sacred architecture. Its exquisite murals, statues
and adornments, besides the impressive scale of the edifice,
bring a look of wonderment to every visitor's face. Completed 10
years ago, Lingdum Monastery is a Buddhist centre in the
tradition of the Zurmang Kagyud lineage. It is under the
spiritual direction of Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche, who is the
12th unbroken successor of the lineage.