he capital city of Sikkim, Gangtok leaves every tourist awestruck with its tremendous natural beauty and a spiritual aura. Whether one is looking for a family or a romantic destination or an adventure tourism place or simply looking for a peaceful place for a vacation amidst nature, he is sure to find his kind of holiday in Gangtok, Sikkim.
Counted amongst the best places to visit for a holiday in India, Gangtok in Sikkim is no less than a paradise. The city offers views of the third highest mountain peak in the world, Mt. Kanchenjunga, and has many points of tourist interest in and around it including Enchey Monastery, Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La.
For those looking for adrenaline rushing adventure activities in Sikkim, Gangtok proves to be the perfect base. It’s most likely, you’d find almost every trekker chilling in Gangtok before and after his trek. Amongst the top treks that are embarked upon from Gangtok are Dzongri Trek, Varsey/Barsey Trek, and Tholung Trek. The opportunity of paragliding and hang gliding are also not too far away from Gangtok. The capital city is a perfect starting point for mountain biking tours.
Gangtok also has in its store a lot for spirituality seekers. The city houses a number of colourful and vibrant monasteries in its vicinity, which count amongst popular tourist attractions in Sikkim. Some of the best places to visit in and around Gangtok include Enchey Monastery, Pemayangtse Monastery, and Rumtek Monastery.
An eclectic nightlife is also guaranteed in Gangtok. Its popular MG Road is dotted with a number of happening restaurants and pubs that open till 11 in the night. The place is great for shopaholics too and with shops open till late in the evening, tourists get extra time to buy Tibetan handicrafts, woollens and tea products.
With our authentic Gangtok travel guide, find all the important information on planning a trip to this popular destination in Gangtok. Get insights into major travel places, top activities, best hotels, ideal season to visit, most convenient way to reach along with best Gangtok tour packages.
How to reach Gangtok?
Like Darjeeling, you can reach Gangtok from Bagdogra, Siliguri or NJP. New Jalpaiguri or NJP is the nearest railhead. Gangtok is located about 125 km from NJP and Bagdogra Airport and it takes about 4 to 5 hours to reach there.
Recently, Sikkim has opened its own airport at Pakyong. The town is located about 22 km south of Gangtok. Pakyong Airport, located at an altitude of 4646 feet is one of the highest airports in India. However, Pakyong airport is not fully operational and you will get flights only from Kolkata and New Delhi to Pakyong. Private taxis are available from Pakyong Airport to Gangtok city and it takes about 1 hour to reach.
Those looking for budget options, numerous shared jeeps are also available for Gangtok from Siliguri SNT Bus Stand. Buses are also available from Siliguri Bus stand to Gangtok, but jeeps are more comfortable.
Gangtok is located about 98 km from Darjeeling and it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to cover the distance from Darjeeling to Gangtok. Kalimpong is about 75 km (3 hours journey by car). Private cars are available from all these places to Gangtok and vice versa.
Things to Do in Gangtok
Gangtok tourism offers a number of activities to keep you engaged on your holiday. The capital city of Sikkim is an ideal base for trekking and mountain biking tours but also has numerous activities in vicinity to add to your holiday in Sikkim.
Amongst the top activities to start your Gangtok tour is the cable car ride between Deorali and Tashiling.Another must-have experience in Gangtok is paragliding in Baliman Dara. If you are an adventure lover, Gangtok makes a perfect base for many popular treks like Dzongri and Barsey. It is also an ideal starting point for many mountain biking expeditions.
Shopping in Gangtok for Tibetan Handicrafts, woollen clothes, and tea are amongst the top things to do. Trying the Sikkimese Cuisine is yet another experience you don’t want to miss in Gangtok.