Gangtok

• History
• Places to visit
• How to reach

Gangtok apart from being the capital city and the largest town of Sikkim is also the headquarters of East Sikkim district. The place is extremely tempting, pleasant, and an apt hill station surrounded by mountains and clouds for a family vacation. Gangtok East is the best place for trekkers as they get the opportunity to explore the Himalayan mountain range. 

Tourists in the city can explore the prismatic attractiveness and delightful winding hill roads while roaming around in the city. The town stands among one of the best and most visited hill stations in the country. The view of Mt. Kanchenjunga from some parts of the city is wonderful and it gives you a quick sneak peek into the natural beauty and attractions that surround this peak.

Best Time To Visit Gangtok

Although any time of the year is great to visit Gangtok if you are looking for the most pleasant time then the months from September to June are the best to visit Gangtok. During this time the overall temperature is quite pleasant and is very much ideal for sightseeing.

Major Attractions in and Around Gangtok

1. Nathu La Pass

The Nathu La Pass is responsible for connecting Tibet with Sikkim. Located at a height of 4310 meters, this place was once part of the ancient Silk Route. Moreover, to visit this place you would need to collect a permit from the concerned authorities. Nathu La Pass is one of the most popular places to visit in Gangtok.

2. Rumtek Monastery

The Rumtek Monastery is located at a distance of around 24 km from Gangtok and is also popular as one of the sacred monasteries in Buddhism. It is believed that one of the most sacred traditional Buddhist rites had also been performed in this very building. Read More

3. Ganesh Tok

This is basically a Ganesh Temple situated at an altitude of 6500 m. However, what is really interesting to know is the fact that this place is so small that it can only accommodate a single person.  

4. Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple

According to popular folklore, this temple is known to guard the lives of the soldiers along the border.

5. Town of Mangan

This town is an out and out amazing place adorned with lush greenery, picturesque mountains, and exotic views that are worth capturing in a camera. 

6. Himalayan Zoological Park

You will be finding a great number of animal species to explore here at the park. This place is located at an amazing height of 1780 meters and offers an amazing view of Mt. Kachendzonga.  

How to Reach Gangtok

Gangtok is a very cheerful destination to explore. It is located at a distance of 1,575, 680, 2,398, 2,625 km from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru respectively. Let’s see how you can reach Gangtok from the following means of transportation methods.

By Air

The nearest airport from Gangtok is the Bagdogra International Airport (IXB). Located in the western part of Siliguri, this airport is operated as a civil enclave at AFS Bagdogra of the Indian Air Force. It is also considered as the gateway to the hill stations of Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kurseong, Kalimpong, and Mirik. It received the status of a custom airport in 2002 with limited international operations.

After deboarding at the airport, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation like a cab or a bus. 

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Gangtok 

• Delhi to Bagdogra Flight
• Mumbai to Bagdogra Flight
• Kolkata to Bagdogra Flight
• Bangalore to Bagdogra Flight
• Chennai to Bagdogra Flight
• Hyderabad to Bagdogra Flight
• Ahmedabad to Bagdogra Flight

By Rail

The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri which is also located in Siliguri and offers direct connectivity to Gangtok. This train station was established in 1960 under the Kathihar Railway Divison of the North-East Frontier Railway Zone. This is considered the largest and busiest railway junction of North-Eastern India. After you deboard at the station, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation like a cab or a bus.

• Delhi - Board Brahmaputra Mail from New Delhi Station and deboard at the New Jalpaiguri Station
• Guwahati - Board ANVT Sundari Express from Guwahati Station and deboard at the New Jalpaiguri Station
• Patna - Board DBRT Rajdhani Express from Danapur Station and deboard at the New Jalpaiguri Station
• Varanasi - Board DADN GHY Express from Varanasi Junction and deboard at the New Jalpaiguri Station

By Road

Depending upon your location, you can also travel to Gangtok by its well-maintained road networks. You can either travel by your own vehicle, a cab or even bus. From Patna, the bus fares start from Rs.400. From Jamshedpur, the bus fares start from Rs.800 

Here is how you can reach here by the following routes.

• Patna - 572 km via NH27 or NH31
• Delhi - 1,574 km via NH27
• Lucknow - 1,022 km via NH27
• Aurangabad - 2,224 km via NH30 or NH27 

Frequently Asked Questions about Gangtok

Q. Where is Gangtok located?
A. Gangtok is the capital city of the Indian state of Sikkim.

Q. What are the best places to visit in Gangtok?
A. Some popular tourist attractions in Gangtok include the Rumtek Monastery, Nathu La Pass, Tashi View Point, Hanuman Tok, and Tsomgo Lake.

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here