Give a miss to the weekend crowd of the city by heading to one of these places near Gangtok. Choose from the primarily Buddhist town of Kalimpong, the every youthful Darjeeling, the very surreal Yumth...More
Luxury, mid-budget or backpackers’ choice — there is a good number of hotels in Gangtok for every budget. You can choose the Mayfair Spa & Resorts or Denzong Regency for a luxurious romantic getaway or a family vacation. Or go for the mid-budget options such as Hotel Golden Heights and The Nettle & Fern, for a comfortable yet easy on the pocket accommodation. Backpackers and budget travellers also have ample reasons to rejoice for they have options such as the Sikkim Himalayan Homestays and Tashi Tagey. With these, you will get plenty of bang for your buck.
Eating out - With piping hot momos from the Taste of Tibet, mashed potato rolls and hot chai from the Roll House, garlic toasts from Baker’s Cafe and a slice or two of cheesecake from Cafe Fiction, Gangtok is a treat for foodies. The authentic taste of thukpas, momos and other traditional dishes like the Sikkimese pork curry will leave you craving for more at the Sikkimese or the Tibetan restaurants here. Leisurely sip away at the signature strong espresso of Gangtok at places like Cafe Fiction and let your taste buds feel a new high.
A treat for food lovers, the entire line-up of restaurants in Gangtok is a delight. Interesting mix of Sikkimese and Tibetan cuisine, desserts that go melting the second you taste them, a dash of flavours from Bhutan and momos that are as soft as the steam that rises from their platter — that’s the city’s food scene for you. Choose from the tiny Roll House that goes rather big on taste, or the Taste of Tibet, which doles out piping hot thentuk.
The list of places to visit in Gangtok have options as diverse as ancient Buddhist monasteries, zoological parks, chortens (gompas), bustling markets of MG Marg in addition to a usually snowed up high-altitude lake. For trekkers, add Nath La Pass at the Indo-Tibetan border to this list as well. The Nath La Pass was a major port on the once famous Silk Route and still retains a charm for history lovers. The museum at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology houses a lot of interesting relics on Tibetan Buddhism and its rituals. Other than that, it has ancient manuscripts on display. Culture, history, natural wonders and scenic landscapes — Gangtok has it all.
Travelling to the North-eastern India, more so Sikkim, is one of the best gifts you could give to yourself. The experiences one gathers here are a class apart. And if you happen to land in a place like Gangtok, a value-for-money vacation is guaranteed because there is an amazing array of things to do in the Himalayan hill town.
Nestled in the lower Himalayas, the city of Gangtok has grown over the mountains and in the valleys. Seen from the skies or even from the ropeway, Gangtok shows a colourful façade against the backdrop of the snow-clad mountains. At one time, Gangtok was an important stop on the trade route between British India and Tibet. The Nathu La pass saw a constant stream of traders and travellers come across mountains on either side, bringing not only goods but religious texts and beliefs too.
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