The Kingdom of Sikkim which was not a part of India decided to merge its state with the Indian Republic in the year 1975. With that decision, India got a gift of a beautiful hill station know as Gangtok, capital of the Himalayan state of Sikkim. The journey to this stunning place is equally beautiful and 90% of the road is by the side of the river Teesta.
Gangtok is situated at an altitude of 1437 meters above the main sea level. There is hardly any plateau in Gangtok and the entire place is located on different steps at various levels which add a special dimension to the view of the place. The word “Gangtok” has been derived from the Tibetan word for “hillside”. Although Sikkim has taken pains to preserve its history, ancient traditions, culture as well as historic monuments which are of religious significance to them, at the same time, it has taken care to keep pace with the modern age by building hospitals, wide roads and other modern amenities that the new age citizen wishes to have.
During the British rule, Sikkim was an important trade centre between India and Tibet. Gangtok has been the capital of the state of Sikkim since 1894. When India gained independence in 1947, Sikkim chose to remain an independent monarchy till 1975 when due to certain internal circumstances; it decided to become a part of the Indian Republic. During the Sino-Indian war when the Nathu La Pass was blocked for trade, Sikkim suffered economically. However, since 2006, the pass has been reopened and it has thrown open new opportunities for trade between India and Tibet and a gateway to the prosperity of the Sikkimese.
Sikkim has a long tradition of association with Buddhism. It boasts of quite a few ancient Buddhist monasteries and temples. The chief amongst them being the Enchey Monastery established in the latter part of the 19th century. These Buddhist temples have made Gangtok an important site of pilgrimage for Buddhists all over the world. The town’s former Royal Palace, the open-air Lall market and the Namgyal Institte of Tibetology also evoke the tourist’s interest. Lush parks and gardens are also spread over the landscape.
The city of Gangtok is quite cosmopolitan with people of different ethnicities such as Nepalese, Chinese, Tibetans, and Indians living side by side and celebrating the Sikkimese festivals like Losum and Losar enthusiastically. Gangtok also enjoys communal harmony despite the diversity of ethnic backgrounds in its population of about 80,000. Due to the multiplicity of the cultures in its population, Gangtok also offers a multi-cuisine menu to its tourists to satisfy everyone’s culinary habits. Gangtok market also offers a very different kind of merchandise with Buddhist designs right from carpets to wall hangings and many items of handicrafts. Lall Bazaar is one of the best and cheapest areas for shopping.
Overall, Gangtok offers a totally different and absolutely satisfying experience to every visitor. The best time to visit Gangtok is from March to late May or October to mid-December.
Indeed beautiful areas to visist when in India. I was born ands brought up until I was 20 yrs but never thought of visiting these exquisite regions of Himalaya.
For people living in the plains, this is a dream come true. The place is stunningly beautiful.
Beautiful pictures. A good reminder of our trip.
What was also surprising that Sikkim produces excellent teas. Where would it be available in Mumbai?
Realy this is the gift to eyes.pls continue…….
How one can reach Gangtok (Sikkim). By all the means plz.
It is very beautiful. Like to visit there one day.
Thank you indiaouting,com for sending this mail.
Pls send me more pictures like this in future too.
Chitra(from Ceylon)
Worth 2 visit once
This is a wonderful view of the Gangtok…………………
beautiful land.
Wods cant described its beauty. It is amazing, beautyfull, charming and attractive hill station. No other hill station can be compared with this gem of beauty. Realy, realy enjoyable lovely and master piece on earth. Must visit.
So beautiful place.
So Good…………..
Luckily I had the opportunity to visit this place Really it is wonderful and worth visitng.I think I am one of the lucky persons to see this place
vere vere good and NICE..,
Un belivable Indians are proud to have stste like this
beautiful pictures…………..
HAPPY THE MAN WHOSE WISH AND CARE
A FEW PATERNAL ACRES BOUND
CONTENT TO BREATHE HIS NATIVE AIR
IN HIS OWN GROUND. ALEXANDER POPE.
ONLY IMAGINE OTHER GREEN PASTURES
AND JUST FORGET THEIRS
FOR WHERE YOU ARE
IS DESIRED BY OTHERS WHO AREN’T THERE. PROF.ABRAHAM JOSEPH PADINJATTIDOM
would that it be possible for the people from Pakistan(peace-lovers) having “aman ki asha” to visit such natural and beautiful places without fear or restrictions…mankind demands
very nice and i liked it so beuatiful but i wish i could be there
thanks for sent this beuatiful pics
Country is small, but holy and fascination to her
Its so nice to watch
Very nice place to visit.
Truly, heaven on earth !
You made a a good point here and I agree with what you said, Keep writing.
Thanks for showing such good Images.
A beautiful place to visit. Very neat and tidy.
I am speech less to see this beauty.
Beautiful and lovely. Wish to visit in future. Arigato.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures. On our ‘Must Visit’ list.
rks
Fantastic place.. God is great…
Thanks to introduce me with such awesome beauty
Beutiful place to visit.I visited twice and want to visit again it has natural beuty cant imagine without going there.At this place you can have experience of visiting some foreign country like switzerland.
In Asia it is a beautiful place to go and enjoy the beauty of the nature and pollution free atmosphere the visitor will get a memorable time which he spent there
MOTI MANOT
We have enjoyed our memoreble time and enjoyed alice time experience there . it is really wonderful place to visit and see the natural beauty closely
SUMAN MANOT
Wonderful place.Everybody should visit once.Fantastic scenic beauty
wow wonderful location
Lovely Pictures.
I am fortunate enough to have visited gangtok and the nearby places a couple of years back. Seeing the photographs made me go back a couple of years when i saw all these wonderful places. The drive from siliguri to Gangtok with river Teesta beside us is really very enchanting.
Anand Murthy
i like it. wants one more time to visit.
I was fortunate to visit Gangtok and many surrounding towns in year 1982.Indeed a Haven,most scenic and seren place on earth.Beautiful place,people and food.Worth visiting once in life time or best choice to spend a vacation.Look forward to visit this wonderful hill station.
Very nice and i liked it so beuatiful but i wish i could be there
it is wonderful place to visit atleast once in life time.
after visiting one wants to establishhere itself.
What a beauty city on the mountain. Must be lucky to visit. Fantastic
Lindo, lindo!!!!
I was fortunate enough to visit the town during 2003. Nice place to spend some joyful time midst gullible locals, whose pot boils from hospitality extended to tourists……planing one more trip shortly.
excellent visual treat.
Fantásticas fotos.
Brasil
I HAVE SEEN ALMOST ENTIRE SIKKIM FROM GANGTOK TO YUMTHANG,LACHEN,LACHUNG 10-11 TIMES.
IT,S WONDERFUL.
SIKKIM was annexed by INDIA,I understand.Lets not disfigure History… A secred document for generations to come.
OH ! It is very beautiful to see. Thank sfor sending to me.
Manickam
Could anyone advice me on travel to Sikkim. I am a Malaysian and I intend to travel from Malaysia to Kohlkata then…….please advice. Do foreigners need a special permit to visit Sikkim.
I can only apply for a tourist visa to visit India…
Regards
Bala Chandran
[email protected]
SO NICE TO SEE THE PICTURE. HAVE TO VISIT THIS SUMMER WITH WHOLE FAMILY.
VERY VERY NICE. LOOKING ENTIRE TOWN WITH LIGHTING EFFECT.REALLY SO GOOD.
We really enjoyed Sikkim which we visited a few years back
The excursions from Gangtok were great
We went also to see the Indo- Chinese border at Natu-la and also the frozen Tsogo lake. All in all a great holiday
The people are very friendly and one should try the MOMOS even though we are vegerarians
amazing
i like to visit gagtok
one can view Kanchenjunga range from Gangtok.Beautiful place to visit again.
A beautiful place and worth visiting. Thanks Priya.
I LIKED IT, SO BEAUTIFUL
I WISH I COULD BE THERE.
WONDERFUL PLACE
must visit hill station.
Beautiful mountains,Fantastic house buildings on the hills,Art of paintings over the temple and other natural scenes make everyone, no doubt pleasure. Gangtok the capital city of Sikkim is a lovely and cool one to rejoice.
i had been t Gangtok and its really beautiful
Thank you. I could c the beauty of Sikkim through the photos u have sent.
Beautiful pictures. I have traveled extensively in the Sikkim. You can see some of my pictures uploaded on ” Sulekha.com/travel ” section.
VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE
Excellent images. Nice presentation.
Awe-struck !
Nature has bestowed the very Best to Sikkim !
Where were u all these days- just missed u !
THE CITY OG GANTOAK IS WORTH VISITING IN VIEW OF THE PICTURES DPICTED HERE
S REPORTED PEOPLE ARE GOOD THIS IS A PLACE FOR STAYING PECEFUL.
THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL
TRULY YOURS
SHANKERPRASAD S BHATT
WE HAD BEEN TO GANGTOK ALONG WITH MY SISTERS FAMILY TWO YEARS BACK AND YUMTHANG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT WE HV EVER SEEN GOOD DICIPLINE EXCELLENT TRAFFIC CONTROL AND BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AROUND SUPERB
Breathtaking, wish we could visit.
what a beautiful nature
It is very beautiful location, i hacve spend 5 days & 4 night at thers. enjoying envoirement .
Very very nice.
beautiful, enthralling and captivating
I WISH I WOULD HV BEEN THEIR,VERY BEAUTIFUL NATURE,I HOPE I WILL BE THEIR WITH MY FAMILY.
nothing wrong but mail doesnot contain any data.
god gift and very wonderful
hi i like travel to gangtok i want invition
Sikkam is really beautiful. It is good that this state is with India. But what is its future as of China?
nice place, wish to visit once..
nice to some scenic beauty created by GOD,I LIKE FURTHER DETAIS of travel stay and the cost involved.
I was there at the highest Conference Hall of ASIA very near to Lamp Post, which is in the custody of China due to negligence of our Army Officer’s mistake long back. But the climate as well as scenes of Sikkim are so mar-bolus/ Fantastic.
It is heaven on earth.After Dargeeling Gangtok is the most beautiful place ib North East India.I have travelled in Sikkim even when it was a kingdom and plan to travel again and again now that it is a part of India.
Dear friend ,
I visited once . It is nice . I love himalayas.
Very beautiful thanks for sending
Cool
Prakash
Sikkim is a beautiful place to visit. and more beautiful are the people residing there. they are very honest and lively people. definitely worth a visit.
I am from Malaysia.Any tour for this place
i had been to gangtok its realy worth going there in life time superb
place. plastic things were not allowed in 2010, now dont know.
Thanks God who created such wonders
Very beautiful place, thank you so much for having watched these beautiful pictures.
I was lucky to visit this place and also go up to the Nathu La Pass
Really amazing to go on the exciting road and also visit the historic Nathu La Pass.
The Sikkim and Gangtak are all all picturasque places and very interesting.I hope the airport will open shortly to make it more easily approachable.
I have not seen but soon we will make plan in my life??
But some body give me more guide and how do go about and tour etc
Dhansukh
very nice and i liked it so beuatiful but i wish i could be there
thanks for sent this beuatiful pics
Pleasant and peaceful to see such beautiful areas of India.Hope to visit and experience God over there.
very nice places… must visit once…
Very impressive coverage of beautiful Indian sites. Please carry on doing this good job.
Wonderful! Stupendous Photography! Let us Pray Men will continue to preserve such wonders of Nature (God-Created)! Thank YOU & God Bless You for the Photos
The photographs are superb.The town appears to be worth-visiting.Waiting for the earliest opportunity to visit it.
Very beautiful, indeed. It would be much better if the info about how to reach the place, what are the accommodations available, whether there is any Muslim restaurant serving Halal food is given. Anyways, thanks.
going this december
I have visited Sikkim. It is truly beautiful. Visited the town of Rangpo – A brewery run by Parsis, sampled pan liquor there for the first time. It is a must for all avid travellers.
Gangtok is a hill station, beautiful and stunning place.
One of my travel schedule to get pleasure and enjoy life, I’m going shopping to buy wonderful things there.
nice scenery and good phptography
Sikkim is beautiful, but to my opinion, more beautiful than the pics. The tranquil beauty of Sikkim can be imbibed in one’s inner self even in different seasons. I have visited twice but like to go there again.
Maravilhosas fotos
This is really a very good place. I had the occasion to visit the Gangtak few years back and had the experience of the place.
An extract from my Diary of 1st Oct’2012(My 3rd trip to Gangtok)
In the morning while I was leaving Gangtok..I found the city was in a gloomy mood;I asked what so happened which make you gloomy,She doesn’t uttered a word rather her gloominess increases-which make me understand that she was upset as I was leaving..
Leaving the city in grievance of departation,I hire a cab….on the way I found the great Himalayan range in the form of landslide lying in the road;I asked what happen dear..he smiled and answered “I am here to wish u a happy and pleasant journey…which make me very pleased..
On reaching SINGTAM I found she ws flowing her tear at TISTA…I asked not to weep but to smile..so she smiled and ordered the mighty river Tista to accompany me for amusement..The river and the hills recreates me the whole journey….
Hills recreating me and river playing hide and seek with me reached SEVOKE;here comes the time for departation with hill and river too…
Hill stop there saying “My range is upto here and i couldn’t accompany you,but will be waiting here and longing your way”also the rives stops a microsecond smiled and said my route is in othr direction so let us depart here…promising you’ll visit again;so i promised to visit Sikkim again in 2013 hearing which turns the hill happy and more green and the river happily aftr listening my promise running swiftly shouted”HAPPY JOURNEY GO SOON MY COUSIN MAHANANDA IS LONGING YOUR WAY”….
And finally i reachd Siliguri where I found Mahananda longing my way …and the Siliguri city rocking in happiness of my RETURNS….
MISSING SIKKIM AND HER BEAUTY!!
Very nice photo
great place to visit. amazing thing is that lake ( changu lake) is normal in the morning and is frozen in the evening.
Nag
very nice and beautiful to see
Very like…….
it is nice place to spend joyful time….. shotly v r planning tour ….
thanks to you for information
A beautiful place to visit. Very neat and tidy.
I am proud that this place is part of our great country. A nice place to visit.
The Kingdom of Sikkim which was not a part of India decided to merge its state with the Indian Republic in the year 1975. With that decision, India got a gift of a beautiful hill station know as Gangtok, capital of the Himalayan state of Sikkim. The journey to this stunning place is equally beautiful and 90% of the road is by the side of the river Teesta.
Gangtok is situated at an altitude of 1437 meters above the main sea level. There is hardly any plateau in Gangtok and the entire place is located on different steps at various levels which add a special dimension to the view of the place. The word “Gangtok” has been derived from the Tibetan word for “hillside”. Although Sikkim has taken pains to preserve its history, ancient traditions, culture as well as historic monuments which are of religious significance to them, at the same time, it has taken care to keep pace with the modern age by building hospitals, wide roads and other modern amenities that the new age citizen wishes to have.
I AM THE NATURE L OVED PERSON. I HAVE TRAVELLED MANY PLACES IN INDIA AND ABROD. BY READING YOUR POSTING REGARDING GANGTOK, IAM EAGER TO VISIT THE PLACE WITH FAMILY AND CHIDRENS IN AND ARROUND THIS STATE, LIKE MANIPUR, ARUNACHAL PRADESH, MEGHALAY, SIKKIM ETC. KINDLY TELL ME ABOUT SAFTY AND OTHERS DISTERBABCES FROM TERRESTS, MOISTS, AND OTHER DISTERBING PEOPLE INDIAN IN THAT AREA. IAN VERY EXITED BY YOUR PHOTOS. POSTINGS AND DECIDED TO MUST. SEE PLACE
It is very beautiful place.
I am plannig in june 15th with family.
Pl tell me how many days required to visit & june climate.
Thx a lot
We in India try to glorify the beauty of other countries. We tend to forget that the nature has provided this great country of ours with lots and lots of beautiful landscape, icy mountains etc etc., The place is marvellous and one has to enjoy these beauty of nature.
When Nature decides to dress-up, it truly breath-taking ! Superb.
Beautiful! I love all the pictures.
Indeed its fantastic…..I like M.G.marg a lot….its one of the neatest place in the earth.
The night view of this beautiful hill kingdom looks
like dream land .Though I have seen many hill side tourist
locations /places ,but it has fascinated me & I wish I could
be there .Thank you for sending this lovely mail
What impressed me most about the fascinating Himalayan kingdom’s capital Gangtok is the safety it offered women. Women can move about the Market Plaza in Gangtok even late at night, without any fear.No eve teasing or other forms of harassment of women. How many States in India can boast of being such a haven for India?
Maleeha Raghaviah
Gangtok is a very beautiful hill station. The temp. is is never high and the place is cool and peaceful. The Gods resides there. Indian has many beautiful place to visit.We are Indians we should be proud of our heritage.
really we visited all indian hill stations but gangtok is no 1 in beauty and peace /civil rules/ very nice pl keep this going on..
Very impressive! not only the beautiful landscape, but the reassuring remark by a tourist who has been there recently, that ‘it is a safe place for women’, and that there is no eve-teasing or ‘harassment of women’, and women can safely walk in the shopping area without fear,even late at night. It is to be hoped that such unusually good conditions will remain the same,in future too.
I love all hill stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal, Hrishikesh, Missouri, Udaipur, Nainital, Pithorogarh , Badrinath, Kedsrnath, Vaishno Devi, Amarnath etc. Gangtok is no exception. Wish to be there soon.