GANGTOK CITY GUIDE
A city where you can hear the call of the hills, where you can become one with the bounties of nature… where you can commune with yourself in the monasteries… where you can shop for trinkets and tribal handicrafts in the long-winding bazaars… that is the magic of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is a very charming city on the western side of the Ranipool river…. offering spectacular views of the entire Kanchenjunga range. The ancient temples, palaces and monasteries of Gangtok will transport you to a world of fantasy
TSUK-LA-KHANG
The
Royal chapel, is the principal place of worship for the Buddhists. It is a beautiful
and impressive building, housing a large collection of statues of Buddha and
exquisite wood-carvings.
THE RUMTEK MONASTERY
This Monastery is about 24 km away from Gangtok. It is the seat of the Gyalwa
Karmapa, the head of the Kagyupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. There are many Tibetan
religious paintings exhibited here. Visitors are welcome to sit in the chanting
sessions. Behind the temple is the Institute of Buddhist Studies, where the
monks study. Rumtek is the site of ‘Chaam’ dances, held two days before the
Tibetan new year in February. During this time, you can see the monks dance
to the tune of cymbals and the beat of the drums.
ENCHEY GOMPA
This interesting Gompa of the Nyingmapa order is located about 3 km northeast
of the center of town.
ORCHID GARDENS SANCTUARIES
There are over 450 species of rare orchids in the sanctuary in Sikkim. Some
of these beautiful flowers cannot be found anywhere else. The best time to visit
is April and early May and between September and December. You can also
check out the Orchidarium, another enchanting orchid sanctuary, located 12 km
south of Gangtok.
THE FLOWER EXHIBITION CENTRE
Blooming, blossoming and some even budding floral beauties. You can feast
your eyes on the multifarious hues of nature at the the Flower Exhibition Centre,
which has orchids and other species of flowers.
DO DRUL CHORTEN AND GOMPA
This large white Chorten is surrounded by 108 prayer wheels (should be turned
clockwise).
DEER PARK
Kids will just enjoy this place. You can see various kinds of deer in their
natural surroundings. If you visit the park around 7.30 am to 8.00 pm., you
can see the deer being fed.