Fascinating and unruly… that what describes Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim is located on the eastern side of the Himalayan range at an altitude of 1,650 metres. A place, where the clouds play hide and seek with the mountain peaks and kiss them whenever they pass along.
The town is a melting pot of different ethnicities such as Nepalese, Lepchas and Bhutia. Nestled within higher peaks of the Himalaya and enjoying a year-round mild temperature climate, Gangtok is at the pivotal point of Sikkim’s tourism industry.Gangtok became a major stopover on the trade route between Lhasa in Tibet and cities such as Kolkata (then Calcutta) in British India. After India won its independence from Britain in 1947, Sikkim chose to remain an independent monarchy, with Gangtok as its capital. In 1975, after the integration with the union of India, Gangtok was made India’s twenty-second state capital. Today, Gangtok is a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning, with the presence of several monasteries, religious educational institutions, and centres for Tibetology.
On the bright sunny days, the captivating view of Mt. Kanchenjunga would certainly enthral you. The summer months see the blooming of rhododendrons make the place a region of vibrant colours.
The city is flanked on east and west by two streams, namely Roro Chu and Ranikhola respectively. Most of the roads are steep, with the buildings built on compacted ground alongside them. With different attractive spots like Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake), Tashi viewpoint or Ban Jhakri Falls, the ‘Hill Top’, the literal meaning of Gangtok is a place with abundance of natural greenery.
