Cities in India

Gangtok

Population                     : 82,000
Main Languages             : Nepali, English.
Telephone area code     : 03592
Best time to visit            : October to March

Gangtok is at an height of 1574m and it became the capital of Sikkim in the 19^th century. Build along a ridge by the side of river Ranipool it is now a modern town offering spectacular view of deep valleys, rivulets and the majestic Kanchenjunga.

Places of Interest
Tsuklakhang
The royal gompa (cahpe) of the Chogyals (ex rulers of Sikkim) in the grounds of the Royal Palace. Ths was once the most important gompa in Sikkim, site of the coronation ceremonies of the Kings of Sikkim, of royal marriages and of celebrations to mark national and religious festivals.

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
Established by the last Chogyal in 1958 and built in traditional style, this institute promotes research of the language and traditions of Tibet. It contains several rare Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts, status and thangkas, as well as other priceless objects. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Chorten & Monastery
The gold apex of a huge white chorten is right next to the institute. Next to it is the monastery for young lamas with a shrine containing huge images of Guru Padmasambhava, the Indian teacher of Buddhism in Tibet. As at other Buddhist monasteris, Chorten is surrounded by prayer wheels.

Orchid sanctuary
Here you can see many of the 454 sepcies of orchid found in Sikkim. The best time to visit are April to May and July to August.

Rumtek Monastery
Situated 24 km from Gangtok, it is the largest of its kind outside Tibet and is the seat of the “Kagyu” oder of Buddhism and is almost the replica of the original Kagyu in Tibet.

Phodang & Labrang Monastery
This is 40 kms north of Gangtok and of Sikkim’s 70 minor and major monasteries,Phodang is one of the 6 major monasteries. It is a fairly recent structure and there are far fewer monks here than at Rumtek.

Labrang, is approximately 2 km further uphill from Phodang and is a much older structure.

Tsangu Lake
Also spelt Tsago and Changu, the lake is at 3750m and at a distance of 34 kms from Gangtok and just 8 kms from the Tibetan border. The two hour trip from Gangtok offers spectacular views.

PEMAYANGTSE
At an height of 2085m and surrounded on two sides by snowcapped mountains, Pemayangtse is one of the state’s oldest and most important monasteries. It was founded in 1705 but was badly damaged in the earthquakes of 1913 and 1960. Reconstructed several times it belongs to the Tantric Nyungma-pa sect, which was established by the Indian teacher Padmasambhava in the 8^th century.

The monastery is a three storey structure filled with wall painting and sculptures including Zandog-palri, a seven tiered painted wooden model of the abode of Guru Rimpoche, complete with rainbows, angels and the whole panoply of Buddhas and bodhisattvas on the third floor.

YUKSAM
Also spelt Yoksum and Yuksom, it is 35 kms by road from Pemayangtse. The Dubdu Monastery, an hours walk uphill from Yuksam, was were the first monarch of Sikkim was crowned in 1641.

Yuksam is also a place for overnight stay for those who intend to trek to Dzongri, at the base of the Kanchenjunga

HOW TO REACH
By Air
Nearest airport is Bagdogra (124 kms).

By Rail
Nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri (130 kms).