Archive for the ‘Gangtok Hill Station’ Category
February 3rd, 2012 | 
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Language : Nepali, Sikkimese, Bhutia, Lepcha, Hindi, English
Best time to visit : October to March
STD Code : 03592
About The Place
Ensconced on a ridge flanking the Ranipool river, Gangtok at an altitude of 1870 m, is a destination that would lure anyone who has a taste for natural beauty and an inclination or interest in the Buddhist religion and culture. For it is a place that has beautiful monasteries, including the esteemed Rumtek – the head quarter of Kagyu order; vistas as breath taking as the awe-inspiring Khangchendzonga – the third highest mountain peak in the world. If you are flying to Bagdogra (nearest airport to Gangtok), opt for window seat on left for a glimpse of it.
But then, had it only been the monasteries and the natural beauty, Ladakh (another very popular Indian destination) would have easily stolen away a big chunk of tourists from Gangtok. 
So, there has to be something more to it. And that something is the glamour of this city and the easy accessibility. It’s a beautiful town with broad roads, flyovers, posh markets, fast food outlets, discotheques and all other modern amenities that one can ask for. Hotel ‘The Royal Plaza’ at Gangtok has India’s first land based live casino, and is the only place besides Goa to brag a casino in India. The tastefully lit and decorated and absolutely no traffic M.G Marg (street) is an ideal place to spend the evenings in the town.
Major Tourist Attractions In Gangtok
Himalayan Zoological Park : This Park exhibits a wide species of Himalayan fauna like the black beer, barking deer, snow leopard, civet cat, red pandas and the spotted deer.
Nathula : It is a mountain pass situated about 56 km from Gangtok at an altitude of about 14,200 ft and is covered with rich varieties of alpine flora and fauna. It is a calm place to visit and is open only for Indian Nationals.
Pemayangtse Monastery : It is one of the oldest monasteries in the state which was established by Lhatsun Chempo, the Lama who is said to have performed the consecration ceremony of the first Chogyal of Sikkim. This Monastery is located at the hill top and gives a wonderful view of the Himalayan ranges and the surrounding hills of the region.
Khecheopalri Lake : This Lake located at East Sikkim is considered to be one of the most sacred lakes in the city both for Hindus and Buddhists. This lake lies in the rich forest cover and is believed that the birds in the region never allow a single leaf to keep afloat on the water of the lake.
Menam Hill : This hill situated at an altitude of about 10300 ft gives a wonderful view of the scenic beauty of the Kanchenjunga Hills and its surrounding ranges. 
On a sunny day, one can even see the plains of Bengal spanning across Kalimpong and Darjeeling Hills in the South.
Ropeway : To capture the most stupendous scenes of the city, an easy way out here in Gangtok is to take a cable car ride that brings to your view Gangtok market, valley and assembly hall of state of Sikkim on its 15 to 20 minutes journey. There are 3 stop points on the journey. The lowest point is at Deorali market and the highest point is at Tashiling. There is a mid point stop at Nam-Nang. One can enter from any point and return to same point after touching other two points.
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About The Places
Sikkim is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India due to its natural beauty, culture, and biodiversity. Your trip to the Himalayas will be complete when you come to this beautiful and geographically diverse state. One of the smallest states of India Sikkim is the perfect destination for tourists to rest and recreate in the midst of Himalayas. Sikkim, the land of beautiful scenic views has unlimited reasons to attract tourists from all over the world. Lovely Monasteries, temples, stupas and lush greenery catch everybody’s attention. Tour to Sikkim mesmerize the tourists with its spectacular natural beauty like dense forests and bald tablelands, flower-bedecked meadows, shrubs and grasslands, mountain peaks, lush valleys, deep gorges and snow-clad peaks, emerald green wooden slopes and glistering glaciers, mountainous terrains, torrential streams and meandering rivers.
Situated at the foot of Mount Kanchendzonga, Sikkim is a small stretch of land sandwiched between the Kingdom of Nepal in the West and the Kingdom of Bhutan in the East. Sikkim also shares its border with West Bengal. The word Sikkim is derived from the two words Limbu “Su” which means “new” and “Khyim” means “place” or “house”, so the word combinedly means new place or house. Sikkim is an adorable place replete with lofty snow-capped mountains, green-colored rolling slopes, the gushing hills streams, scenic landscape, sparkling orchids, placid lakes and picturesque glaciers. The natural beauty of tiny Sikkim attracts tourists in large numbers. The snow clad Himalayan mountain ranges and virgin forests gives the landscape a mesmerizing look.
Tourist Attractions
Gangtok
It is the capital and principal town of Sikkim, tucked away in the clouds, spread out on the ridge, 5000 feet above sea level. It is a big urban area. Picturesque monasteries and charming pagoda-roofed homes are attractive features of this city. Gangatok is a destination that would lure anyone who has a taste for natural beauty and an inclination or interest in the Buddhist religion and culture. The state secretariat and all the important government offices are located in Gangtok. The Mahatma Gandhi Road (MG Road) is located at the centre of the town and most tourist activity is centered around MG Road. Most of the important hotels are also located around MG Road and its adjacent Tibet Road. This area also has several shops and travel offices including the office of the Sikkim Tourism. The bus and taxi stand is located nearby. It’s a beautiful town with broad roads, flyovers, posh markets, fast food outlets, discotheques and all other modern amenities that one can ask for.
Tsomgo Lake
The lake is about 40 km from Gangtok and situated at an altitude of 12210 ft. It takes about 2 hours drive to reach the lake from Gangtok. It is regarded extremely holy by the locals. The lake is at its scenic best between May and August for an array of rare flowers including the rhododendrons, primulas, iris and blue and yellow poppies bloom here during this period. An ideal habitat of the Red Panda, the lake also shelters a number of other birds and aquatic species. The Tsomgo lake side is also characterized by a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple serves as a famous pilgrimage centre for Shaivites vsisting Sikkim. The lake remains frozen during the winter. Every day a large number of tourist vehicles ferry tourists to the lake on a half day sight seeing tour.
International Flower Festival
A flower show of different varieties of flowers, orchids and other rare plants in Sikkim is very popular among tourist which held every summer during the peak flowering season. This spectacular event attracts people from all over the country. The beautiful state of Sikkim, famous for its flora which is in full bloom during March-May offers around 600 species of orchids, 240 species of trees, 150 varieties of gladioli, 46 types of rhododendrons along with a variety of magnolias and many other foliage plants. Orchids, Gladioli, Roses, Cacti, Alpine Plants, Creepers, Climbers, Ferns and Herbs are the main flowers which displays in the flower show. Seminars and lectures organized by experts also can be attained in the show.
Nathula Pass
Around 56 Km east of Gangtok, Nathula Pass in Himalayas is located on Indo – China border and connects Indian state Sikkim to Tibet Autonomous Region in China. The best part of traveling to Nathula pass is the travel itself. Once you start your journey from Gangtok, it is virtually a journey through heaven. The mist shrouded peaks, the zig zag roads, roaring waterfalls, all become your partners for the entire trip. The Indo-Chinese boarder here was used for trade between Tibet and India till the war of 1965. Since then the boarder remained heavily guarded and closed. During 2006 the boarder has been reopened and trade between the two countries has restarted. Since then, it sees a huge number of tourist visiting the pass every day.
Gangtok, the “Lofty Hill” or the “Hill made flat to build the Gangtok monastery in 1716″. Gangtok is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books. In the mystery-laden mists prayer flags whip in the breeze; wheels spin in the hands of Lamas mumbling invocations to God, in the distance are the snows, on the streets amidst brightly painted pagoda roofed houses, lined with friendly smiling people are silver, silk and spice and jewellery to gladden an maiden’s heart, from across the seven seas are gadget and goods to delight the collector of “imported goods’, while directly overlooking the city is the hill Lukshyma, the ‘Mother of Pearl’ citadel of the magic mountain, Khang-Chen-Dzod-Nga.
Excursions can be made from Gangtok to Changu Lake, 35 kms away famous for its cool and placid waters and the picturesque locale. Chungthang is also worth a visit because of its religious significance, which is interesting. The Sikkimese and the Hindu soldiers in the Indian Army believe that guru Padmasabhava had rested in this place and left three footprints for his devotees on a solid piece of rock. The Sikh members of the Indian army believe that the footprints are those of Guru Nanak.
Places to Visit in Gangtok
Deer Park
Adjacent to the new secretariat and also called the Rustomji Park named after one of the Dewans of the Chogyal of Sikkim, the park has a big open enclosure in which animals native to Sikkim like the red panda and the Himalayan Bear are kept. A big statue of Lord Buddha commemorating his preachings of the noble truths in the Deer Park at Sarnath adorns the park premises. A butter lamp perpetually burns in front of the statue, which is surrounded with flowers of exotic variety. The park commands a fantastic view of the hills, surrounding Gangtok and thus commands a significant position in the list of places to visit in Gangtok.
Kabi Longstok
25-km from Gangtok, just before Phodong is Kabi Longstok. There is a spot amidst tall trees, where the treaty of brotherhood between, the Lepcha Chieftan – Tetong Tek and the Tibetan chief Khye Bhumsa was signed.
Kangchendzonga National Park
Crossing a check gate where visitors entry permits was checked, one enters the Kangchendzonga National Park. The climb is gradual but very interesting as soon one is greeted by snow, lying white and pristine over the green forest floor and covering a few treetops. The jagged, rocky slopes to our left glistened in the sunlight at places forming glaciers where the gradient was right. The mountains to right are covered with dark green pines; the snow line being much higher.
Lachung
Another significant entry in the list of top places to visit in Gangtok is Lachung. The road from Chungthang toward Lachung takes one into another world. This is the area inhabited by the Lachungpas, a hardy mountain people who consider themselves quite different from the Bhutias and the Tibetans. The lush green, terraced hillsides, even in winter, were a testimony to the grit and determination of these people. Lachung is the last habitation on the road to Yumthang a monastery; hidden high on the hillside overlooked a settlement of Lachungpas and barracks of the Indian army. The mountains on the other side of the valley rose up to snowy heights. In the distance, one could see the impressions of a track that was once used by traders to cross over from Tibet with their mules laden with Chinese silk.
Rumtek Monastery
A 24-km drive from Gangtok, through the beautiful, bewitching countryside leads one to Rumtek. Rumtek, is the seat of the Karmapa Lama who heads the Kagyupa Sect of Buddhism. It is amongst the best places to visit in Gangtok if you want to know more about Buddhism.
There is a wide variety of hotel accommodation available at Gangtok, ranging from luxury and deluxe to standard and economy, depending on your budget. Prices are in the vicinity of Rs 2500 for luxury, Rs 1300 for mid-rung and Rs 500 for basic accommodation.
Nor-Khill Hotel
Hotel Nor-Khill known for its traditions, unchanged characteristics and ethnic Sikkimese ambiance. You are welcome as royal guests at Nor-Khill or in Sikkimese, the abode of jewels. What is now the Kanchan Garden used to be a favourite vantage point of the Chogyal of Sikkim. The panoramic view of the lush green hills dotted by picturesque settlements, with the Kanchenjunga reaching for the skies in the background, inspired him to sit up with a canvas set up on an easel and paint for hours.
Services
Once it was the royal guest house of the Chogyal dynasty. Traditional decor, excellent cuisine and unique ambiance and with all the comforts of modern day living. Hospitality is the Nor-Khill’s heritage.
It comprises of “The Dragon Bar” which is a cozy little room in one corner with just the right atmosphere for settling down with your favourite drink.
Whether it is a hearty meal at midday with sunlight streaming in through the glass windows or the finest traditional cuisine for dinner with the barely discernible aroma of exotic spices in the air, the Shangri La restaurant is the place for eating out in style at Gangtok.
Amenities
Attached private bath with showers.
Running hot and cold water – 24 hrs.
Telephone with International dialing and Net-connectivity.
Colour television with satellite channels.
Multi-channel music in public areas.
Round the clock room service.
Laundry and dry cleaning service.
Currency exchange.
Safe deposit lockers.
Baby sitting arrangements.
Travel desk.
Doctor on call.
Car parking area.
Banquet and conference facilities.
Communication : fax and e-mail.
For more Details go to site
http://www.travelmasti.com/nor_khill.htm
Hotel Tashi Delek ( 4 Star Hotel )
Address: Mahatma Gandhi Marg, , Gangtok
Location: City Center
Property Type: Business And Leisure Hotel
Centrally located in the heart of Gangtok, Hotel Tashi Delek provide guests with a complete experience of luxury. Unique in its historical and cultural background, everything is designed so as to reflect the co-existence of culture, age-old traditions and urbanization of Gangtok.
Accessibility: Airport: 124KM., Railway Station: 114KM.
For more Details And Booking Visit The Following Site
http://www.travel-himalayas.com/hotels-himalayas/hotels-in-gangtok.html
Spending time in Gangtok is no problem. One can easily spend 3 days in Gangtok.
Gangtok is a beautiful place whcih attracts lots of tourism to visit.
For Honeymoon couple its a fabulous place. Its nature attracts them to stay over there for couple of days.
Mesmerising, picturesque, colourful – Gangtok is the exuberant capital of Sikkim that lures you for an unforgettable honeymoon. Cool breezes blow over the lush mountainside and the air is fragrant with the profusion of wild orchids and rhododendrons. The bazaars bustle with the animation of trendy youngsters, elderly matrons in their traditional bakus and lamas in colourful maroon and mustard robes. Prayer flags flutter in front of pretty Buddhist shrines and pagoda-style houses that cling to the hillside.
SHOPPING
Hand-woven woolen carpets, blankets and shawls, Lepcha woven bags, choksies (tables) exquisitely carved and painted, hand-made dolls, painted masks, bamboo artifacts and hand-made paper. Sikkim also makes its local liqueur out of paan (betel leaf).
Chorten, a stupa built in 1945, is a great religious centre with valuable relics and two huge statues of Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava).
» Deer Park with an image of the preaching Buddha.
» Orchid Sanctuary with over 200 species of orchids.
» Tsukla-Khang, the royal monastery of the former Chogyals or rulers of Sikkim. Has priceless Buddhist treasures.
» Enchey Monastery with its exhibits of images and religious objects.
» Research Institute of Tibetology which has a large collection of icons, tankhas (tapestries) and rare books.
Gangtok, the “Lofty Hill” or the “Hill made flat to build the Gangtok monastery in 1716″. Gangtok is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books. In the mystery-laden mists prayer flags whip in the breeze; wheels spin in the hands of Lamas mumbling invocations to God, in the distance are the snows, on the streets amidst brightly painted pagoda roofed houses, lined with friendly smiling people are silver, silk and spice and jewellery to gladden an maiden’s heart, from across the seven seas are gadget and goods to delight the collector of “imported goods’, while directly overlooking the city is the hill Lukshyma, the ‘Mother of Pearl’ citadel of the magic mountain, Khang-Chen-Dzod-Nga.