Gangtok
 Now a sprawling urban settlement, Gangtok sits atop a 1,600 m-high ridge, surrounded by brilliant green mountains snuggled against Khangchendzonga. A strong Buddhist culture reflects from the storybook-like pagoda roofs, which dot the verdant mountains. There are colourful monasteries teeming with red-robed lamas, the exquisite Tsuk-La-Khang (Royal Palace) and the Institute of Tibetology, which houses scores of ancient Buddhist texts and scripts.
Trekking here, though confined to the area west of the Teesta River, is an exciting experience. There are wild expanses of old forests and timeless river valleys to trudge through, with something new to marvel at every turn.
A flower show is held here every year celebrating the orchids, which bloom here in their wild beauty.
Accommodation at Gangtok:
The Royal Plaza,
Hotel Chumbi Residency,
Hotel Rendezvous
Weather and Best Time to Visit:
In Summer, the maximum temperature would be 13, and minimum, 7; in Winters the maximum would be
6 and minimum 1.50.
The best season to visit would be from April to middle June and September to November.
Major Attractions at Gangtok
Enchey Monastery
This 200-year-old monastery, 3 km from downtown Gangtok, is built on the site blessed by the famous flying tantrik master Lama Druptop Karpo. It is an important seat of the Nyingma order. Every year in January, 'Chaam' or the masked dance is performed with great fanfare for two days.
Do-Drul Chorten
The Do-Drul Chorten or Stupa was built by the venerable Trulshi Rimpoche, head of the Nyingma Order in 1945. Inside are the complete mandala sets of Dorjee Phurba (Bajra Kilaya), a set of Kan-gyur relics (Holy Book), and other religious exhibits. There are 108 prayer wheels around the Stupa. Chorten Lakhang and Guru Lakhang are around the Stupa. There are also two huge statues of Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava).
Sikkim Research Institute Of Tibetology
A renowned centre for the study of Buddhist philosophy and religion, with a vast and rare collection of Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts, statues and thankas. Over 200 Buddhist icons and other art objects are displayed here. Visiting hours - 10 am to 4 pm (Tel: 22 525).
Saramsa Garden
Located 14 km from Gangtok, this garden is home to Sikkim's many exotic orchids and rare tropical and temperate plants.
Rumtek Monastery
A replica of the original Kagyu Order headquarters in Tibet, it is at a distance of 24 km from Gangtok (45 minutes). Since the late 1960s after the arrival of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, the centre houses some of the world's most unique religious scriptures and religious art objects.
Fambong La Wildlife Sanctuary
About 25 km from Gangtok, spread over 51.76 sq km, this sanctuary is home to a large variety of flora and fauna, specially orchids and rhododendrons.
Access
Air: The nearest airport from Sikkim is Bagdogra at a distance of nearly 124 kilometers from Gangtok. It is situated 12 kilometers from Siliguri in West Bengal. There is regular helicopter service from Bagdogra to Gangtok that takes only 20 minutes.
Rail: The nearest Railway Station is New Jalpaiguri that is 148 kilometers from Gangtok and takes about 4 hours by road. New Jalpaiguri is connected to all major Indian cities through excellent railway network.
Road: Access by road from Bagdogra (124 kms.), Siliguri (114 kms.), Darjeeling (94 kms.), Pelling (117 kms.), Kalimpong (75 kms.), New Jalpaiguri (148 kms.) and Bagdogra (124 kms.)
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