Top 6 Places to Visit In Gangtok For An Unforgettable Holiday

As a tourist place, Gangtok gained importance as the Buddhist pilgrimage in the early 1980s and considered one of the best places to visit in the northeast part of India because of its natural beauty. There are several holiday destinations that you can select from if you are planning for a relaxing weekend getaway to Gangtok.

With the growing tourists in Gangtok, there is a noticeable rise in the hotels in Gangtok to meet the rising demand of travelers for comfortable staying options. Tourists will be getting a variety of options to choose, on the basis of their itinerary and budget for the trip. So, most of the hotels ranging from affordable to luxurious ones are located on the MG road, and if they choose to stay anywhere else in the other parts of Gangtok, then the options for restaurants will be limited. 

Best Time To Visit Gangtok

September to June is the peak season to visit in Gangtok, and the pleasant weather during this time draws the attention of many travelers. Specifically speaking, the ideal time to visit Gangtok is during autumn, the month of September to October. During summers, the best months to travel are from the month of March to June.

Top 6 Places To Visit In Gangtok

Here is the list of the best places to visit in Gangtok where you can find a number of tourist destinations which can be planned to discover.

1. Rumtek Monastery

Among various tourist places in Gangtok, the monastery is known as one of the best destinations in Sikkim. The Rumtek Monastery is the home to the Buddhists, the Kagyu section, who started residing in Tibet long back in the 12th century.

The monastery has its own charm and tourists love to visit this spot because of its magnificent architecture. The structure and artifacts resemble the original monastery located in Tibet, Tsurphu. Rumtek Monastery is situated in the Dharma Chakra Centre, which is in proximity to Gangtok. Visiting this monastery would be a great pleasure as tourists cant connect their souls to spirituality and calm and serene surroundings will be a bliss to them. Some nearby attractions like Golden Stupa, various other historical monasteries can be visited on a trip to Gangtok.

2. Nathula Pass

Situated at an altitude of more than 14,000 ft, Nathula Pass is the primary passage in between Tibet and India. While passing through, travelers will be amazed by the serenity of Tsomgo Lake and it will be hard to resist themselves from capturing the splendid landscape in the lenses. So, if anyone is passionate about photography, this passage is an ideal spot to play with photography skills.

If you are adventurous about biking in the hills, will be enjoying the ride in the passage because this is considered as the highest motorable tracks in the world. The height of Nathula Pass is 4310 and the access to this place is restricted; one needs the permits for it from the zonal office.

3. Hanuman Tok

Hanuman Tok is known as one of the most-visited places in Gangtok, and the age-old temple is situated at an altitude of more than 7000 ft. Besides offering mesmerizing views of Khangchendzonga from the top of Gangtok, this temple also attracts tourists through its spirituality and peaceful atmosphere.

The travel time to this place is one day; folks can come here and spend a few hours with the spiritual vibes of the temple. The opening time of this temple is 7 Am and it closes at 5 pm. Travelers can reach there by train and the closest railway station of this temple is the New Jalpaiguri stations. People can visit this temple by taking a walk around it and also there is an option to explore the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve.

4. Namchi

The literal meaning of Namchi is the top of the sky. This is one of the top places to see in Gangtok as the spot offers a picture-perfect view of the Rangit valley and Khangchendzonga at the same time. There is a statue of Guru Padmasambhava, 135 ft long built atop the valley in Namchi, Samdruptse; a famous tourist place in Namchi.

The beauty of this place draws the attention of travelers and it should be included in your itinerary and the destination promises to provide you the best touring experience in your Gangtok trip. The nearest airport is Bagdogra and this is nearly 124 kms away from the main city of Gangtok. The major attractions are the Dechen Choling monastery, the Shedrup Choling monastery, and the Ngadak monastery. The adventure lovers can indulge themselves in trekking at the valley.

5. Do Drul Chorten Stupa

If you want to spend a few days in a peaceful tourist destination, Do Drul Chorten Stupa is one of the best options that you can opt for. People seeking serenity can visit the stupa as the place is not much crowded. The area is perfect for meditating and one can relax in the spiritual atmosphere of the stupa. The stupa opens in the early morning at 8 am and it closes at 6 pm. The spot is 2 kms away from the town of Gangtok. The best months to visit this place are from October to March.

6. Himalayan Zoological Park

If you are an animal lover and explorer of national parks or wildlife sanctuaries, you must keep this Padmaja Naidu Himalaya Zoological Park in your itinerary. The park is popular for pandas and black bears. Apart from bears, the zoo offers Tibetan wolves, snow leopards, large Indian civets, and Himalayan palm civets.

Though there are various animals in this zoo, the pandas are the main attraction of it. The park is located at a distance of 6 kms from the town of Gangtok in Bulbuley. The entry point of the zoo is very small and it is situated just on the opposite side of Ganesh Tok. The best time to visit this zoo is the months of February and March.

Therefore, these are the places that you can plan to visit if you are on a trip to Gangtok. A holiday package for Gangtok can be availed if you are planning a budget trip.