Best Things to do in Gangtok

Want to catch the soul soothing glimpse of Mt. Kanchenjunga? Drive straight to the tranquil hills of Gangtok. Wreathed in clouds amidst extremely alluring and pleasant distant skyline, Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim is a pristine hill station nestled in the eastern Himalayan range. The city is situated at an altitude of 5410 ft and is a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site, especially for the Enchey Monastery built in 1840.
Gangtok has practically everything from traditional heritage to mesmerizing nature to sophisticated urbanization and lots of places to explore. The city is bestowed with natural beauty and several natural attractions like Tsomgo Lake, Ban Jhakri Falls, Tashi Viewpoint, Nathu La Pass, Kabi Longstok to name a few with the spellbinding view of Mt Kanchenjunga (the third highest mountain peak in the world) in a panoramic view topping the list. Additionally, the River Teesta is one of the best white water rafting spots in North East India which makes Gangtok exclusively attractive to the adventure lovers.
The city is inhabited by people from different background and multiple ethnicities including Nepalese, Bhutias and Lepchas, who contribute to keep the traditional culture and identity of the city actively alive. There are several festivals celebrated in Gangtok, including the most popular Saga Dawa, marking its rich culture and varied livelihood.

Gangtok is popular as the most versatile hill station of the northeast. The active nightlife is in true contrast to the tranquil day outing amidst the misty roads. Additionally, the local cuisine is every foodie?s dream. While in Gangtok, it is impossible to miss the famous Momos, Thukpa, Wonton, Gyathuk, Thenthuk and more, along with a Sikkim style meat patty called Shah-Phaley.

Gangtok used to be a small region till Enchey Monastery was built in 1840 for preaching Buddhism. It practically made the region a pilgrimage center. It grew as a prominent town after the British invaded and was converted as a trade center between Tibet and British India. Gangtok remained an independent monarchy after 1947, and finally in 1975 the monarchy was abrogated.