| priceless antiques and idols, and to the nearby ruins of
Rabdantse, the 17th century capital of Sikkim. The Institute of Tibetology, the
Enchey Monastery, and the Rumtek Monastery are other interesting places. The Do-Drul
Chorten is a splendid temple capped by a golden tower, with 108 prayer wheels. The sacred
Changu Lake at 12400 ft, 40 km east of Gangtok remains frozen through the year and comes
alive during summer when rhododendrons, irises, primulas and poppies burst into bloom on
its banks and on the adjoining hill slopes. Getting there
Gangtok is 721 km from Kolkata, 589 km from Guwahati and 584 km from Patna. The closest
airport is at Bagdogra, 124 km and the nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri (125 km), with
connections to all the major cities of India. You can drive to Gangtok from either of
these West Bengal cities in 5 hours or from Siliguri 114 km away or Darjeeling, 139 km
from Gangtok. The drive is facilitated by
numerous taxis, shared jeeps and hired cars with chauffeurs.
Accommodation
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.
Best season
The best time to visit Sikkim is between October and mid-December when clear views of the
Himalayan peaks are guaranteed or again between March and May when the flowers are in
bloom. January and February means snow in the higher altitudes and visits to many of the
tourist spots are not possible. June to September brings heavy rains causing landslides
that often disrupt communication. Carry light woollens for summer and heavy woollens for
winter. Rainwear is a must in any season.
For more information, see Gangtok.
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