Places Near Gangtok

The places near Gangtok include Rumtek Monastery that is 24 kms away and is one of the most important monasteries of the ‘Kagyud Order’. It has some amazing artifacts and manuscripts that are hundreds of years old. Traditional in design, it is almost a replica of the original Kagyud headquarter in Tibet.

Kanchenjenga National Park is not as frequented as the other parks in India but it is one of the most beautiful. It is home to the snow leopard, musk deer, Himalayan tahr and a very wide variety of animals and birds that are rarely found anywhere else in the country.

Nathula Pass is 56 kms from Gangtok and is an offshoot of the fabled Silk Route. Situated at an altitude of 14,450 ft at the Indo-China border, it was an important trading point with Tibet since ages but was closed after the 1662 war with China. It has been reopened and certainly calls for a visit.

Note: The Nathu la visit is subject to permit and road condition. The visitors require to procure permit from the Tourism Department through a Travel Agent registered with the Department of Tourism, Government of Sikkim. The road to Nathu la is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Kindly plan accordingly.

Changu Lake at 3,780 mt, 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. It is also an ideal habitat of Red Panda and birds.