Places to Visit in Gangtok: Land of Mystical Waterfalls, Lakes and Monasteries

Imagine a place where clouds dance with mountains and the rivers sing! Sounds heavenly, right? You can witness nature’s play in reality in Gangtok, a paradise surrounded by the majestic peaks of Sikkim. The city is a melting pot of cultures and traditions that blend seamlessly with the contemporary lifestyle. From vibrant Buddhist monasteries, quaint village of Namchi, towering statue of Guru Padmasambhava, bustling markets and breathtaking scenery, the places to visit in Gangtok offer an experience which no place in the world can offer.

So, if you are looking for a unique experience that will leave you awe-struck, here are some of the best places to visit in Gangtok.

Best 6 Places to Visit in Gangtok

Seven Sisters Waterfall

An enchanting place that invokes all your senses is this nature’s gift, the Seven Sisters Waterfall. It is one of the best places to visit in Gangtok for every nature and adventure lover. The cascading waterfall flowing through the charming landscapes is a sight to behold for a lifetime. The musical notes of rushing water and rustling leaves take away all your stress and leave you relaxed in nature’s realm.

According to the legends, it is believed that the seven sisters descended from the heavens to bathe in the water pool below and chose to remain here forever due to its enchanting beauty.

You can book your stay at affordable and comfortable hotels in Gangtok near the waterfall for easy accessibility to this heavenly place.

MG Road

Located in the heart of the city, MG Road is one of the most popular tourist places to visit in Gangtol. The area in the city centre is a major shopping hub with numerous shops, restaurants and hotels lined up along both sides of the road. Despite being one of the busiest roads in Gangtok, the area is the epitome of cleanliness, where you will not find any littered corners as the entire area is free of smoke, litter and vehicular traffic. Vehicles are not allowed on the road and it is a pedestrian-only zone.

The best time to visit MG Road is during the famous Gangtok Food and Culture Festival (December), where you will get the best experience of culinary delicacies, handicrafts, dance and music. Additionally, if you wish to stay in the bustling locality, there are various treebo hotels near MG Marg Market, Gangtok, offering easy accessibility and top-notch service.

Rumtek Monastery:

Gangtok is known for its vibrant and colourful monasteries, of which the Rumtek Monastery is one of the largest and most significant monasteries in Sikkim. Perched on top of a hill 23 kms from the city centre, it was originally called the Dharma Chakra Centre. It was established with the aim of spreading the Buddhist teachings around the world. The monastery belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhists, who originated in Tibet in the 12th century. The lush green mountains in the surrounding create breathtaking vistas around this spiritual centre.

Moreover, the monastery is also known for its mesmerising architecture with a massive prayer hall decorated with beautiful murals, statues and thangkhas.

Tsomgo Lake:

Located at a height of 12400 ft above sea level on the Nathu La highway, the Tsomgo Lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Gangtok. Also known as Changu Lake, it is one of the few high-altitude lakes in India. If you are visiting Gangtok, you should never skip visiting the lake, which is renowned for its breathtaking scenic beauty. Surrounded by a bright green carpet of alpine forests and snow-capped mountains in the backdrop, the lake is a glacial lake that derives its water from the melting snow from the surrounding mountains. The lake is also famous for its colour-changing waters, which change with the seasons.

During the summer, the lake is surrounded by colourful flowers. In the monsoon, the lake turns into a bright aquamarine lake, whereas in winter, it freezes into an ice field. Moreover, the changing colours of the lake are also associated with various myths and legends, according to which the Buddhist monks used to analyse the colour of the lake to forecast the future.

Ranka Monastery:

Another famous monastery in Gangtok, the Ranaka Monastery, is located 20 kms from the city centre. This regal monastery follows the Zurmang Kagyud lineage of Buddhism and is spread over a vast area, offering mesmerising scenic views to the visitors. It is also considered one of the most important and glorious monasteries in East Sikkim, which also attracts filmmakers for its enchanting beauty.

While visiting the monastery, you can also visit another famous tourist spot, the Banjhakri Falls and experience the fun of paragliding.

Himalayan Zoological Park:

For wildlife lovers, the Himalayan Zoological Park is one of the best places to visit in Gangtok. Located in Bulbuley, which is 3 kms away from Gangtok at an altitude of 1789 mts, the park was established in 1991. It is one of its kind zoological parks in the North-Eastern part of India, spread over 205 hectares of land in the mountainous terrain with the views of majestic Mount Kanchenjunga. The park is home to a variety of animals, including snow leopard cat, goral, Himalayan palm civet, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan red panda, Himalayan monal pheasant and crimson-horned pheasant.

You can enjoy refreshments, shop from the souvenir shop and get a panoramic view of the park from the watch tower. For easy commuting, there are various treebo hotels in Gangtok offering private cab services to let you explore the famous tourist attractions around the city.

Thus, a trip to Gangtok will be an incredible experience filled with scenic beauty, spirituality, adventure and festivities. The places to visit in Gangtok are one of their kind, offering a serene escape from daily chaos. Known for its cleanliness, the city looks afresh throughout the year with the changing vistas according to the seasons. Also, don’t fidget to indulge in the traditional delicacies like monos, thukpa and gundruk on MG road.

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