Discover East Sikkim: Gangtok, Monasteries and Festivals
Accommodation in East Sikkim
East Sikkim is especially easy to explore through Gangtok: the city combines striking viewpoints and lively streets with religious festivals. Nearby, you’ll also find monasteries and nature experiences. The city and nature themes described here offer different starting points for planning your trip. Gangtok is not only a city, but also a base for a variety of cultural and scenic interests.
Gangtok: views and city life
The bi-cable Zig-back ropeway runs for over a kilometre from Deorali to the Tashiling Secretariat. In clear weather, the view stretches to the Khangchendzonga range, over Gangtok and into the valley below. The route connects two specific places and offers a different perspective on the city along the way. As you should check locally whether it is operating, it is advisable to consult the latest information before planning your visit.
White Hall is located within the city limits at The Ridge. The Ridge is a roughly one-kilometre-long promenade at the highest point in the city. MG Marg, Gangtok’s main street, offers a different urban experience: vehicles are not permitted there, and shops line both sides. The ropeway, promenade and main street each represent a different side of Gangtok—views, a place to stroll and shopping opportunities.
Monastery culture and festivals
Enchey Monastery can be reached by road from Chand Mari and from the Ridge side, as well as by a footpath from JLN Marg near Chandmari. The Detor Cham takes place there, a colourful Cham dance festival held on the 18th and 19th days of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar. In Sikkim, Cham dances are elaborate masked performances held during religious festivals. Since the festival days follow the lunar calendar, they vary from year to year; check the dates for your trip in advance.
Events in Gangtok also offer a variety of highlights. The Flower Festival begins in March with an orchid show and competitions in different categories. Held every year in December, the Gangtok Food and Culture Festival showcases Sikkim’s multicultural cuisine as well as traditional music and dance performances. In this way, March brings plants and competitions, while December focuses on culinary and performing arts. Check the latest dates and arrangements for both events before your trip.
Monasteries and scenery nearby
Rumtek is about 23 kilometres from Gangtok. The monastery is the seat of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa of the Kargyu school of Buddhism and the largest monastery in Sikkim. Its Tibetan architecture is almost a replica of the original monastery at Tsurpu in Tibet; it also houses rare Buddhist religious artefacts. In Rumtek, visitors can explore locally, take monastery tours, go white-water rafting and trek. Confirm the availability of activities locally.
Tsomgo Lake is about 38 kilometres from Gangtok and also has religious significance: the people of Sikkim consider it sacred; pilgrims seek blessings there and pay their respects to the revered spirits. The seasons have a marked effect on the lake’s appearance. In winter, it is frozen and the surrounding area is snow-covered, while many flowers bloom in late spring. Visitors can walk along scenic trails by the shore or ride ponies around the lake; the availability of these activities may vary by season.
Sikkim on a larger scale
Beyond Gangtok, Sikkim offers a landscape on a different scale. The Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim covers 25 percent of the state. Its landscapes include plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers, snow-capped mountains and ancient forests. This adds a view of the wider destination’s diversity to the practical orientation around Gangtok’s city locations and nearby attractions.
Getting there and planning the right trip
Pakyong Airport is the nearest airport to the East District, about 32 kilometres from Gangtok. Taxis or buses are available from there to Gangtok. Gangtok can also be reached by taxi from Bagdogra Airport and from the New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri railway stations. Buses operated by Sikkim Nationalised Transport run from the Siliguri bus station to Gangtok; the journey takes approximately five to six hours. Taxis can be booked at airports and railway stations or through tour operators. Check the latest timetables and road conditions before departure.
When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide which experiences matter most: MG Marg, The Ridge and the festivals are ideal if you want to focus on Gangtok; Rumtek and Tsomgo Lake add nearby monastery and nature experiences. Plan your trip according to which of these interests are your priority, and take festival dates and the seasonal availability of activities into account.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: West Sikkim, North Sikkim and South Sikkim.
For the overview of the wider destination: Sikkim.
More destinations
More places in the same destination:
