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East Sikkim
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The capital city of Sikkim is
Gangtok, situated in East Sikkim.
The Famous Travel spots
are : (Click on them to see):
1. Enchey Monastery
2. Flower Complex
3. Cottage Industries
4. Do-drul Chorten, Deorali
5. Sikkim research Institute
of Tibetology (SRIT)
6. Rumtek Monastery
7. Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical
Garden
8. Ropeway
9. Saramsa Garden
10. Water Garden
11. Ganesh Tok (6500 ft)
12. Tashi View Point
13. Hanuman Tok (7200 ft)
14. Himalayan Zoological Park
15. Fambong Lho Wildlife
Sanctuary
16. Gonjang Monastery
17. Bakthang Water falls
18. Sa-Ngor Monastery
19. Aritar Lake
20. Tsomgo Lake (12800 ft)
21. Baba Harbhajan Singh
Memorial Temple
22. Nathula Pass
23. Tukla
1.
Enchey Monastery
Located on a hilltop above Gangtok this monastery rebuilt in
1910 belongs to the Nyingmapa order and was once the hermitage
site of Lama Drupthob Karpo renowned for his power of flying. An
important seat of the Nyingma order, the Enchey Monastery
meaning the Solitary temple, was originally built with the
solace that no other construction would be allowed near it is
built on the site blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, a tantric
master known for his flying powers. Every year around January 'Chaam'
or religious masked dance is performed with great fanfare for
two days. it is situated 3 kms from
Gangtok Town.
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2. Permanent Flower Show
White Hall, Close by the White Memorial Hall and just below the
Palace Ridge park is the more recent Flower Show Hall. In recent
years this show has become quite popular and famous as there are
flower exhibitions throughout the year in accordance with the
seasons and the flowers in bloom.
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3. Government Institute of Cottage Industry
Note - closed on Sundays, all government declared holidays,
second Saturdays and the odd unforeseen holidays.
It is now known as the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms
as well as the Government Institute of Cottage Industries(GICI).
Started during the time of the Chogyals of Sikkim, as a venture
to preserve, protect and propagate the authentic Sikkimese arts,
handicrafts and skills of local and village artisans, it has
become one of the major attractions for people visiting Sikkim
where beautiful souvenirs like carpets, hand carved tables (choktses),
traditional handcrafts, furniture, handlooms carpets and other
products are produced & exhibited for sale.
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 4. Do-Drul Chorten (Stupa)
Encircled by 108 prayer wheels built by late Trulsi Rimpoche in
1945-46. This is one of the most important and biggest stupas
found in Sikkim.
The Do-Drul Chorten or Stupa was built by the venerable Trulshi
Rimpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1945.
Inside this stupa, there are complete mandala sets of Dorjee
Phurba (Bajra Kilaya), a set of Kan-gyur relics (Holy Books),
complete 'Zung' (mantras) and other religious objects. Around
this Chorten, which is one of the most important stupas in
Sikkim, are 10 Mani-Lhakor (prayer wheels). These prayer wheels
are turned by the devout Buddhist while chanting "Hail to the
jewel in the Lotus", to invoke the Buddhisattva. The Chorten is
surrounded by Chorten Lakhang, where there are two huge statues
of Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava).
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5. Sikkim research Institute of Tibetology (SRIT)
This internationally acclaimed centre of Tibetan Studies &
Research houses a vast collection of rare Buddhist books,
manuscripts and over 200 Buddhist icons.
About a kilometer downhill from the main market of Gangtok,
amidst a small forest of oak, magnolia and birch trees stands
the Institute of Tibetology. It has one of the
world's largest collection of books and rare manuscripts on the
subject of Mahayana Buddhism plus many religious works of art
and incredibly finely executed silk embroidered thangkas.
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6. Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center
Distance - 24 km ( from Gangtok )
Built in 1960 by His Holiness the late 16th Gyalwa
Karmapa it is a replica of the original Kagyurpa Monastery in
Tsurphu,
 Tibet, the seat of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa
Rinpoche, head of the Karmapa sub sect of Kargyudpa order of
Tibetan Buddhism. It now functions as the headquarters of the
Dharma Chakra Religious Centre.
Located within the complex are the main monastery, the memorial
stupa of the XVI Gyalwa Karmapa inlaid with gold plate and semi
precious stones, Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist
Studies and the Jamyang Khang Primary School. The centre houses
some of the world's most unique religious scriptures,
manuscripts and religious art objects.
A fifteen minute walk downhill from Dharma Chakra Center takes
one to the Old Rumtek monastery which was originally built in
1730 by the ninth Karmapa but was destroyed by fire and had to
be reconstructed to the present state. His Holiness late Gyalwa
Karmapa lived in this monastery till the completion of the
Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center.
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7. Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden
Located very close to Rumtek Monastery, the Garden is an
enchanting and soothing experience among the lush green
vegetation, rare plants and trees and certain species of
Himalayan flowers and Orchids.
This garden is a mixture of well tended tropical and temperate
plants and trees. A huge greenhouse containing
many species of orchids has been constructed within the garden.
For children there is even a small playground with a
merry-go-round, swings and a see-saw. A cemented footpath winds
its way through the garden and is good for taking a relaxed
stroll. The sprawling town of Gangtok can be seen on the hill
opposite.
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 8. Gangtok Ropeway
It takes passenger to the highest point of the city of Gangtok
covering the distance of about 1 Km in only seven minutes. Each
cabin accommodates 24 passengers. The lower terminal station is
located at Deorali Market, the intermediate terminal at Nam Nang
and the upper terminal station is below the Secretariat (Tashiling).
One can truly enjoy the panoramic view and thrilling rise as the
Ropeway goes over the city.
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9. Saramsa Garden/ Ipecac Garden
Distance - 14 km ( from Gangtok )
Also know as Ipecac Garden, the home of Sikkim's most exotic
orchids and other rare tropical and temperate plants. Established and maintained by the Department of
Forest, it is an excellent recreation and picnic spot. Besides
Ipecac plant, this garden also contains a wide variety of other
flora including numerous types of orchids and medicinal plants.
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10. Water Garden
Distance - 16 km ( from Gangtok )
Water Garden at Martam Khola is on the 31-A National Highway
south of Gangtok. It is an ideal spot for picnic with a small
swimming pool for children.
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11. Ganesh Tok
Altitude - 6,500 ft.
It is a very small temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh, a deity
worshipped by Hindus. The temple is so small in size that it can
hardly accommodate one person and one has to crawl to get inside
it. It is located on the hill adjoining the TV Tower. It is on a
hillock on Gangtok-Nathula Road.
From here you can get a panoramic view of Gangtok town and the
Raj Bhawan Complex and on a clear day you get a breathe taking
view of Mt. Khangchendzonga. A walk on the footpath amongst the pine trees is
refreshing.
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12. Tashi View Point
It was built by the late King of Sikkim, Tashi Namgyal, it is
situated 6 km from Gangtok town from where one can have a clear
view of opposite
 hills. This site
offers a breathtaking panorama of the majestic Mt.
Khanchendzonga and surrounding hills. This place offers
an astounding view of the Khangchendzonga snowy range on a clear
day. On the opposite hill, the Phodong and the Labrang
monasteries can be seen. A resting shed and a small cafeteria
situated at Tashi View Point provides shelter and other
amenities to the tourists.
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13. Hanuman Tok
Altitude - 7,200 ft.
Situated about 5 km uphill from White Hall on a bifurcation road
of the Gangtok-Nathula Highway, is a temple devoted to Hanuman,
a God worshipped by the Hindus. On selected points on the road
to the temple, breathtaking views of Gangtok and the adjoining
rolling hills can be seen.
One also gets a birds eye view of
the Selep waterworks, which supplies drinking water to the
Gangtok town, a few hundred feet in altitude below Hanuman Tok.
A short distance before the stair case leading to the Hanuman
Temple is the cremation ground of the erstwhile royal family of
Sikkim. The cremation ground has stupas and chortens each
marking the place where the mortal remains of the departed souls
were consigned to the flames.
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14. Himalayan Zoological Park
The park is located exactly across the road opposite Ganesh Tok
and covers an area of 205 hectares. This area is also known as
Bulbuley and extends almost upto Hanuman Tok. Vehicles are not
allowed inside.
There is a paved cement path that passes by fenced open air
enclosures housing the red pandas, Barking Deer, bears and other
animals of Sikkim in a semi natural habitat. As the enclosures
encompass a huge area the animals are sometimes not easily
visible and one has to be patient to get a sight of them. Making
noise drives away the animals to take refuge behind bushes.
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15. Fambong La Wildlife Sanctuary
Distance - 25 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 1280 - 2652 m
It has an area of 51.76 sq. km. The main vegetation is Oak,
Katus, Kimbu, Champ with thick bamboo forests and ferns. The
Sanctuary is also home to a large number of wild orchids,
rhododendrons etc. This area is
being developed as a short duration trekking trail.
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16. Gonjang Monastery
Gonjang Monastery near Tashi View Point was established in the
year 1981. Yhe founder is H.E. Tingkye Gonjang Rimpoche. He was
recognized as an incarnation of Yolmo Terton Ngakchang Shakya
Zangpro, a 15th century Nyingmapa Terton. The monastery follows
Jangter tradition of Nyingmapa school of Tibetian Buddhism.
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 17. Bakthang Water Falls
Bhakthang Water Falls is along the 31 A
National Highway leading to North Sikkim. It originates from Ratey
Chu, the main water source of Gangtok area.
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18.
Sa-Ngor-Chotshog Centre
Distance - 5 km ( from Gangtok )
It is a Tibetan refugee monastic
institution established in 1961 by his Eminence Luding Khen
Rimpoche, Head of Ngorpa, sub-sect of the Sakya Order, with the
blessing of H.H. Sakya Trizin and H.H. the Dalai Lama. This is
the only monastery of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism in
Sikkim.
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19. Aritar Lake
 The Aritar Lake (Ghati-Tso) near Rhenock, about 3 hours drive
from Gangtok, is worth visiting. In the peaceful & cool environment, trekker’s
huts & few lodges/private resorts are available. Lingsay Monastery and
a Manghim can be visited. Other attractions are boating & a short trek in and around Aritar. A night spent in an old British Bunglow of 1885
located half a Km below the lake could be an enthralling
experience.
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20. Tsomgo/ Changu Lake
Distance - 40 km / 2.5 hrs( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 12,210 ft
The lake is about 1
km long and oval in shape, 50ft deep . This is an alpine zone
and snowbound from December to April and the lake is regarded
extremely Holy and head of all lakes in Sikkim and attracts 99% of tourists
visiting Gangtok, Sikkim. It is also a home of Brahmini ducks
besides stopover for various migratory ducks.
Tsomgo Lake is literally known as "source of the lake " in
Bhutia language. Its on the Gangtok Nathu La highway. It falls in the
restricted area and hence an inner line permit is required by
Indians to visit this place. Foreign nationals are not permitted
to visit this lake without special permission. A small temple of
lord Siva is constructed on the lakeside.
Between May and August it is possible to see a variety of
flowers in blooms, including the rhododendrons, various species
of primulas, blue and yellow poppies, irises etc. It is also an
ideal habitat for the red panda and various species of birds.
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21. Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple
Built in the memory of Harbhajan Singh, a sepoy in the 23rd
Punjab Regiment, the temple lies between the Nathu-La and the
Jelep-La passes. Its said that he appeared in a dream a few
days after he went missing while patrolling the border, and
expressed a desire that a monument be built in his memory. His
fellow soldiers then built a monument that has over the years
acquired the status of pilgrimage centre. Believers leave a
bottle of water, to be collected a week later to be used for its
healing powers.
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22. Nathula Pass
Distance - 54 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 14790 ft.(4,392 m)
 The pass Nathula means the whistling pass. Nathula is the
Indo-China border at Jawahar Lal Nehru Road whereby Indian
troops and the Red army stand face to face. This is the closest
an Indian Tourist can travel and pose a photo or two with the
Red Army.
Tourist visit in the area is restricted and needs to be
applied at least 24 hrs in advance and limited days of
operation. The days permitted to visit Nathula are Wednesday to Sundays.
Photography is strictly prohibited in and around Nathula.
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23. Tukla
This is near to Nathula. Those who want to visit Nathula and
could not met due to any reason, can visit this place. This is
in the same region and almost similar to Nathula.
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