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EAST SIKKIM
Gangtok
Here is the capital of Sikkim and an urban hub.
It is here that you board off and begin to sense the rhapsody of
confronting an age old civilization. It is here that you begin to
acquaint another scent of the Himalayas . It is here that you begin to
gather hints of what you would soon yearn to explore. The air around
this Himalayan town is still hugely breathable -you can shop, bank, loaf
and also spend nights hip-shaking and happily drunk. Everything goes,
yet you can still feel that sobriety of an ancient culture and that,
perhaps, would be the next best thing you befriend. Historically,
Gangtok became the capital only in 1894 when the then Chogyal (A ruler
of the erstwhile Chogyal dynasty of Sikkim )Thutob Namgyal shifted the
capital from Tumlong.
GLIMPSES IN THE CITY
Directorate
of Handicraft & Handloom
Mingle with the local artisans here. Instituted by the government
to preserve & promote traditional crafts you could also shop for prized
Tibetan carpets, 'choktse', traditional paper, thankas etc.
Enchey
monastery
Said to have been built on the site consecrated by the flying
Lama, Druptok Karpo in 1910 it houses invaluable images of gods,
goddesses, thankas and other religious artifacts.
Do
Drul Chorten
Considered one of the largest stupa in Sikkim it is surrounded by
108 prayer wheels. Was built by the Ven. Trulshi Rinpoche in 1945. Today
a much acclaimed centre for Buddhist learning it treasures a vast
collection of rare Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts along with
an admirable volume of over 200 Buddhist icons, Thankas and other
religious objects.
Tashi
view point
Straddled upon the North Sikkim highway about 8 km from Gangtok it
offers breathtaking views of Mt Khangchendzonga.
Ganesh
Tok
About 7 km from the city it offers majestic views of the city far
below and the looming Mt Khangchendzonga and Mt Siniolchu.
Hanuman Tok
11 Km away from the city a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman
consecrates the spot and also offers thrilling views of the mountains
around.
Himalayan Zoological Park
Located 8 km away from town it is home
to the elusive red panda, the cuddly state animal, barking deer,
Himalayan black bear and others.
Gangtok Ropeway
Offers you slow aerial views of the
city and a time to sit back and watch. It also takes you to the highest
point in the city.
BEYOND THE CITY
Tsomgo
Lake
This tranquil lake is a much visited site about 34 Km from Gangtok
at 12,400ft. It freezes completely during the winter and is much revered
by the locals. In spring a variety of flowers bloom upon its banks and
is also an ideal habitat of the red panda.
Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial
This temple lies amidst the Nathu-La and the Jelep-La passes and is
built in the memory of Harbhajan Singh, a sepoy in the 23rd Punjab
regiment. It has now become a site for pilgrimage and devotees leave a
bottle of water which they later collect to take back home.
Pal Zurmang Gharwang Kagyud
monastery
Located at Lingdum village about 20 Km from Gangtok it was built by
the present Gharwang Rimpoche who is the 12th incarnate of Zurmang
Gharwang.
Aritar
The Aritar lake (Lam pokhari) near Rhenock, about a 3-hour drive from
Gangtok is a serene getaway. You can explore typical Sikkimese village
life here and get recharged in its tranquil locales. You could also
savour the experience of spending a night in an old British bungalow
built in 1895 here.
(Tsomgo
lake) Nathula
Straddled 56 Km away from the city at 14,450 ft upon the Indo-China
border it has one of the highest motorable road and is lush in exotic
alpine vegetation. Open only for the Indian nationals.
Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary
25 km away from Gangtok this pristine forest of oak, chestnut, bamboo,
ferns etc offers one a tranquil getaway from the humdrum of life. In it
also thrives a large number of rhododendron species, wild orchids along
with a large number of birds and animals.
Rumtek
Dharma Chakra Centre
Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre of the Kagyupa order is almost a
replica of the original Kagyupa headquarter in Tibet . This largest
Dharma Chakra Centre in the world houses some of the most unique
religious scriptures and rare artifacts.
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