Discover East Sikkim: Gangtok, culture and nature

In East Sikkim, Gangtok’s car-free main street, cultural sites and nearby destinations offer different starting points for planning your trip. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether you want to focus on city life, monasteries or excursions into nature.

City life and getting around Gangtok

MG Marg is Gangtok’s car-free main street, with shops on both sides. The Gangtok Food and Culture Festival takes place there every December. It showcases Sikkim’s multicultural cuisine, as well as traditional music and dance performances at ethnic-style food stalls. If you plan to attend the festival, check the event dates before your trip.

Another way to experience Gangtok is the two-cable Zig-back ropeway. The one-kilometre ride runs from Deorali to the Tashiling Secretariat. The route and its two endpoints provide a specific reference point for planning your day, without needing to assume a travel time.

Altitude, seasons and views

At Tashi View Point, the panoramic view extends to the Himalayas; the viewpoint is also a good place to watch the sunrise. Nearby Tsomgo Lake sits at an elevation of 12,400 feet. It freezes over in winter, while flowers bloom in its surroundings in late spring. The experience of the lake therefore varies with the season.

Tsomgo Lake is considered sacred by the people of Sikkim. Every year on Guru Purnima, faith healers gather there to pray. After obtaining the required permit, visitors can walk or cycle at the lake; options for getting around the lake are limited. As permit requirements can change, check them before planning your visit.

Monasteries and cultural insights

A footpath lined with prayer wheels leads to the main gompa at Enchey Monastery. The Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology houses rare Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts, a museum and more than 200 Buddhist icons. These sites offer different cultural points of interest: a path to a monastery, a collection of religious art and a diverse manuscript collection.

Rumtek Monastery is nearby. It houses rare Buddhist religious art objects and is a centre for the teachings of the Kargyu school. If you are interested in monastic culture, this site complements the religious and cultural themes also evident in Gangtok.

Excursions and nature watching

A short, 20-minute hike from Pangthang Forest Nursery leads to the entrance of Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary. At nearby Nathu La Pass, visitors can see a monument to the Indo-China border war and an army exhibition centre. As permit conditions for access can change, check them before planning your visit.

Bakthang Waterfalls can be included in a local sightseeing trip around Gangtok. At the Himalayan Zoological Park, you can observe unique or endangered birds and animals. Alongside monasteries and viewpoints, nature watching is another distinct option to consider.

Sikkim in a wider context

Beyond the destinations around Gangtok, the state of Sikkim offers a broader landscape perspective. Khangchendzonga National Park covers 25 percent of the state and includes plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers, snow-capped mountains and ancient forests. Its landscape includes 18 glaciers, including Zemu Glacier, as well as 17 alpine lakes. The park is home to red pandas, snow leopards, Tibetan wild asses, bharals and musk deer, among other species. This diversity across Sikkim provides a broader context for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Lingtam, Padamchey, Pakyong, East Sikkim, South Sikkim, North Sikkim, West Sikkim.

Return to the main travel overview: Sikkim.