Gangtok Sightseeing

¤ Enchey Gompa

Set amidst a forested patch, the Enchey Gompa comes alive with religious festivals and dances in the month of August and January. Needless to say, this is the best time to visit the monastery. Otherwise too, this Chinese Pagoda styled edifice, built in 1901 during the reign of Sidkeong Tulku, is quite fascinating. It’s about a kilometre-long walk uphill from the White Hall (the residence of the chief minister), and follows the Nyingmpa Order. It is believed that over 200 years ago, Lama Druptob Karpo had built a small hermitage at this very spot.

The gompa (monastery) offers a great view of the Kanchendzong Range rising above treetops. But before you take off for the uphill climb from the White Hall, do take a peek at the flower exhibition centre at the Deorali Orchid Sanctuary, nearby. The sanctuary houses about 200 of the total 454 species of orchids found in Gangtok, and the exhibition generally displays quite a variety of orchids.


¤ Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology

The world-renowned Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology, is built in the typical Tibetan style of architecture; roosted on a hilltop, it is an absolute must see on your Gangtok sightseeing tour. Situated amongst woods of magnolia and oak, the institute promotes research on the largest collections of books and manuscripts on Mahayana Buddhism in the world.
There are about 30 thousand volumes and translations of the original teachings of Buddha, and various other treatises of other venerable Buddhist scholars from around the world.

The institute also has a museum which has an impressive collection of antiques amongst other things, and perhaps the most beautiful and finely crafted tangkhas (painted or embroidered scrolls), you will ever see. Close by is the huge golden-topped Do-drul Chorten or the Phurba Chorten, shaped like a stupa (a dome-shaped structure) with 108 prayer wheels around the periphery. This white painted chorten, with its many-coloured Buddhist prayer flags, is visible from many parts of downtown Gangtok. Close to the chorten is the Guru Lhakang Monastery and also a school for Buddhist studies.


¤ Government Institute of Cottage Industries

The Government Institute of Cottage Industries is another interesting option for your Gangtok sightseeing. Located uphill from the main market, the institute was established in 1957, with the aim of promoting local handicrafts. The outlet at the institute is a good place to pick up handicrafts like tangkhas, woollen carpets, dolls and masks amongst other things.


¤ Palace of The Chogyal

If you happen to be in Gangtok during the last week of December, do not miss going to the Palace of the Chogyal (Monarch), as it is open to public only during the week of the Pang Lhabsol festival.
The festival is celebrated only in Sikkim and commemorates the consecration of Mount Kanchendzonga as the guardian deity of the region. The Tsuklakhang or the Royal Chapel lies within the palace grounds, and is the place where royal marriages and coronation ceremonies took place. In its beautifully carved and painted wooden interiors, it houses an impressive collection of scriptures and images of the Buddha.


¤ Other Attractions

If you are looking for a place to spend a few leisurely hours, you could try going to the Deer Park, situated on the edge of the ridge. The Deer Park is also a popular viewpoint. Tashi Viewpoint is another scenic spot, and a pleasant even if a trifle long walk from the town. 6km from the town, on the North Sikkim Highway, the vantage point is best visited in the early morning hours. Distant monasteries roosted on the Kanchendzonga Range, seen in the light of the early morning sun, can be quite a transcendental experience. Do try it out. The climb to Hanuman Tok is another agreeable experience. The Hanuman Temple at the top of the hill is a peaceful little spot and offers a fine view as well. About 14km from Gangtok, is the Orchidarium or the Ipecac Garden, spread over six acres of land. It houses Sikkim’s many varieties of orchids and other rare tropical and temperate plants. The garden is also a popular picnic spot.


¤ Lakes

Changu Lake
Cradled by pristine alpine forests, the Changu Lake is bordered with primula, poppies and other wildflowers and grasses, and a little temple of Shiva (Destroyer of the Universe according to Hindu mythology) dots one side of the placid waterbody. The lake formed by the melting snow of mountains, stands at an altitude of 12,400ft, and has an average depth of 50ft. There is a footpath that runs from the lake to a peaceful resting shed. It’s a great place to just lie down for a lazy while and take in the smells and sounds of Mother Nature.
The lake freezes during the winter months, and it is believed that in ancient times monks could predict the future by looking at the hues of the lake water! You could try fishing here, as the lake has some rainbow trout. Foreigners are now allowed to visit the lake as well. The Changu Lake is at a distance of 35km from Gangtok.

It is best to visit the lake from March to May, and from September to December. This might mean though that during the peak season, the lake tends to get a trifle overcrowded with tourists.

Menmecho Lake
Perched between the mountains below the Jelepla Pass, the Menmecho Lake lies 20km ahead of the Changu Lake. The lake is formed by the melting snow of mountains and is the source of the Rangpochu River.  Well, if you haven’t had much luck with your hook ’n’ line at Changu, try again at Menmecho Lake as it is known for its trout and also has a fish-farm close by. But you might have to check with a local travel agent if the lake is open to tourists.

Khecheopari Lake
Have you ever dreamt of a heavenly lake in the middle of green tranquil woods from which you look up to see prayer flags swishing in the wind, and there in the distance a little monastery perched on top of a remote hill? Look down, and you see not a leaf disturbing the peaceful waters, but a reflection of a wild untouched garden.
Very slowly a leaf glides and settles on the tarn’s still waters, sending a few corrugated shivers into the reflection, and the forest gets into a little topsy-turvy.
Just then, a little bright bird hovers over the pool and in one manoeuvered swoop, the pretty creature scoops up the leaf off the surface of the loch, as if it has done so a thousand times before.

The lake is again a perfect undisturbed mirror. 27km from Pelling, the Khecheopari Lake seems just straight out of this dream. The Lepchas attach a great deal of religious significance to the waterbody and believe that each leaf that drops in this wishing pool, is swept up by a bird. The Khecheopari Lake is popular with trekkers, and if you happen to be here at dusk, you might be lucky enough to see some locals offering prayers and floating leaf-lamps on the lake waters. Out of sheer respect for the sentiments of the locals, it is advisable neither to swim in the water nor litter the lake area.