East District on Heaven’s Trail - GANGTOK

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 sombriety of an ancient culture and that, perhaps, would be the next best thing you befriend. Historically, Gangotak 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.

Gangtok means the top of a hill. The capital of Sikkim, it is at an elevation of 5,600 feet (1,700 m), and built on the flank of a ridge. With a resident population of 30,000 people, it is the largest town in Sikkim. In recent times it has developed somewhat haphazardly and can get quite congested during the peak summer season and in Oct, during the Dussehra holidays. At other times, and away from the main hub of town, there are delightful walks with great natural scenery and some excellent views of Mt. Khangchendzonga. The town's ambience derives from a blend of tradition and modernity. There is a sense of calm and serenity, symbolized by the stupas and monasteries in Gangtok.