Gangtok, is the beautiful capital
of the beautiful state of Sikkim .
It offers travellers various sites, gardens and monasteries to visit within the
city itself, but apart from the same, it gives a lot of opportunities for great
excursions around the various parts of Sikkim . It an important circuit for exploring west and North Sikkim including visits to Pelling, Yuksom, Yumthang and Lachen or Lachung, all easily accessible from Gangtok
The following are the places which can be explored by short excursions from Gangtok.
The following are the places which can be explored by short excursions from Gangtok.
Driving a distance of 38 kms through a winding road amongst rugged mountain terrain and sharp cliffs, situated at an altitude of 12400 feet, you reach
Tsomgo lake is open for both
Indian and foreign nationals, however foreign visitors cannot travel alone,
they have to be in a group of two or more and need prior visitors permit to be
obtained.
Baba Mandir
This temple is particulary famous
amongst the India Visitors. Baba Mandir lies on the road between the Nathula
and the Jelepla
Pass East Sikkim . A manhunt was launched to locate him by the
army and it took three days to locate his
body. It is believed that he himself directed the soldiers to the site
of his body. Soon after, soldiers in the
regiment started reporting that Baba is appearing in their dreams and directing
them to build a shrine in his memory. Accordingly a Samadhi was raised in his
memory where He is worshipped as a saint who grants boons and guards the lives
of soldiers posted along the border.. His believers say that even today Baba
visits every night, puts on his uniform and does his rounds.Each year in
September Baba takes his annual holiday when he travels back to Kapurthala, his
hometown. People gather in large numbers and line the route that Baba used to
take to offer flowers and prayers. A berth on a train is reserved in his name
and two orderlies accompany him on the journey.
Baba Mandir is open for Indian
Nationals only, The foreign nationals are not allowed to visit Baba Mandir.
Seven Sisters Waterfalls
A beutiful scene of water falling
from the hill top creating a beautiul waterfall. It is located 32 kms away from
Gangtok on the National Highway
leading to North Sikkim . A place must visit
for the nature lover and shutterbugs.
Established and maintained by the
Department of Forests, lying about 14kms from Gangtok, Saramsa Garden
Phodang Monastery
Located approx 38kms from city of
Gangtok ,
Phhodang Monastery is one of the six major monasteries of Sikkim ,
belonging to the Kagyut Order.The Phodong Monastery was built in the 18th
century by Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal. Although the original monastery has been
rebuilt , the old mural paintings and frescoes were preserved during
reconstruction. An annual folk dance festival called Chaam is celebrated on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth month
of the Tibetan calendar. Travelling further beyond the Phodang Monastery, after
a distance of 04 kms , you can alsi visit
the recently renovated Labrang Monastery, unique in-its architectural
design.Between Phodong and Labrang Monastery are the ruins of the third capital
of Sikkim ,
Tumlong
Phensang Monastery :
Situated on the gentle slope
stretching from Kabi to Phodong on one of the best landscapes in the region,
The Phensang Monastery, under the Nyingmapa Buddhist Order, was built in 1721
during the time of ]igmee Pawo. It was gutted by a fire in 1947 and rebuilt in
1948 through the efforts of the lamas. The annual festival of Chaam is
performed on the 28th and 29th days of the tenth month of Lunar Calendar
(Tibetan Calendar).
Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery (
Lingdum)
Located at Lingdum, East Sikkim is
at a distance of about 20 kms from Gangtok, Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery is a
place worth visiting for its religious and exquisite architecture and serene
atmosphere . The present Gharwang Rimpoche is the 12th Successive incarnation
of the glorious emanation of Zurmang Gharwang.
Located at an altitude of 13000
feet, about a distance of 64 kms from
Gangtok via Sherathang (6 kms short of famous Nathula Pass) one comes across a
marvellous snow fed water body called Menmecho Lake .It is surrounded by lush
green forest and typical reddish alpine grass cover and the source of the river
Rangpochu, it is larger in size than Tsomgo lake and it is full of trout fish.
Amongst its calm and quiet atmosphere and rare beauty, one can spend hours in
splendid isolation.
Gonjang Monastery:
Located near Tashi View Point, Gonjang Monastery was
established in the year 1981. The founder H.E. Tingkye Gonjang Rimpoche was recognised as an incarnation of Yolmo
Terton Ngakchang Shakya Zangpo, a 15th century Nyingmapa Terton. The monastery
follows Jangter tradition of Nyingmapa school of Tibeten Buddhism
Bakthang :
Located 20 minutes drive from
Gangtok along the 31 A National Highway
leading to North Sikkim, Bakthang Water Falls
For trekkers and Nature Lovers, Aritar Lake
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