NORTH EAST 8 DAY TRIP | DARJEELING - PELLING - NAMCHI - GANGTOK

At a distance of 2 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Observatory Hill is a hill top located near Chowrasta Square in the dreamy hill town of Darjeeling. It is one of the great places to visit in Darjeeling and among the popular viewpoints in Darjeeling. The hill is encircled at the bottom of the Mall Road.

The Observatory Hill is one of the oldest sites of attraction in Darjeeling and also has historical and religious significance. Built in 1765 CE by Lama Dorje-Rinzing, the Bhutia Busty Monastery, the oldest monastery in Darjeeling, was first located on Observatory Hill. The monastery was sacked by a Gorkha invasion in 1815 and it was rebuilt and shifted to its present location at Bhutia Busty in 1879.

The hill is famous for its magnificent views of Kanchendzonga and the ancient temple dedicated to Mahakal or Lord Shiva. There is a white chorten or a Tibetan memorial shrine next to the Mahakal Temple, which has the relics of Dorje Lama who was the caretaker of .....

At a distance of 1 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Lloyd's Botanical Garden or Darjeeling Botanical Garden is a beautiful garden located in the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling. The garden is among the oldest botanical gardens in Darjeeling and also one of the popular tourist places in Darjeeling.

Established in 1878 CE, the garden was named after William Lloyd, who provided the required land for it. The garden was built in reference to the Calcutta Botanical Garden. The basic motive of Lloyd's Botanical Garden is to preserve the native floral species of Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, Sikkim and its neighboring regions. Located at an altitude of almost 1800 meters, the garden has terraced lands, rolling slopes, tall trees and lush green bushes mixed with grass.

Sprawling over an area of 40 acres, the Lloyd Botanical Garden preserves some of the most exotic and endangered species of plants. It has several species of bamboo, oak, magnolia, arisaema, cotoneaster, .....

At a distance of 1 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Darjeeling Mall or Chowrasta is located at the heart of Darjeeling town. It is considered as the hub for all type of activities in Darjeeling and also among the best places to visit in Darjeeling.

The word 'Chow' means four and 'Rasta' stands for roads, essentially means that the Mall is where four roads meet. Located on top of Nehru Road, This flat piece of circular land is the major shopping area and center for commercial activities. In olden days, this was the place where the Europeans came for their evening walks. Today, the locals as well as the tourists come here to lounge and relax. In a clear day, one can also have a magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga from here.

There are benches all along the Mall Road for people to sit and enjoy the views over a cup of Darjeeling tea. Also, there are some of the old and heritage stores lined up and countless vendors selling artifacts, woollens and various figurines .....

At a distance of 11 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Tiger Hill is a sunrise viewpoint in Darjeeling. It is the highest point in Darjeeling and among the most picturesque places to visit in Darjeeling.

Tiger Hill stands at an altitude of 2,590 m overlooking the spur of the snow-capped mountain ranges of the Eastern Himalayas. It is one of the two points in India from where you can capture the entire panorama between Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga on a sunny morning. The first rays of the sun shoot ahead and shed light upon the twin peaks of Kanchenjunga painting it pink, and then bathing it in a beautiful orange colour, which is an amazing thing to experience.

An observation deck is built on top of the Tiger Hill to cater to hundreds of tourists who visit every day. On a clear day the summit of Tiger Hill commands the view of Kurseong Town to its south-west along with plains of North Bengal and number of major rivers like Teesta, Mahanadi, Balasun and Mechi meanders .....

At a distance of 1 km from Ghoom Railway Station and 6 km from Darjeeling, Old Ghoom Monastery, also known as Yiga Choeling Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery situated at Ghoom near the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling. It is one of the oldest and most popular Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the region of Darjeeling and also one of the must visit places in Darjeeling.

Yiga Choeling Monastery was established in 1850 CE by the Mongolian astrologer and monk Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, who was the head of the monastery until 1905 CE. The Monastery belongs to Gelugpa or the Yellow Hat sect. This is the first ever Tibetan Buddhist monastery to be built in the Darjeeling region. During the Chinese occupation of 1959 in Tibet many high ranking monks fled to India and took refuge in this monastery.

The monastery is known for its 15 feet high statue of Maitreya Buddha or Gyalwa Shampa, which means the Buddha of the future or the Coming Buddha. This statue was created during the tenure of .....

At a distance of 4 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Batasia Loop is a railway loop in Darjeeling of West Bengal. Situated below the Ghoom station, it is one of the mesmerizing places to visit in Darjeeling.

Batasia Loop was built in 1919 as an engineering requirement to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. At this point, the track spirals around over itself through a tunnel and over a hilltop. After Ghoom (the highest railway station), there is a sharp fall as the toy train moves towards Darjeeling. There was no way a narrow gauge toy train could navigate the drastic fall of about 100 feet to the gradient of the slope. So, a large circular area was built for the loop to make the slope gentle.

Batasia means airy space. The Loop serves a vital purpose for the toy train but is also an attraction in itself. The loop goes around a garden. The mountain garden is beautified with fresh green grass, seasonal and perennial flowers and shrubs. There .....

At a distance of 3 km from Darjeeling Railway Station, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is a zoo situated in the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling, West Bengal. Popularly called as Darjeeling Zoo, it is one of the best zoo parks in India and among the must visit Darjeeling Tourist Places.

The zoo was formerly known as Himalayan Zoological Park and was established in 1958 as a joint venture of Government of India and Government of West Bengal. The park was renamed in 1975 when Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, visited the park and dedicated it to the memory of Padmaja Naidu, who was also a poet and daughter of the famous freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu. Situated at an altitude of 7,000 feet, this is the largest high altitude zoo in India.

Spread over an area of 67.56 acre, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is the only specialized Zoo in the country and is the first recipient of the International award of 'The Earth Heroes 2014'. This zoo park is internationally .....

At a distance of 5 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre is a rehabilitation center for the Tibetan refugees in the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling, West Bengal. It is one of the prominent landmarks of Darjeeling and also one of the best places to visit in Darjeeling.

The center was setup by Tibetan refugees on 2nd October 1959 AD. It serves as a residence of several Tibetan refugees who fled from their homeland following the footsteps of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Located on the picturesque hilltop, it is spread over an area of 4 acres of land. A committee was formed with 10 members that were responsible for the development and management of the center. Ms Gaylo Thondup was the first President of the center. Initially, they started raising funds through donations, subscriptions, charity shows and even through exhibition soccer match. Later, they received funds from domestic and international voluntary organizations as well. .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Darjeeling Railway Station, Happy Valley Tea Estate is a vast tea garden located in Darjeeling town of West Bengal. This is the second oldest tea estate in Darjeeling after Steinthal Tea Estate and also one of the popular places to experience Darjeeling Tourism.

Spread over an area of 177 hectares, Happy Valley Tea Garden was established by Mr. David Wilson in the year 1854, which was then known as Wilson Tea Estate. In 1903, the estate was taken over by an Indian, Tarapada Banerjee, an aristocrat from Hooghly. Later Banerjee bought the Windsor Tea Estate nearby in 1929 and merged the two estates under the name of Happy Valley Tea Estate. Since 2008, the tea estate has been under the ownership of Sanjay Bansal. Today, over 1500 people worked in the tea estate.

Located in the vicinity of Darjeeling town, it is one of the major tourist attractions in Darjeeling. It also has a museum and has a factory. Situated at an altitude of 2,100 m, Happy Valley .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa situated on the slopes of the Jalapahar hill in Darjeeling. It is one of more than 70 pagodas built around the world by the Japanese Buddhist Nipponzan Myohoji organization and among the most popular attractions in Darjeeling.

The foundation stone of the pagoda was laid in 1972 by Nichidatsu Fuji, a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist Order. Inaugurated in 1992, the pagoda was designed by M. Ohka. Being the tallest structure in Darjeeling with a height of 28.5 meters, it is open to people of all faith and is purposely made to propagate peace and prosperity in the world.

Peace Pagoda houses four shining and gold-polished statues of Buddha. Also, the walls of the temple have eight sandstone carvings which depict different stories from the different stages of Gautama Buddha's life. Known for its tranquility, Peace Pagoda offers breathtaking .....

At a distance of 2 km from Upper Pelling Football Ground, Pemayangtse Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located at Pelling in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim. Also known as Pelling Monastery, it is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim and among the most famous places to visit in Pelling.

Situated at an altitude of 2100 m, Pemayangtse Monastery was founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705 CE. Initially the monastery was built very small in size and was enlarged during the reign of the third Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal who was considered as Lhatsun Chempo's third reincarnate, Jigme Pawo. The monastery follows the Nyingma Order of Tibetan Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of that Order in Sikkim.The monks of this monastery are normally chosen from the Bhutias of Sikkim.

The word Pemayangtse means 'perfect sublime lotus' and it is believed to symbolize one of the four plexus of the human body. The monastery was built for 'pure monks' (ta-tshang) meaning 'monks of .....

At a distance of 2 km from Upper Pelling- Football Ground, Rabdentse is an archeological site situated near Pemayangtse Monastery in Pelling. It is one of the best historical places in Sikkim and among the must visit Pelling Tourist Places.

Founded by the 2nd Chogyal of Sikkim Tensung Namgyal in the year 1670 AD, Rabdentse was the second capital of the former kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1793 CE, the first one being Yuksom. This is the place where Tensung Namgyal married three wives, first from Tibet, second from Bhutan and Yo Hang of Limbuwana eastern Nepal. Later, the city was almost completely destroyed by the Nepalese Army in the 18th century and only the ruins of the palace and the chortens are seen here now. Today, Rabdentse has been declared a monument of national importance by Archaeological Survey of India and undertaking the restoration works.

Surrounded by dense forest, the place is a must see for the history enthusiasts. The ruins of Rabdentse Palace are just .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Upper Pelling- Football Ground, Sanga Choeling Monastery or Sange Choeling Monastery is a Buddhist Monastery situated in Pelling town of Sikkim. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim and among the best Places to visit in Pelling.

Sanga Choeling Monastery, means the place of secret spells, was built in 1697 CE by Lama Lhatsun Chempo. Located atop a high ridge, this is extremely acclaimed among the followers of the Nyingmapa sect of the ancient school of Tibetan Buddhism. In ancient times, Guhyamantra i.e. secret mantras were taught here. The monastery only houses male monks and belongs to the Nyingma sector. Entry into the inner sanctum of Sanga Choeling Monastery is strictly restricted to the Bhutia and Lepcha communities.

Built in a Tibetan style of architecture, the monastery was affected by fire several times and was rebuilt, but it still preserves various ancient paintings, accessories and clay statues. Also after Lhatsun's death his .....

At a distance of 10 km from Yuksom and 24 km from Pelling, Kanchenjunga Waterfalls is a stunning waterfall situated in the beautiful hill town of Pelling, Sikkim. It is one of the largest waterfalls in Sikkim and among the prime Pelling Tourist Places.

Kanchenjunga Falls is a perennial waterfall situated around an hour drive from Pelling towards Yuksom. It is believed that the pristine waterfall originates high up in the glaciers of Mount Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world. It gushes down from a height of 100 feet into a pool. Kanchenjunga falls was not known to people and remained untouched till the 90s. It only came into the limelight, when a local tour operator named Topjor Bhutia accidentally discovered it. Today this spot become one of the leading tourist spots in West Sikkim.

Known for its splendid beauty and glory, the waterfalls serves as a perfect picnic spot with family and friends. Situated at a sharp curve on the road side, tourists need to climb around .....

At a distance of 25 km from Pelling, Khecheopalri Lake is a sacred lake situated at Khecheopalri near Pelling town of Sikkim. Also known as Wishing Lake, it is one of the beautiful lakes in Sikkim and among the must visit tourist places in Pelling.

Situated at an altitude of 6000 feet, the Khecheopalri Lake is a sacred place of worship for Buddhists as well as for the Hindus. The lake is an integral part of the much revered valley of 'Demazong' meaning valley of rice. The Khecheopalri Lake is also part of Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit involving the Yuksom, the Dubdi Monastery in Yuksom, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins, the Sanga Choeling Monastery, and the Tashiding Monastery.

The lake is originally known as Kha-Chot-Palri which means the heaven of Lord Padmasambhava. As per Nesol text, the lake was recognized as the abode of Tshomen Gyalmo, the chief protecting nymph of dharma as blessed by goddess Tara. Native people believe that the shape of the lake .....

At a distance of 5 km from Darap Village and 12 km from Pelling, Rimbi Waterfalls is a scenic waterfall near Pelling. Situated near Darap Village, it is one of the famous waterfalls in Pelling and among the best places of sightseeing in Pelling.

On the way to Khecheopalri Lake and Yuksam, Rimbi waterfall is formed over Rimbi River. During summer, the waterfall looks spectacular which attracts many tourists. Located close to the waterfall is one of the oldest hydro power stations in Sikkim. Established in the early 70's, this power station is the source of energy for most of the villa towns of West Sikkim including Gayzing, Tigjuck and Pelling.

The waterfall turns into Rimbi River, which is frequented by locals and tourists for various recreational activities like swimming and fishing. Whether you go fishing or not, do try a local preparation of Assala - a variety of fish found only here. It is also the best place to spend some memorable moments with your loved ones amidst .....

At a distance of 9 km from Pelling, Changey Waterfall is a serene waterfall situated on Pelling - Dentam Road in Pelling. It is one of the splendid places to visit in Pelling and among the famous waterfalls in Sikkim.

Changey Waterfall looks pretty much like a white line, emerging from dense greenery falling from a height of about 300 feet. Situated on the way to Dentam, the waterfall attracts number of tourists. With the scenic backdrop of lush green vegetation and towering hills, the falls is an ideal tourist attraction and a lovely picnic spot for the people to enjoy some relaxing moments in deep serenity. Nearby the falls, the Dentam Bazaar is also located where the visitors can do some shopping.

The falls is situated downhill from the last motorable point. From there, one needs to walk almost 20 minutes to reach the falls. The pathway is broken and full of leaves and branches. But visitors will forget every pain once reach the fall.

Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM

At a distance of 21 km from Pelling, Singshore Bridge is a suspension bridge situated between Dentam & Uttarey village near Pelling. At an elevation of 198 m above the ground, it is the highest bridge in Sikkim and the second highest gorge bridge in Asia.

Singshore Bridge, with a height of over 100 m and 240 m in length, is truly an engineering marvel and made it to connecting two gorges. This bridge helps the trekkers to cover a large distance between hills in a short span. The downward view from the bridge is overwhelming with the sight of beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking views of the green hillsides above are pleasing. This engineer's triumph has become a popular attraction in Pelling.

Offering a splendid view of lush hillsides, overwhelming waterfalls and the pristine valley, Singshore Bridge promises a sight to behold. It connects two beautiful villages Dentam and Uttarey, where homestay facilities are also available. For tourists, there is a special restaurant adjacent .....

At a distance of 5 km from Namchi Taxi Stand, Siddeshwar Dham is a huge pilgrimage cum cultural complex located atop Solophok hill in Namchi, Sikkim. Popularly called as Char Dham, it is one of the most prominent places to visit in Namchi and one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Sikkim.

Siddheswar Dham is built atop Solophok Hill by Sikkim Government in 2011 to promote Religious, Eco and Village tourism in the state. Spread over an area of 29 hectares, the Sikkim Government has been spent over Rs. 56 crore on this complex. The complex has a 108 feet tall statue of Shiva, replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas, models of sacred Char Dham Hindu Temples of Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameswaram and a 17-feet statue of Kirateshwar a hunter incarnation of Shiva. Solophok Hill has a historical and religious significance, as it is believed that visiting this place washes away one's sins.

The major attraction here is the 108 feet gigantic statue of Lord Shiva (Hindu God) in sitting .....

At a distance of 4 km from Namchi Taxi Stand, Ngadak Monastery is the Buddhist monastery located in Namchi, Sikkim. Also known as Nandak Gumpa, it is one of the oldest monasteries in Namchi and one of the best places to experience Namchi Tourism.

Ngadak Monastery was built in 17th century by Tensung Namgyal during the reign of Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal. This monastery was constructed as a palace of her Highness Pendi Ongmu. It ultimately has been converted to a monastery. Built beautifully with stone and wood, it was damaged by an earthquake and is a testimony to old religious culture of Sikkim. A large new Gumpa has been constructed near the old one as the old structure is ruined however it still exudes a sense of old Sikkim.

The word Ngadak means 'Promise'. It is believed that anyone coming here would make a promise to come back again. The place attracts huge number of tourists throughout the year as it is blessed with a great ambience and an ideal place to meditate.

Timings: .....

At a distance of 6 km from Namchi Taxi Stand and 22 km from Ravangla, Samdruptse is an epic hill situated in Namchi, Sikkim. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in South Sikkim and among the must visit Namchi Tourist Places.

Situated at an altitude of 2134 m, Samdruptse Hill is surmounted by a giant statue of Guru Padmasambhava who is the patron saint of Sikkim. At 148 feet, this is the tallest statue of Guru Padmasambhava in the world. Studded with gold that glitters when sun rays fall on it, it looks magnificent with the setting of the Kanchenjunga Hills against the blue painted sky. The foundation stone of the statue was laid in 1997 by His Holiness Dalai Lama and completed in 2004. The construction was sponsored by the Sikkim State Government.

The name Samdruptse Hill literally translates to the 'Wish Fulfilling Hill', as the hill is revered by many local monks, who worship the Hill, believing that the Hill is a dormant volcano, and only praying can keep the volcano .....

At a distance of 8 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Tashi View Point is located at Tashi in Gangtok. Situated near Ganesh Tok, it is one of the stunning viewpoints in Gangtok and among the top places to visit in Gangtok.

Tashi View Point was built by the King of Sikkim, Tashi Namgyal, who ruled Sikkim between 1914 and 1963. The circular shaped platform with railings has been built so that the visitor could view 360-degree perspective of the entire region. It is now developed and maintained by the tourism department. This point is mostly known for offering some of the best sunrise and sunset views.

This is an ideal place for nature lovers as it offers great views of the imposing Himalayan Mountains, specifically Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Siniolchu. The Phodong Monastery and the Labrang Monastery are also easily visible from here. Most of tourist visits the place during early morning to witness the beautiful sunrise and the dramatic play of lights over the mountains and hills. .....

At a distance of 4 km from Tashi Viewpoint and 6 km from the Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Ganesh Tok is Hindu temple located in Gangtok. Situated close to Tashi View Point, it is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Gangtok and among the charming places to visit in Gangtok.

Located at an altitude of 6500 feet, Ganesh Tok temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. The temple is so small that it can accommodate only one person at a time. One needs to climb a steep staircase to reach the temple. Adorned with colorful flags hoisted and tied across the roads, the path to Ganesh Tok almost resembles a rainbow. People visit the temple to offer prayers and also to enjoy the beautiful view. There is a circular balcony around the temple and a viewing lounge to soak in the view.

Ganesh Tok Viewpoint offers a bird-eye's view of the entire Gangtok town, rolling hills and the snowcapped mountains including Kanchenjunga. There is small place located close to this temple, which is known as Smriti .....

At a distance of 9 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Hanuman Tok is a Hindu temple located atop a hill in Gangtok, the capital of the Indian state of Sikkim. Situated off from the Gangtok-Nathula Highway, it is one of the religious places to visit in Gangtok and among the top places of Pilgrimage in Sikkim.

Situated at an altitude of 7200 feet, the temple is dedicated to lord Hanuman, god of good health and strength. According to the legend, Lord Hanuman rested at this place while carrying Sanjeevani Parvat from the Himalayas to save Rama's brother Lakshmana. The idol of Lord Hanuman was erected here in 1950 when an officer named Appaji Pant had a divine dream at this location. Now, the temple was maintained and preserved by the Units of 17 Mountain Division of the Army.

The temple is divided into three sections- the main temple, old temple and the circular temple. A hint of Tibetan style of architecture is witnessed here. The main temple has a long hall which is painted in .....

At a distance of 3 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Enchey Monastery is an ancient Buddhist Monastery situated in Gangtok, Sikkim. Located on Gangtok - Nathula road, it is one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Sikkim and among the best places to visit in Gangtok.

The literal meaning of Enchey Monastery is the 'Solitary Monastery'. The monastery is also an important seat of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. More than 200 years ago, this was the site of Lama Dhrupthob Karpo, a tantric master who was known for his flying powers. Initially, a small Gompa was established by him after he flew from Maenam Hill in South Sikkim to this site in 1840 CE. Later, it was rebuilt in 1908 CE by the 10th King of Sikkim, Sikyong Tulku.

The monastery is considered sacred as it is believed that the protecting deities, Khangchendzonga and Yabdean reside in this monastery. According to a legend, the spirits of the Khangchendzonga, Yabdean and Mahakala are subdued by Guru Padmasambhava .....

At a distance of 3 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a Tibetan institute & museum located in Deorali area of Gangtok. Situated near Do Drul Chorten Stupa, it is one of the must visit places in Gangtok.

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is an important Tibetan institute that promotes and carries on researches in the field of Tibetan language, art, religion and its culture. The foundation stone was laid by 14th Dalai Lama in 1957 and inaugurated by Late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1958. The land of the institute was donated by the late King of Sikkim Tashi Namgyal and hence the name Namgyal Institute of Tibetology.

The institute building boasts of traditional Tibetan architecture and remains as one of the finest traditional Tibetan designs in the world. It rises majestically with its tall golden towers, attractive murals and colourful frescos amidst the breathtaking natural scenery. It also has a museum, a library with rich collections .....

At a distance of 3 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Do Drul Chorten is a Buddhist stupa situated in Gangtok, Sikkim. Situated adjacent to Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, it is one of the most magnificent and the biggest stupas in Gangtok and among the top places to experience Gangtok Tourism.

Do Drul Chorten Stupa was built by Trulshik Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1945 CE. According to legend, it is believed that this entire place was once haunted by evil spirits and many people who wandered around this place became victims and died. Later, Trulshik Rinpoche came to this place for hermitage and built this popular stupa to drive away the spirits.

Popularly known as Phurba, the white Chorten Stupa is marked by a golden top dome and can be seen from various places in Gangtok. The deity enshrined on top of the stupa is known as Dorjee Phurpa or Vajra Kilaya. The Chorten is surrounded by Chorten Lakhang, where there are two huge statues of Guru Rinpoche .....

At a distance of 7 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Banjhakri Waterfalls is a scenic waterfalls located inside a landscaped park in Gangtok. Situated near Ranka Monastery, it is one of the most visited tourist places in Gangtok and among the best waterfalls in Sikkim.

Banjhakri Waterfall is a natural waterfall cascades down from a height of about 70 feet. The lush green surroundings of the waterfalls make it more beautiful and alluring. The word 'Banjhakri' means woodland shaman. According to legend, the ethnic tribes of Sikkim have a lot of faith in their local occults called Jhakris who have healing and magical powers and can influence the spirits to bring about good and evil.

Spread over an area of 2 acres, Banjhakri Energy Park has been built near the falls. Also known as Energy Park, the gardens have been beautifully landscaped around the waterfalls and the place is further adorned with several statues of Banjhakri, Lyam Lymay, Mangpas and Lepcha ancestors. The star attraction .....

At a distance of 31 km of Gangtok, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary situated around the area adjoining the Tsomgo Lake in Gangtok. Along the Nathula Road, it is one of the best places to experience Gangtok Tourism.

Established in 1977, the sanctuary covers an area of 31 sq. km. The sanctuary extends from the 15 mile police check post up to the ridges bordering the famous Rong Chu and Tsomgo Lakes. Situated at an altitude ranging from 3,292 m to 4,116 m, the sanctuary boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna. The sanctuary is also the perfect place for trekking tours. The views of Khangchendzonga peak are awesome from the sanctuary. Since it is situated close to India-China border at Nathu La, the place is well conserved by the Indian Army.

The sanctuary is very rich in natural vegetation which comprises of various rare species of plants and trees that are hard to find somewhere else. Some of the common species of vegetation seen here are tall juniper, rhododendron, .....

At a distance of 17 km from Nathula Pass and 38 km from Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake or Tsongmo Lake is a glacial lake located in the East Sikkim district of Sikkim. Also known as Changu Lake, it is one of the top places to visit in Gangtok and among the beautiful lakes in Himalayas.

Located at an altitude of 3,753 m, Tsongmo Lake is one of the few and awesome high altitude lakes in India. In Bhutia language Tsomgo means 'Source of the Lake'. The lake gets its water from the melting snow on the surrounding mountains. The lake is formed in an oval shape and has a surface area of 60 acres. The maximum length of the lake is 1 km and an average depth of the lake is 15 m. The River Lungtze Chu originates from this lake and further falls into Rangpo-chu.

Highly revered by the Buddhists and Hindus, the lake surface reflects different colors with change of seasons. According to the history, the colour of water of this lake was studied by Lamas so as to forecast about the future. They believed, .....

At a distance of 17 km from Tsomgo Lake and 54 km from Gangtok, Nathula is a snow-shrouded mountain pass located in the northeastern state of Sikkim along the Indo-China border. Situated at an altitude of 14450 feet in the Himalayas, it is one of the most exotic places to visit in Gangtok and among the top places to experience Sikkim Tourism.

Located on the Old Silk Route, Nathula is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China. The other two are Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh at the trisection point of Uttarakhand, Nepal and China. Also, it is one of the five officially agreed Border Personnel Meeting points between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China.

Deriving its name from two Tibetan words - Nathu meaning listening ears and La meaning pass,
Nathula Pass was the place through which the famous Silk Route between India and Tibet used to operate until 1962. Lines of mules used to carry silk, gold and many other items .....

At a distance of 16 km from Tsongmo Lake and 54 km from Gangtok, Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple is a holy shrine located in Gangtok, Sikkim. Situated on the way to Nathula Pass, it is one of the old shrines in Sikkim and among the best places to visit in Gangtok.

At an altitude of 13,123 feet, the temple is dedicated to Harbhajan Singh, a hard-working soldier in the Indian Army. Popularly called as Baba Mandir, the temple is situated between Nathula Pass and Jelepla Pass. Visitors usually cover this temple along with a visit to Tsongmo Lake or Nathula Pass.

There is a touching story associated with this temple. Harbhajan Singh was a soldier with the Indian army who slipped and fell into a nullah and was washed away while transporting mules. His body could not be found for so many days and later, he appeared in the dream of his colleague and informed about the spot where his body could be found and further asked for his Samadhi to be built there. His body was found exactly where .....

At a distance of 22 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Rumtek Monastery is a beautiful Buddhist gompa situated near Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim. Also called as Dharma Chakra Centre, it is one of the largest monasteries in Sikkim and among the best places to visit in Gangtok.

The Monastery was originally built in mid-17th century under the supervision of Changchub Dorje, the 12th Karmapa Lama. Perched on a hill overlooking Gangtok, Rumtek Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa Lama, the third highest monk in Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhism originated during the 12th century CE in Tibet. With the generosity and help of the Sikkim royal family and the local folks of Sikkim, the monastery was rebuilt by the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje and named as Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center in 1966.

The shrine was established with a reason to spread the teachings of the Buddha throughout the world. The architecture of the monastery is one of the .....

At a distance of 500 m from Rumtek Monastery and 21 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden is a public garden located in Gangtok. Situated close to Rumtek Monastery, it is one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Gangtok.

Established in the year 1987, Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden is a well maintained lush green expanse of land with astounding beauty. The garden is maintained and managed by the Parks and Garden Units of the Forest Department of the Government of Sikkim. The garden houses rare flowers, plants and trees including Orchids of Himalayan region. It also has dense temperate forests of Oak and a beautiful lake.

There are more than 50 different varieties of tree species located inside this garden. Owing to the variance in altitude ranging between 1,800 m and 2,200 m, the park has a wide assortment of plants and animals. The garden also has a greenhouse, where different types of orchids are grown. With the intention of merriment .....