SMALL & BEAUTIFUL
All good things in life come in small packets and
Gangtok is a good illustration. Be it the rich flora,
the beautiful people, or the serene Buddhist monasteries,
this small town, occupies an important position in
the itinerary of tourists in search of tranquility
from the humdrum of modern life.
LOCATION
The eastern state of Sikkim lies couched between the
borders of Nepal and Bhutan. Gangtok became the capital
of the state in the 19th century and lies to the south
of the district of East Sikkim. It is a hilly town
and spreads down the western side of a long ridge
flanking the Ranipul River. The entire Kanchenjunga
range can be viewed from the town and, in fact, it
is worshipped as a local deity. It is at a distance
of 721 km from Calcutta, 584 km from Patna, 140 km
from Darjeeling and 589 km from Guwahati. The town
experiences a lot of rainfall throughout the year
and temperatures are mild.
PLACESTO VISIT
One of the oft-visited sites of Gangtok is the Namgyal
Institute of Tibetology. It was built in 1958 and
is a research center for Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan
culture. Besides being a museum of traditional and
old artifacts, one can also buy Buddhist religious
books and other objects of craft. Nearby is a gompa
for young lamas. The Tsuk-La-Khang or Royal Chapel
is the main place of worship and assembly for the
Buddhists and is huge repertoire of religious relics.
It is open during the Losar festival. Another important
monastery is the Enchey Gompa and is worth a visit
during the festival season of January to February.
Adjacent to the Namgyal Institute is
the Orchid Sanctuary, which is the home of some 500
varieties of orchids. There is a larger orchid sanctuary
called Orchidarium, off the main road to Rangpo. Near
White Hall, there is a Flower Exhibition Center and
seasonal flowers, bonsai and orchids are a delight
to the eyes. From April to June and September to November,
one can come here.
EXCURSIONS
Located at a distance of 24 km from Gangtok is Rumtek
Gompa, which is a rich monastery and abode of the
head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. It
is a very famous site and devotees often flock to
it throughout the year. Located at a distance of 35
km towards the northeast of Gangtok is the Tsongo
or Changu Lake. Special permits are required to visit
this picturesque locale.
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