Registered with Sikkim Tourism · Reg. No. 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA

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Silk Route Tours & Travels

The capital

Gangtok tours, run by a Sikkim operator

The capital on its ridge: monasteries and viewpoints, M.G. Marg in the evening, and the day out to Tsomgo Lake and the Nathu La border.

Plan a Gangtok trip 10 tours

Gangtok is where almost every Sikkim trip starts and ends. It sits along a ridge at about 5,500 ft, a stacked town of hillside houses looking north towards Kanchenjunga, with a pedestrian high street — M.G. Marg — that fills up every evening.

We are based in Namchi, three hours south, and plan Gangtok trips every season: the hotel that suits your budget, the vehicle that collects you at NJP or Bagdogra, the permits for Tsomgo and Nathu La, and the day-by-day order that makes the most of the weather. You speak to the people who arrange it, not to a call centre that sells it on.

Registered with Sikkim Tourism Reg. No. 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA

What to see

Places worth your time

  1. 01

    M.G. Marg

    The car-free high street, lined with cafés and shops. At its best in the evening when the town comes out to walk.

  2. 02

    Tsomgo (Changu) Lake

    A glacial lake at about 12,400 ft, often frozen from January to March. Usually combined with Baba Mandir. Permit required.

  3. 03

    Nathu La

    The pass on the India–China border at about 14,100 ft. Indian nationals only, usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and permits take a day or two.

  4. 04

    Rumtek Monastery

    The great Kagyu monastery across the valley, about an hour from town, with its golden stupa and courtyard.

  5. 05

    Enchey Monastery & Do-drul Chorten

    Two of the town’s most important religious sites, each a short drive from the centre.

  6. 06

    Tashi, Ganesh Tok & Hanuman Tok viewpoints

    The classic points for the Kanchenjunga view, best before the morning cloud builds.

  7. 07

    Gangtok ropeway

    A short cable-car ride over the town, worth it for the view across the rooftops.

  8. 08

    Institute of Tibetology

    A small museum and library of Tibetan Buddhist art and manuscripts beside the Do-drul Chorten.

Itineraries

Gangtok tour packages

Every itinerary can be changed to your dates and pace. Prices on request.

When to go

Seasons

March – May

Spring

Pleasant days, flowers on the hillsides and the busiest time in town.

June – September

Monsoon

Frequent rain and cloud. Tsomgo can still be visited on most days, but views are rare.

October – December

Autumn

The clearest mornings for Kanchenjunga, and cold nights.

January – February

Winter

Snow at Tsomgo and Nathu La; the lake may be frozen. Roads can close after heavy snowfall.

Getting there

About 4½ to 5 hours by road from NJP railway station or Bagdogra airport, on NH10 along the Teesta. We collect you on arrival.

Shared jeeps run from Siliguri too, but a reserved vehicle saves half a day and stops where you want it to.

Permits & documents

Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu La need protected-area permits, issued against an original photo ID and passport photographs. We apply for them; you bring the documents.

Nathu La is open to Indian nationals only and usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Read the full guide

From our office in Namchi

Local tips

  • Keep Tsomgo for your second day, not the first: the drive up is easier after a night’s rest in Gangtok.
  • Hotels on or near M.G. Marg mean you can walk out in the evening; hotels further out are often quieter and have the better view.
  • Snow boots and coats can be hired on the Tsomgo road — useful in winter, and cheaper than buying.
Shoppers on M.G. Marg, Gangtok's pedestrian high street
Gangtok's ropeway cabin crossing above the town's stacked hillside rooftops
The courtyard of Rumtek Monastery after rain
Snow-dusted ridges reflected in Tsomgo lake, East Sikkim
Visitors at the frozen edge of a high-altitude lake in East Sikkim in winter

Travel guide

Read before you go

Travel guide Sikkim permits explained Which parts of Sikkim need a permit, who issues it, what ID to carry and which areas are closed to foreigners, from a Sikkim-registered tour operator. Travel guide How to reach Sikkim How to get to Gangtok and Sikkim: by train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), by air to Bagdogra or Pakyong, and by road on NH10, with honest drive times. Travel guide Choosing a Sikkim tour operator How to choose a tour operator in Sikkim: check the Sikkim Tourism registration, the permits, the vehicle, the written itinerary and what the quote includes.

Questions

Gangtok: frequently asked

Is your office in Gangtok?

Our office is in Namchi, South Sikkim, about three hours from Gangtok. We are a Sikkim-registered operator and run Gangtok trips throughout the year, with local vehicles and hotels we know.

How many days do I need in Gangtok?

Two nights covers the city sightseeing and Tsomgo Lake. Add a third for Nathu La, which needs its own permit and a day of its own.

Can we visit Nathu La?

Indian nationals can, with a permit we apply for in advance. It is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and can close at short notice for weather or security reasons.

Talk to a local

Tell us where you want to go

Send your dates and the number of travellers. We reply with a written, day-by-day itinerary and an itemised quote — and it costs nothing to ask.

Registered with Sikkim Tourism Reg. No. 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA

Quick enquiry

Prefer email? Write to support@silkroutetours.com or call +91 80162 57040.

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