Gangtok, Sikkim
Gangtok sits at 1,650 m (5,410 ft), a steep ridge town in the eastern Himalaya. Until 1975 it was the capital of a kingdom, and the old order is still there if you know where to look.
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1642 to 1975
The Namgyal Chogyals ruled Sikkim from 1642 and moved their court to Gangtok from Tumlong in 1894. They crowned their kings in Tsuklakhang, the royal chapel above the town. In 1975 Sikkim became India's 22nd state.
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Sgang-tog
Gangtok comes from the Tibetan sgang, a hill or spur, and tog, its top. The earliest record of the place is a hermit's monastery built here in 1716. Today the market speaks Nepali and the prayer halls Tibetan.
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Across the valley
Across the Ranipool valley, 22 km and about an hour by road, stands Rumtek, the Karmapa's seat in exile. In town, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, opened in 1958, keeps the kingdom's Tibetan manuscripts.
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October to December
October to December and March to April are the months to choose. November sees under 40 mm of rain, and on clear mornings Kanchenjunga shows to the northwest. July is the wettest month, about 655 mm, when slides on NH10 are common.
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From Bagdogra (IXB)
Bagdogra (IXB) is the nearest airport, about 124 km (77 miles) away. NH10 follows the Teesta and enters Sikkim at Rangpo. When the state helicopter to Burtuk heliport flies, it takes 30 to 35 minutes, and your cases follow by car.
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Three to four nights
Three to four nights lets Gangtok work as a base: a monastery at morning prayer, a Sikkimese kitchen, and Tsomgo Lake at 3,753 m once you have slept two nights at the town's height. Send us your dates and we set the order.
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