Gangtok
Sikkim's capital on a ridge above the Ranikhola valley
Gangtok spreads down the western side of a ridge at about 1,650 m, with houses stacked on steep slopes and the Kangchenjunga range filling the northern skyline on clear days. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim in 1894 and of the Indian state in 1975, and it is still the place where almost every trip to Sikkim begins.
The town is compact and walkable in its centre. MG Marg, the main street, is closed to traffic and kept spotless, with cafés, bookshops and benches down the middle. Above it sit the royal chapel, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and the white Do Drul Chorten, and the hills around carry monasteries, viewpoints and small temples.
Most visitors use Gangtok as a base for day trips to Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and Rumtek, and to arrange permits for North Sikkim. Two nights is the minimum; three or four lets you see the town properly and keep a spare day for permit trips, which are sometimes cancelled by snow or landslides.
Highlights
What Gangtok does best
A traffic-free, litter-free main street where the whole town comes out to walk after dark.
On clear mornings from October to April the range rises across the valley to the northwest.
A white stupa ringed by 108 prayer wheels, next to one of the best collections of Tibetan Buddhist art in India.
A small, old Nyingma monastery among pines on the ridge above town, best visited early in the morning.
Momos, thukpa, phagshapa, gundruk soup and sel roti in small family restaurants around Lal Market.
A short cable car ride over the town from Deorali to Tashiling, cheap and good for orientation.
Experiences
Four hours to plan around
Getting there
How to reach Gangtok
Shared jeeps leave Siliguri (near the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus) and NJP station through the day, taking 4.5–5.5 hours and costing about ₹350–450 a seat. SNT buses are slower and cheaper.
A reserved car from Bagdogra, NJP or Siliguri costs about ₹3,500–5,000 and takes 4–4.5 hours on NH10, longer when landslides force a detour via Kalimpong.
Bagdogra (IXB) is the main airport, about 124 km away. Pakyong airport, about 30 km from Gangtok, has had irregular flights. Check current status before you travel.
Where to stay
Rooms we book
Stay in or near MG Marg, Tibet Road, Bhanu Path or Development Area to walk to restaurants and the main sights. Budget rooms in guesthouses cost ₹1,200–2,500 a night, good mid-range hotels ₹3,000–6,000, and heritage or resort stays ₹9,000 and up. Hotels on the outskirts are quieter but need a taxi every evening. Rooms facing northwest get the Kangchenjunga view on clear mornings.
A long-running, family-run guest house on Bhanu Path, a short walk below MG Marg. Rooms are simple and warm, the garden is quiet, and the welcome …
An established mid-range hotel on Tibet Road, a few minutes' walk from MG Marg, with rooms that look out over the valley towards Kangchenjunga on clear …
A heritage hotel built in the 1930s as the royal guest house of the Chogyals of Sikkim, now run by Elgin Hotels. It has period rooms, …
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Five things to know
- Give your ID and photos to a travel agent the day before for Tsomgo and Nathu La permits, and keep a spare day in case the trip is cancelled.
- Smoking, spitting and littering are banned on MG Marg and fines are enforced.
- Local taxis run point to point; agree the fare before you get in, usually ₹100–250 within town.
- Gangtok is steep, so plan walks downhill and take a taxi back up.
- Carry a refillable water bottle, as Sikkim discourages single-use plastic.
The local story
How a small monastery village became a royal capital
For most of its history Gangtok was a minor settlement. The first capitals of the Namgyal kings were at Yuksom, Rabdentse and later Tumlong in North Sikkim. Gangtok's name is usually explained as meaning a hilltop or high ridge, and in the 19th century it was mainly known for Enchey and a few scattered houses.
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Gangtok
How many days should I spend in Gangtok?
Plan three nights. One full day covers the town's monasteries, viewpoints and MG Marg, one day goes to Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La or Baba Mandir, and a half day covers Rumtek. A fourth night gives a buffer if a permit trip is cancelled by snow or landslides, which happens several times a season.
What is the best time to visit Gangtok?
March to May and October to December are best. Spring brings rhododendrons and mild days; autumn brings the clearest mountain views. June to September is the monsoon, with rain, cloud and landslides on NH10. January and February are cold but often clear, and Tsomgo may be frozen.
Do Indians need a permit to visit Gangtok?
No. Indian nationals can visit Gangtok without a permit. You do need permits, arranged through a registered travel agent, for Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Zuluk and North Sikkim. Carry a government photo ID and a few passport photos for these. Rules are indicative. Check current status before you travel.
What permit do foreigners need for Gangtok?
Foreign nationals need the Sikkim Inner Line Permit, formally a Restricted Area Permit, to enter Sikkim. It is issued free at Rangpo checkpost, Bagdogra airport, Sikkim House in Delhi and the Sikkim Tourism office in Siliguri, against a passport, valid visa and photos. Check current status before you travel.
Is Gangtok good for families with children?
Yes. Distances in town are short, food is easy, and there is plenty to do: the ropeway, the zoological park, Banjhakri Falls park and monasteries with colourful prayer wheels. The steep streets are tiring for small children, so use taxis. High-altitude trips to Tsomgo need extra care for young children.
Can I see Kangchenjunga from Gangtok?
Yes, on clear days, mostly from October to April and best soon after sunrise. Tashi viewpoint, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok and many hotel rooms on the western side of the ridge face the range. In the monsoon the peaks are usually hidden by cloud for weeks at a time.
What food should I try in Gangtok?
Try momos and thukpa, phagshapa (pork fat stewed with radish and dried chilli), gundruk and sinki soups made from fermented greens and radish, sel roti, and churpi, a local cheese. Small restaurants around Lal Market and the lanes off MG Marg are cheaper and more local than the main street cafés.
How do I get around Gangtok?
Walk in the centre and use local taxis for everything else. Taxis are small hatchbacks and vans that run point to point within town for about ₹100–250. City buses are limited. For sightseeing, hire a taxi for a half day; drivers offer fixed tours of several viewpoints and monasteries.
Is Gangtok expensive?
It is moderate by Indian hill-town standards. A budget traveller can manage on ₹1,800–2,500 a day with a guesthouse, local food and shared jeeps. Prices rise in May, October and the Christmas week. The big costs are reserved cars for permit trips, which are cheaper when shared among four or five people.
Packages
Routes that stop in Gangtok
Nearby
Pair it with
The Karma Kagyu seat across the valley from Gangtok
A glacial lake at 3,753 m on the road to Nathu La
The border pass at 4,310 m on the old road to Lhasa
Kangchenjunga at breakfast, and the old capitals of Sikkim below
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. Begin