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Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim and situated at 5500 ft above sea level. Gangtok is connected outside the state to Siliguri, a main city in northern West Bengal. It is the commercial, religious and cultural activities hub of Sikkim. The mixture of traditional people, modern crowd and beauty of natural sight-seeing places are the attraction for the crowd from all over the world. The capital is well-developed and accessibility by road and air transport (helicopter).
The different temples and other places of interest to visit will enroll you to come with family, friends and loved ones. Gangtok is complete as it is the good combination of education, tourism and business. The city is the largest town of Sikkim and very popular for its serene beauty. There are lot of tourist places such as historical places, wildlife sanctuaries, parks, lakes and falls. Gangtok has all the charms that tourists love to visit again and again.
How to Reach Gangtok?
By Air
Although recently, Sikkim has got its own airport at Pakyong, but due to commercial viability, only a few flies to it.
So the nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport (IXB), located approximately 123 km from Gangtok. Bagdogra airport is connected to all the major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, etc with daily non-stop flights.
From Bagdogra, or Siliguri, you can get into a shared taxi or hire a private vehicle that will get you to Gangtok in a matter of 4 hours. From Bagdogra, you can also take a TSA helicopter to get to Gangtok in just 20 minutes. However, helicopter services depend on the weather conditions. It also gets cancelled on the pretext of insufficient bookings.
By Train
The nearest railway station to Gangtok is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), about 128 kilometres away. The station, which is 20 mins drive from Siliguri, is the gateway for all Sikkim, Darjeeling and Bhutan. It is well-connected to major cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi.
From New Jalpaiguri you can take a taxi to Gangtok or go to Siliguri Bus Station and catch a state-run bus to Gangtok, which will take you about 4 hours.
By Road
Gangtok is connected by road to Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. State and private bus services connect the cities.
Location
Things you need to Know About Gangtok
Elevation
5,410 feet above mean sea level
Temperature Range
4 °C in January - 22 °C in June
Local Language
Nepali, Hindi and English
Food
Indian, Chinese and Authentic Tibetian cuisines.
Festivals
Dusherra, Diwali, Losar, Holi, and Christmas
Religion
Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity
Do you know?
Amazing Facts about Sikkim
Open Defecation-Free
Sikkim is the first state to be declared open defecation-free by the Government of India.
100% Organic
Sikkim is the world’s first 100 per cent organic state. The state won the prestigious Future Policy Gold Award from the UN Food and Agriculture (FAO), after beating 51 nominations from around the world.
Lowest Crime Rate
Sikkim is one of the safest state in India. It is known for its very low crime rate. Rongyek jail in Gangtok is Sikkim's only central jail.
Litter-Free Zone
Sikkim is litter free zone. That means you won't see any litter in public places. You will also be fined if seen doing it.
Best time to visit Gangtok
Expected tourist footfall
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
From mid March till June, Gangtok experiences pleasant weather during the summer season. The temperature hovers 18°C to 22°C during the season. It is the best time to visit Gangtok if you would like to escape the heat.
From July till September, monsoons causes swift rainfall, many a time causing landslides and road blockage. This is not the best time to visit. However, monsoon tourism is something to look upon if you enjoy rain.
From October till March, winter is the best time for travelling to Gangtok. The temperature ranges between 2°C and 7°C during the season. It is the perfect time to visit for the spectacular view of the snow capped mountains. Snow adventures, vibrant festivals and bone chilling cold makes perfect time to visit Gangtok.
Tour Packages including Gangtok
Discover top destinations with our 5 Night 6 Days package. Visit Gangtok, Tsongmo Lake, and North Sikkim with greenfield holidays.
Discover top destinations with our 5 Night 6 Days package. Visit Gangtok, Tsongmo Lake, and North Sikkim with greenfield holidays.
A beautiful tour package to explore all of North Sikkim-Yumthang, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachen, Lachung, Gangtok, etc
Discover top destinations with our 5 Night 6 Days package. Visit Gangtok, Tsongmo Lake, and North Sikkim with greenfield holidays.
Discover top destinations with our 5 Night 6 Days package. Visit Gangtok, Tsongmo Lake, and North Sikkim with greenfield holidays.
Discover top destinations with our 5 Night 6 Days package. Visit Gangtok, Tsongmo Lake, and North Sikkim with greenfield holidays.
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