Gangtok – The ultimate 4 days guide

Last Updated on June 4, 2022 by Roslin Dwivedi

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Gangtok – The ultimate 4 days guide. Our complete trip was for four days in Gangtok and four days in Darjeeling. Gangtok is a capital and a popular holiday destination in Sikkim. The tour was a surprise vacation from my Parents- In Laws. We also celebrated our anniversary, which fell during the time we were in Darjeeling.

How to reach Gangtok from Mumbai Or Delhi

The journey starts with leaving home from Mumbai at 4 am. By boarding a flight from Mumbai international airport to Delhi.
From Delhi, we took another flight to Bagdogra (West Bengal), hired a car from Bagdogra, rode for 5 hours to reach Gangtok at the Guest House we had booked.
Note: Car hire is readily available at the airport taxi stand for a reasonable price. Bargain works. But it’s always better to make your booking before arrival.

Gangtok – The ultimate 4 days guide

Day 1

By the time we reached Gangtok, it was 6 p.m. Had an orientation, we freshened up, had an early dinner and rested for the night.

Day 2

M.G. Road 

For me wonderful morning is when I wake up with delicious masala bed tea, followed by a delightful breakfast. This place had it all.

We left to see M.G. Road said to be one of the happening places in Gangtok. Crowds full of youngsters, essential shops and small stalls of street foods are famous here. We ate a lot of delicious momos here for cheap. Also look for Thukpa soup dish, it comes in vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions. So if you love momos or a foodie like me, then this is the place to be in Gangtok. Most importantly, we never withstood in getting vegetarian food, all the restaurants offer north Indian food. So either indulge in Nepalese style food or north Indian. You will never be lleft hungry here.

Lal Bazar is another market, if you want to see some different markets then have a look. 

Ropeway Ride 

The 935 meters long jig back ropeway from Deorali Bazar for 2 way. From the cable car, you can see the beautiful panoramic of the city. The mountains, the buildings, surrounded greenery, clean and quiet city looks mesmerising from the top. Check how much we paid below. 

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

Our second destination was the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology built in a typical Buddhist style. The institute located in beautiful forestlike surroundings and extensive areas of Deorali.

You can see a Museum on the ground floor of the institute, displays Buddha’s necessary events posters, the statues, ritual objects, traditional art objects, thangkas (painted, woven and embroidered scrolls) and ancient manuscripts in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Lepcha. 

Do Drul Chorten Stupa

The place is a beautiful colossal stupa located uphill from the Institute. When you visit the institute, you can go to see the Do Drul Chorten stupa. The stupa has one big stupa in the middle, surrounded by some small stupas and prayer wheels around it. At around 3 pm the monks light thousands of butter diyas. They work together to put the butter and make the cotton thread to put into diyas, and another group starts diyas of illumination. 

Seeing the sight of such perfection and synchronisation feels divine. Beside it there is a residence for the monks too. You can see the young monks taking their lessons.

Tashi viewpoint

Next, we took a taxi from Do Drul Chorten stupa to see Tashi viewpoint, A simple elevated place with a curved balcony style construction, where 10 – 15 people can easily stand and watch the stunning sunset.

By the time we reached here, it was 4 pm, so we waited to watch the mighty sun go down, spreading its colourful hues on the great Kanchenjunga.

You don’t have to pay anything to take a view from here. There is also a souvenir shop, which also serves tea or coffee and some packaged snacks.                   

Day 3 

Banjhakri waterfall 

Our first destination of this day was Banjhakri waterfall is also an energy park. And even a tourist attraction in Gangtok. The park celebrates the shamanic traditions of the people of Sikkim. The tremendous natural waterfall is a heart stealer in the park. Also, the concrete walkways and footbridges bend within the decorated garden, with beautiful trees and flowers.

Attractions in the park

Beside that the park’s attractions are a human-made lake with a dragon in the centre; gazebos; statues of jhākri; and figures of the ancestors of the Lyam Lymay, Mangpas, and Lepcha peoples of Sikkim. Sculptures of jhākri, Bongthing, Phedangba, and Bijuwa housed in thatched enclosures. The grounds also feature displays about points in restoration energy, such as solar water heaters, solar-powered cars, energy drums and solar-powered lamps lit the park. You will also find some souvenir shops and beverage shops down here. 

Paragliding

If you are an adventure enthusiast, then do try this excursion. 

Paragliding was my first time, and I loved it. Even though while running to take off and fly, I had lost one of my shoes, my overall experience was mind-blowing.

The birds-eye view of the Gangtok city, the spread mountains, clear 360-degree view of the earth below made me stare at every little thing I could see.

The pilots who are flying with you are well trained, and they make sure you get a memorable experience. Paragliding pilots were funny, specifically Aarunis and Aaruni himself, made it so much fun for me. The Hindi language sounds very charming from the local people over there. 

We had read about this place Fly Sikkim Adventure. And it was a surprise that Aaruni offered to do this activity. Mostly he is the one pulling me back from doing all sorts of dangerous adventures. Not because he gets scared. But he is a thinker, a visionary. Our companions, Aaruni parents, went to see Nathula pass. Aaruni and me didn’t go because I have motion sickness. And Nathula pass was 2-3 hours of drive. 

Fly Sikkim adventure for Paragliding

Baliman Dara was a place where they have paragliding office. We bought the excursion and opted to fly for 15 minutes at an altitude of about 1400 – 1500 meters. There is another option also available for an even higher altitude of about 2000 meters to paraglide. That’s mostly for the professional ones. While gearing you up the crew will also give a GoPro camera to film your experience. And later they sell it to you for an extra cost and we bought it anyway because it was a memory for life. Plus Aaruni’s video came out so entertaining that we still watch it and laugh.

The pilots make a formation while paragliding if you are a couple. The first pilot waits at a particular time for your partner to come a bit closer and keeping that safe distance they fly together like a bird couple. And that is quite a thrilling experience . 

Our taxi driver, a nineteen years old boy, was so kind-hearted. He stayed down while the pilot drove us another 9-10kms uphill from the office. And he made our videos of paragliding, from the football court where we were supposed to land. And also, he drove us back. 

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Nathula Pass

Nathula pass is Indo-china border that connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet autonomous region. It’s a very restricted place and also popular among tourists. Nathula pass is a Tibetan name, meaning listening ears. You need a permit, and only Indians are allowed to visit the pass. The pass is one of the open trading border posts between China and India. However, the trade is limited to specific types of goods to particular days of the week. Be aware that taking pictures is not allowed on the border. 

Day 4 

Around ten o’clock we left from our hotel in Gangtok to drive for 4 hours Darjeeling.                

Tips to Visit Gangtok

1. We hired a taxis everywhere at a reasonable price. But book your taxi before arrival. 
2. Around Rupees One hundred plus pp we paid for the ropeway ride two ways.
3. Entrance fee to the museum in Institute of Namgyal and the libraries is Rs. 10 .pp.
4. Banjhakri waterfall – We paid Rs. 50 pp and Rs. 20 for car parking.
5. If you are planning in November then better you pack some real ear covering caps and woollen masks or standard masks because of the frequent chilled breeze in the evenings. 

Paragliding Tips

1. For paragliding, we paid 2500 rs. Plus 500 for the go pro cd per person.
2. Prefer wearing a sports shoe or any closed shoe with better grip for paragliding.
3. Wear something close and body-hugging for paragliding, not loose.
4. Keep non-valuables and fewer items as you will have to leave your bag at the paragliding office, which is down the hill where you will land.
5. Listen and follow all the instructions before doing this excursion because, for me, I did not run properly while taking the flight and got scratched on my leg, and I lost my one shoe, but the crew of paragliding managed to bring that back down to their office.
6. Before planning for paragliding, look for the clear weather. Because if not then it’s no use, you won’t get the beautiful view for which you have gone in the first place. And the excursion can be cancelled if the weather is not favourable. 

People and Culture  – People of Sikkim are called Sikkimese and are very humble, kind, charming and helpful. They respect the tourists very much. And also very much aware of cleanliness. They are very welcoming and warm in talking. They also hand you money or anything with both the hands, as in their culture it’s a respectful gesture and they must maintain it. When you go to Sikkim, please respect them and maintain the peace and the beauty of the place. 

My souvenirs from Gangtok are Buddhist monk statues, Hanging Tibetan Feng shui bells, Feng shui Chinese coin tie in red thread, shawl and some winter caps.

My bucket list recommendations in Gangtok are Ranka Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, Ganesh Tok viewpoint and Hanuman Tok viewpoint.

Now that you have explored Gangtok with me a bit go ahead and plan your trip and enjoy your time here. 

Following this itinerary, I will soon post the itinerary for Darjeeling. You can subscribe or follow me on Instagram or Facebook for the latest updates.

Happy planning your trip!