Gangtok Travel Guide: Monasteries, Mountain Views and Mall Road

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is a clean, friendly hill city with monasteries, flower shows and, on clear days, views of the Kanchenjunga range.

Top things to see and do in Gangtok

MG Marg

A pedestrian-only promenade lined with cafes and shops, lively in the evenings.

Rumtek Monastery

One of Sikkim’s largest and most important monasteries, with colourful murals and a peaceful courtyard.

Tsomgo (Changu) Lake

A high-altitude glacial lake reachable by road; permits are required and weather can change quickly.

Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok

Two small temples on hilltops with excellent views over the city.

Enchey Monastery

A smaller monastery above the town, calm and easy to visit in under an hour.

Momos and local food

Sample momos, thukpa and sel roti at local eateries.

Best time to visit

March to May and October to December offer clear skies and good views. Monsoon brings landslides and cloud.

How to get there

The nearest airport is at Pakyong, and the nearest major railway stations are New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri, from where shared and private cabs take a few hours to reach Gangtok.

Practical tips for Gangtok

• Carry ID for permit checks on high-altitude trips.
• Pack layers; evenings can be chilly even in spring.
• Book high-altitude excursions through registered operators.
• Allow extra time on mountain roads.

Dinner in the sky in Gangtok

After a day of sightseeing, there is no better way to end the trip than a table suspended high above the ground. FlyDining pairs a pre-set menu with open views, and each session seats up to 24 guests.

Sky dining connection. Gangtok has its own FlyDining page where you can see session timings, current prices and availability: FlyDining in Gangtok. Seats are sold only online at flydining.com.