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Gangtok : The Paradise on Hill top

The physical presence of this charming little town is aptly described in the local language form where the city derives its name from. It means on the hill top, and that's what the city is! Gangtok is perched high on a mountain which was supposedly flattened to build a monastery and eventually the city around it. The charming city carries an aura of mysticism with prayer flags fluttering with the wind and the sound of Buddhist prayers and bells echoing within the mountains. Adding to the charm are the flowers those bloom on the roadside and the locals of this place, naive and smiling, both give a sense of a grand welcome to this small city.

Abundant in natural beauty, Gangtok seems to have all the shades in green peeping through every leaf and forest. The tea gardens and the snow capped mountains add to the beauty. Gangtok is famous for its exotic and colorful flowers particularly Rhododendron, Orchids and Blue Poppies. Gangtok has a very spectacular setting and offers excellent views of the entire Kanchandzonga range from various points in its vicinity. The third largest mountain of the world, the Kanchandzonga, is considered as the guarding deity by the people of Sikkim and Gangtok. They worship and offer prayers to their deity who not only guards their borders but also provides the life like water apart from the picturesque scenario.

The Capital of Sikkim emerges through the clouds in the shadow of the mighty Kanchandzonga and offers a lot to see and enjoy for a travel enthusiast. It was ruled by the Chongyals till the 1975, until it merged with the Indian sub-continent as the 22nd state of India. The footmarks of the regality are still evident in the capital where they reside and normal public does not have access to it.Lamas with their play wheels, colorful festivals, Tsechu dance, the Monasteries, the flowers and the natural beauty; all draw visitors to this place. But the view of the majestic Kanchandzonga takes the cake and memories of which calls you back and again to visit the small town.

Location: The quaint little capital city of this tiny state is the only town which has a touch of modernization. Situated at the altitude of 5840 feet above the sea level this place is wet and cool round the year. Guarded by the majestic Kanchandzonga range and flooded with species of Orchids as it natural vegetation, Gangtok is one of the most beautiful places in India.

Climate: Nestled amongst the beautiful Himalayan Mountains, no doubt Gangtok experiences cold weather round the year. The summers are pleasant with abundant sunshine and pretty flowers blooming all around with massive waterfalls leaping down every nook and corner. Although winters are very harsh in this city, the monsoons are continuous, even during the peak winter seasons. So the best climate to enjoy the beauty is either March to May or October and November.

Languages Spoken: Nepali, English, Hindi, Bhutia (Sikkimese), Bhutia (Tibetan), Lepcha, Limboo

Long Distance Code: +91-3592

Importance: Capital city of the state of Sikkim and famous for Rhodendrons

Best Time To Visit: March To July

Gangtok Tourist Attractions:

The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

The most prestigious of its kinds in India, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is about 1.5 km from the main town of Gangtok. Housed in a beautiful building, built in the traditional Tibetan style, with murals, decorated columns and a wonderful smell of beeswax polish from the creaky wooden floor, the Institute was built in 1958 with the main motto to promote Tibetan studies and Buddhist philosophy. It houses a rare collection of prized objects of Buddhist importance. It has a rare collection of 30,000 books, Tantric documents, rare manuscripts written in gold on the bark of a poisonous tree, antique Thankas and 200 icons, all prized objects of art for the Buddhist world. Moreover, it also houses relics of monks, samples of Lepcha scripts, masks and sacred objects like Kapali, a bowl made from a human skull, and the carku, a flute made from a thigh bone. The Institute has won both national and international acclaim and the scholars from all over the world come here to study.

The Government Institute of Handicrafts

The main aim to establish this institute was to promote and keep alive the local traditional handicrafts. It has some exquisite items and also very exclusive handicrafts pertaining to the local tradition. Not only one can view the best of the handicrafts of Sikkim here but also can buy them as their souvenirs.

The Deer Park

The deer park is an attraction not only for the rare Musk deer and the Himalayan spotted deer that one can see here, but also the beautiful view that this park gives of the mountains and the tea estates.

The Saramasa Garden

A place where one can see at its full bloom! The flowers and the orchids bloom with all the possible colours and shapes. The garden is home to Sikkim's exotic orchids and other tropical temperate plants. An excellent leisure spot one can not miss out on. A delight for the eyes with a bed of flowers laid down is certainly mesmerizing. A shower of colours that one can not even imagine takes the shape of flowers to sooth the eyes!!

The Himalayan Zoological Park

This huge park has species of wild animals that are not found elsewhere in India. The snow-leopards, the red Pandas and the deer can be spotted in semi natural habitat with rich natural surroundings

Gangtok Hotels:

THE ROYAL PLAZA

Total Rooms : 92

Star Category : 4

Amidst such lush green hilly terrains, a breathtaking topography and misty mountains, is situated The Royal Plaza at Gangtok, the Capital of Sikkim. This luxury hotel is ideally located above a river valley with a view of paddy fields, forested slopes and snow capped mountain peaks. It is one of its kind in all of Sikkim and the North East India. The Royal Plaza aptly complements this exotic locale.

TASHIDELEK

Total Rooms : 46

Star Category : 4

Hotel is centrally located in the heart Gangtok with a magnificent view of the Sikkim Himalayas and hotel offers best servicess Foreign Currency Exchange, Travel Counter, Safe Deposit,Doctor on Call,Room Services,Laundry & Dry Clean Services,Postal Service.

SONAM PALGEY

Total Rooms : 30

Star Category : 3

Sonam Palgey has its origin rooted in the Royal Heritage of Sikkim. Elephant Mansion was built for royal guests during the coronation of Sikkim's last King Palden Thondup Namgyal in 1963. The name "Elephant Mansion" is derived from it's being the largest structure of its time, with a snout like facade.

GOLDEN HEIGHTS

Total Rooms : 17

Star Category : 3

Hotel Golden Heights is situated in the heart of Gangtok town and it is the place to stay if you wish to be at the hub of it all. We invite you to our hotel for a memorable & comfortable stay in Gangtok.

More Gangtok Hotels....

Buddhism in India

An amazing fable often heard… of a wealthy prince, who leaves all the luxuries of life in search of the ultimate truth; he returns as an enlightened one and his preaching becomes one of the most widespread religions of the world. One of the many religions that evolved in India, Buddhism is supposed to be one of the most modern and widespread religions of the world. It spread instantly mainly because of its core aspect based on principals of truth and equality. An evolution of man from a normal human to an elevated soul leading the path to salvation is the primary guideline of Buddhism. The doctrine that was preached by Lord Buddha was not meant to be a religion but a path to lead the life.

On the night his son was born, the future King of Kapilavastu, Prince Siddhartha, left the house in the darkness of midnight, in search of the ultimate truth; a truth to overcome sorrow and grief in human life. The path to this truth, he never knew, neither had he known whether he would succeed. But six years later after going through severe penances and austerity and later discarding even these for meditation the Prince realized the truth. From this point of enlightenment he was proclaimed as the Tathagata; the one who knows the truth and as Buddha; the one who is awakened or enlightened. Buddha preached the four noble truths and the eight fold path to salvation and attaining nirvana. Buddha says man normally lives in extreme conditions. He either leads a life full of luxury and lust or becomes an ascetic torturing his body trying to reach to the ultimate truth. An ascetic also lusts for truth and a common man lusts for luxury, both ways they remain unsatisfied which forces them to come back on earth to search the unfound. So it is wise to walk on the middle path. This middle path is the eight fold path that can lead one to peace, insight wisdom and ultimately, Nirvana. The eight fold path comprises of: Right Views, Right Resolves, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Recollection and Right Meditation.

The four Noble truths the Lord spoke about were:

• Noble Truth of Sorrow: It means all five components of individuality are sorrow.
• Noble Truth of the Arising of Sorrow: Sorrow arises from desire of more which compels a person for rebirth.
• Noble Truth of Stopping the Sorrow: Emancipation from this desire is the only way to stop sorrow.
• Noble Truth of the Way leading to Stopping of Sorrow: The middle way of the eight fold path is the only one to stop the sorrow. The core of the words of the lord meant that sorrow or grief is inherent in ordinary life and the reason for this is craving for individual satisfaction. The grief can be overcome by checking the craving and yearning for more. This is possible only if one takes the middle course between self indulgence and severe austerity; leading a moral and a disciplined life. And all the composite things in the world have to decay, so death is matter of fact and one should mourn this fact.

The life story of Buddha gave an inspiration to young and old and many more fascinating stories were attached to it. These mythological stories and some real life stories form the part of the Buddhist art that is carved and painted throughout the world. Although the impact of Buddhism has weakened in India, these artistic forms of Buddhism never cease to fascinate the people world wide. These sites which are many in the country form a special pilgrimage to the Buddhists world wide. The four main Buddhists sites are: 1) The birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini, today in Nepal; 2) The place of his enlightenment, Bodhgaya; 3) Saranath near Varanasi is the also important as the place of the Lord’s first sermon and 4) The place where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, Kushinagar. But there are many others which are visited as most revered Buddhists sites.

It is said that the Lord was born, attained enlightenment and attained Mahaparinirvana, on the same day, which is celebrated on the Full moon day falling in the month of May, as Buddha Purnima. There are many Buddhist sites which celebrate thie reverred day. Come to India and visit those places and try to attain the wisdom, The Lord Buddha once preached.