The summer season is becoming more scorching every year in Kolkata and it is almost essential to have an AC at home or just escape the heat by going on a holiday. Of course I prefer the latter and so we decided to visit Gangtok, once again. Last time when we visited Gangtok, we were unable to see some of the most important attractions which include Banjhakri Falls, Hanuman Tok and Yumthang Valley (not in the Gangtok city).
We boarded the Kolkata-Haldibari SF Express from Kolkata station at 09:10 hrs and reached New Jalpaiguri around 19:00 hrs, half an hour behind scheduled time. We spent the night at Hotel Miami which is close to the railway station. Next morning we went to Siliguri. There we booked seats in a Gangtok-bound car and then had to wait for two hours since our car was not getting full. At last we started our journey at 11 o' clock. But something worse was yet to happen. After traveling half an hour our driver realized that the car's gear box was malfunctioning. He tried to repair the car but failed. So we had to wait for about 45 minutes for another jeep to come and take us to Gangtok. We reached Gangtok around 16:30 hrs. We lodged at a hotel near M.G. Marg, Gangtok.
Next day we booked a cab for local sightseeing in Gangtok. Firstly we went to Hanuman Tok. The place is well maintained by the army and hosts a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The environment and natural beauty of the place is mesmerizing. It is said that Hanuman while carrying the Sanjeevani mountain to Sri Lanka rested in this place. After seeing Hanuman Tok, we went to the Plant Conservatory. The Plant Conservatory is a new attraction which was opened just a month before our visit. The conservatory hosts a wide range of orchids, trees and rare plants found in the Himalayas. The place is beautiful with rocks, ponds, bridges and surrounding greenery which make it ideal for photo shoots.
How to Reach :
12363 Kolkata-Haldibari Express departs Kolkata station at 09:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 18:55 hrs. 12343 Darjeeling Mail leaves Sealdah station at 22:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 08:00 hrs. 12377 Padatik Express leaves Sealdah at 22:55 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 09:05 hrs. Hired cars (Tata Sumo, Mahindra MAXX and Bolero) are available from New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Buses are running from S.N.T. Bus Terminus in Siliguri to Gangtok.
Nearest Airport - Bagdogra Airport
Where to Stay :
New Jalpaiguri
Hotel Miami. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 800. Tel: 9332232897.
Hotel Holydon. Tel: (0353) 2691162.
Gangtok
Greendale Residence. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 4500-4900. Tel: (03592) 201400.
Hotel Babumashai. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 204030.
Hotel Himalaya's. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 202842.
Hotel Woodland. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1400. Tel: (03592) 203414.
Hotel Paradise. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1000. Tel: 9832036610.
Places of Interest :
The prime attractions of Gangtok are Banjhakri Falls, Rumtek Monastery, Tashi View Point, Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Bakthang Waterfalls, Himalayan Zoological Park and Research Institute of Tibetology. Other attractions include Lhasa Falls, Do Drul Chorten Stupa, Enchey Monastery and Ganjong Monastery. There are three excursions from Gangtok - Nathula Pass, Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake) and Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir which can be covered in a one day tour from Gangtok. Another conducted tour is the Yumthang Valley Package. It is a 1 Night 2 days tour consisting of Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You can also go for the Gurudongmar Lake package which is 2 Nights 3 Days. The tour consists of Lachen, Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You will be required to produce xerox copy of Voter ID Card and two passport photos of each member of your family to the travel agency for permit. One can also hire a local taxi and go for Namchi sightseeing and return to Gangtok on the same day.
For more information, please contact :
Sikkim Tourist Information Centre
M.G. Marg, Gangtok,
East Sikkim
Tel: (03592) 221634
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| View of Teesta River |
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| Hanuman Tok |
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| Plant Conservatory |
Continued to The Gangtok Trip - Part 2
How to Reach :
12363 Kolkata-Haldibari Express departs Kolkata station at 09:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 18:55 hrs. 12343 Darjeeling Mail leaves Sealdah station at 22:05 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 08:00 hrs. 12377 Padatik Express leaves Sealdah at 22:55 hrs and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 09:05 hrs. Hired cars (Tata Sumo, Mahindra MAXX and Bolero) are available from New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri to reach Gangtok. Buses are running from S.N.T. Bus Terminus in Siliguri to Gangtok.
Nearest Airport - Bagdogra Airport
Where to Stay :
New Jalpaiguri
Hotel Miami. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 800. Tel: 9332232897.
Hotel Holydon. Tel: (0353) 2691162.
Gangtok
Greendale Residence. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 4500-4900. Tel: (03592) 201400.
Hotel Babumashai. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 204030.
Hotel Himalaya's. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1500. Tel: (03592) 202842.
Hotel Woodland. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1400. Tel: (03592) 203414.
Hotel Paradise. Tariff - Double bed Rs. 1000. Tel: 9832036610.
Places of Interest :
The prime attractions of Gangtok are Banjhakri Falls, Rumtek Monastery, Tashi View Point, Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Bakthang Waterfalls, Himalayan Zoological Park and Research Institute of Tibetology. Other attractions include Lhasa Falls, Do Drul Chorten Stupa, Enchey Monastery and Ganjong Monastery. There are three excursions from Gangtok - Nathula Pass, Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake) and Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir which can be covered in a one day tour from Gangtok. Another conducted tour is the Yumthang Valley Package. It is a 1 Night 2 days tour consisting of Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You can also go for the Gurudongmar Lake package which is 2 Nights 3 Days. The tour consists of Lachen, Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung and Yumthang Valley. You will be required to produce xerox copy of Voter ID Card and two passport photos of each member of your family to the travel agency for permit. One can also hire a local taxi and go for Namchi sightseeing and return to Gangtok on the same day.
For more information, please contact :
Sikkim Tourist Information Centre
M.G. Marg, Gangtok,
East Sikkim
Tel: (03592) 221634
