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East Sikkim |
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 Gangtok
: Perched at a height of 5500 ft, Gangtok ‘top
of hill’ lures visitors with its fabulous view of
magnificent Mt. Khangchendzonga. Its strategic
location, a strong Buddhist presence and heady
cultural offerings are a tempting insight into this |
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stimulating land. Sample some of
its treasures before heading out of town to savour
Sikkim’s other delights. One of the most delightful
ways to do this is to sign up for one of the Purnima
(May) to enjoy the famous Saga Dawa festivities.
Walking in colorful pro-cession, the holy monks
carry the holy books of Buddha’s teachings from the
Tsuklakhang Monastery in the palace to different
parts of town. |
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 Research
Institute of Tibetology : This world-renowned
centre for Buddhist philosophy and religion, the
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is the world’s
largest treasury of invaluable old Tibetan books and
manuscripts on science, medicine, astrology etc. It
attracts Buddhist scholars from around the world.
The centre also has a wide range of Lepcha and
Sanskrit manuscripts and scrolls of ancient vintage.
The museum attached to it contains over 200 icons,
old tankas and some ritual vessels amongst the
various objects d art on display. Upstairs you can
observe the cataloguing and restoration of these
treasures. Open 10am-4pm |
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 Government
Institute of Cottage Industry : This institute
is located at about a kilometre uphill from the main
market of Gangtok. It was established, in 1957 wiht
the purpose of promoting the manufacture and sale of
local handicrafts, Thankas which are scrolls of
paintings, hand carved foldable wooden tables known
as Choksees and exquisitvely woven wollen carpets,
masks and dolls. Hand made paper is another unique
novelty o the Institute and is made from the bark of
a tree Algeri. The paper is used extensively for
invitation cards and letter-pads. |
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 Flower
show, Ridge and White Hall : The ridge is a
small stretch of plain flat road above the town of
Gangtok. It is just about fifteen minutes walk from
the main market. The Ridge has the white hall and
the chief ministers official residence, known as the
Montokgang, meaning "blossomed crowned hill top" on
one end and the beautifully designed palace gate
with a pagoda roof top on the other end. A statue of
Nehru, the late Prime Minister of India, adorns the
roundabout above White hall. Situated on the ridge
is also a resting shed using Tibetan architecture.
The ridge is line dwith plants and trees which when
in bllom are a riot of colours. Flower show which
attract tourists from all over the world are held
just below the Ridge. |
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 Enchey
Monastery : This monastery is located just
adjacent to the Tourist Lodge (Siniolchu Lodge) and
the TV Tower about a Kilometer uphill from the White
Hall. The monastery is located in a dense wood and
one can see the Kanchendzonga range over the crown
of trees. Lama Druptob Karpo is supposed to have
built a small hermitage at his spot after he flew
here from Maenam Hill (South Sikkim) more than
two-hundred years age. During the reign of Sidkeong
Tulku, a monastery follows the Nyingma Order and
main Puja and dances are held here on the 18th and
19th of the twelfth month of the Tibetan Calendar
which normally corresponds to the month of December. |
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 Hurhurray Dara : Located
just next to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly and the
ropeway terminus, this view-pint offers an excellent
view of the deep valley below with the river
Ro-ro-chu snaking through it. |
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 Ropeway
: Inaugurated on 7th Dec 2003, the ropeway
operates between the Main Secretariat Deer Park,
Sikkim Legislative Assembly and the Tibetology at
Deorali. The two cable cars have a capacity of
accommodating 25 passengers each. The ride gives a
breathtaking view of the river about 1000 metres
below as well as the Deorali Bazar. |
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 Tashi view point :
Situated along the North Sikkim Highway, it is only
8 kms from Gangtok. From this point you get a breath
taking view of Mt. Khang-chen-Dzonga and Mt.
Siniolchu, one of the most graceful peaks in the
world. Ideal time to visit is early in the morning. |
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 Ganeshtok : short distance
from the town centre gets you to this unpretentious
mandir and offers splendid photography. |
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web.jpg) Hanumantok
: Located just above the town this Ganesha
temple offers splendid views of the surrounding
hills. |
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Himalayan Zoological Park:
The park is located exactly across the road opposite
Ganesh-Tok and covers an area of 205 hectares. This
area is also known as Bulbuley and extends almost
upto Hanuman Tok. Although a 3 kilometres long
jeepable paved cement path that passes by fenced
open air enclosures housing the red pandas, barking
deer, bears and other animals of Sikkim in a semi
natural habitat. as the enclosures encompass a hge
area the animals are sometimes not easily visible
and one has to be patient to get a sight of them. |
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 The Saramsa Garden :This
garden is located at a distance of about 14
kilometers downhill from Gangtok, 2 kilometers from
Ranipool. The area covered by this garden is six
acres. The garden has been named so because of the
plant Ipecac that is grown here. This garden
contains a wide variety of other flora including
numerous types of orchids and medicinal plants. A
large green house also accommodates many other
species. The garden is a very popular picnic spot.
One has to take a taxi to reach this place. |
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 Rumtek Monastery : A drive
through the picturesque terraced rice fields will
bring you to the head quarters of the Dharma Chakra
Centre, the present seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa
Karmapa, head of the Kargyupa Sect. The main
monastery is a recent structure, built by the 16th
Gyalwa Karmapa in strict accordance with the
traditional designs of his monastery in Tsurphu in
Tibet. |
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Pal Zurmang Kagyud Monastery,
Lingdum : For those interested in Buddhism, a
visit to this monastery at Lingdum which lies on a
bifurcation on the Gangtok-Rumtek road towards Ranks
can be fruitful. It is the seat of the incarnation
of Zurmang Gharwang Rimpoche. Built in 1997, this
monastery is palatial in size. |
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 Tsongmo Lake : An ideal
day trip from Gangtok is a visit to Tsango Lake.
With an average depth of 50 ft, this spectacular
lake is situated 37 km north east from Gangtok at an
altitude of 3,752 metres on the Gangtok - Nathula
highway. The road with an awesome precipice on one
side takes you through the Kyongnosla Alpine
Sanctuary. The snow and the frozen lake make it even
more exciting during the winter months. |
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 Nathula Pass : Ahead of
Tsangu located on the Indo-China border lies the
Nathula Pass. This pass was a point of conflict
during the Chinese aggression in 1962 . It was an
important point on the India-Tibet trade route until
the border with Tibet was closed in 1962. It has
been reopened in 2006. |
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Memencho Lake : This is
another beautiful lake located twenty kilometers
ahead of the Changu Lake. The 2 kilometeres length
steep narrow road from the Baba Harbajan singh
Temple reaches the lake. Quite big in size, it lies
cradled between the mountains below the Jelepla Pass
and is also the source of the river Rangpo-chu which
meets the Tista at Rangpo. Like the Tsongmo Lake it
also derives its water from the melting snow around
especially from the stream that originates just
below the Jelepla pass. The Lake is famous for its
trout and a farm to cultivate these fish also exists
nearby. |
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