What you now explore as an amusement park was once a mystical healing spot near Gangtok. Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park is not an ordinary recreational center but a sacred place that conducts healing activities.
Located 8.7 km away from Gangtok, you can visit this place on your day trip to Rumtek and Ranka Monastery. With this blog, I am going to share my experience and what all you can do once you get here!
The Banjhakri Story
According to Nepali and Sikkimese stories, a fearsome spirit called Lamlamey was known to kidnap young boys who were unharmed and had pure souls. These creatures were hairy apelike humanoids that would take children away to train them in mysticism and shamanism. Once they turned into powerful healers, they would be sent back to the real world to help the ordinary with their special powers.
The meaning of Banjhakri is “forest healer,” because “ban” means forest and “jhakri” refers to traditional shamans of Sikkimese tribes. According to folklore, people in the Himalayan region traditionally relied on mystics and healers to free themselves from disease and evil spirits. Banjhakri Falls was once such an area around which the shamans used to live.
Within the amusement park’s premises is an enclosed area featuring figurines of Jhakris, Lamlamey, Mangpas, and Lepchas. They are seen practicing rituals to ward off evil using ritualistic objects surrounding a sick individual. At first glance, it can look eerie, but the more you know about it, the more it intrigues you!
Things to do at Banjhakri Falls and Energy Parks
Banjhakri Falls is a 100-feet tall natural waterfall within a forested area in Sikkim that was turned into a recreational park for tourism. It is open between 8 am and 6 pm every day. The earlier you visit, the better, since it spans 2 acres and offers a lot to explore.
The only way to get here is to book a private car or bring your own vehicle. We had booked our ride from Gangtok, and our driver parked his car outside the big red gate at the front of the park premises.
The entry fee to Banjhakri Park is INR 50 per person, and here is a list of things you can do:
1. Places to eat and shop
We came by for breakfast and found a tiny momo shop selling veg momos and parathas. Right beside the food joint is another shop selling souvenirs and other touristy items. There is also a proper restaurant where you can have a full-course lunch while watching the waterfall stream through rocky terrain.
2. Making aesthetic videos
As you climb a few stairs, you find aesthetic corners created for tourists to take pictures and shoot videos. Here is where you get a 360-degree view of the place, as you spot the Banjhakri Falls at a distance and watch the water cascade down and turn into a stream. During springtime, this place is full of flowers, making it feel livelier than it already is.
3. Zipline activity
There is a zipline activity for INR 200 per person, set up right in front of the waterfalls. There are stairways at both ends for you to climb, and an assistant to help you with the gear. It is safe to do this activity for a thrilling experience as you sway across the mighty Ban Jhakri Falls.
4. High rope walking
This is another fun activity adjacent to the zipline activity. You get a harness to secure your body, then start walking across dangling wooden logs to go from one side to the other.
5. Dragon splash
There is a swimming pool with a dragon statue right in the middle. We couldn’t access it as it was closed when we were there.
6. Getting photographed wearing Sikkimese clothes
You can rent Sikkimese clothes for INR 100 to pose in front of the Banjhakri Falls. It is an activity that many tourist destinations offer to give travelers a sense of local culture and vibe. The photographers charge you based on the hard or soft copies they create after they’re done clicking your images in ethnic clothes.
7. Getting drenched under the falls
It’s not going to happen to everyone, but if you’re slightly prone to understanding energies, brace yourself as you step into Banjhakri Falls. The moment you put your foot into the cool waters, a calming sensation will wrap your entire body.
Take a moment to look at the mighty waters and let the waters heal you. This is where you pause and experience the beauty of nature and find oneness from within.
Final thoughts
Interestingly, our driver told us that in remote places of Sikkim, people still believe in the powers of Jhakris. They might still exist in today’s time, away from the ordinary, in places that aren’t easily found.
As tourists, we visit places like the Banjhakri Falls and the Energy Park to enjoy ourselves. But it is important to acknowledge the sanctity of what such religious sites mean to locals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best time to visit Banjhakri Falls?
The best time to visit Gangtok is from February to May and then again from September to October. The cold is bearable during these months and pleasant for fun activities.
2. What is the Banjhakri entry fee?
The cost per person is 50 INR.
3. What are the timings?
The park is open from 8 am to 6 pm every day.
4. How to reach Banjhakri Falls and the energy park?
You need to book a car or take a local taxi to travel 8.7 km from Gangtok. Make sure you have the car with you for the day as there are no local transport options to take you back to the city.
Thank you for the information and the images are really great