What if I told you that the top 10 places to visit in Gangtok can be covered in one day?
Would you believe me?
I did not either when our driver told us he would help us cover 10 things to do in Gangtok in one day.
While we could do 8 out of 10 activities, I will list all 10 so you can plan an entire day’s itinerary around it.
There is also a bonus tip that will add finesse to this exciting journey across the capital of Sikkim.
Best time to visit Gangtok
Before moving to the list of best places to visit in Gangtok, I had to mention the best time to visit.
Since we visited Sikkim in February, it was cloudy and could not see Kanchenjunga.
Had I known I would miss out on the breathtaking views of the white mountain range, I would opt for other months.
The best time to visit Gangtok is April, May, and October. Out of these three, October is the best because this is the only month when you have complete chances of experiencing clear skies.
Seeing the Kanchenjunga range from Gangtok is all about luck. But if you had to choose one month out of all 12, it must be October.
It was raining in February, and it went throughout March. There are also better times to visit than the monsoon season.
As the skies clear up during September and October, you have complete chances of clicking the most Instagram-able pictures here.
Places to visit in Gangtok
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You should start your journey by 9 am to be able to cover all the places with ample time in hand.
But the first thing you should do is book a car in advance.
If you do not get cab services from your hotel, you will get many local taxis on hire from MG Marg.
The city centre has taxi stands and drivers willing to offer full-day services for tourism.
Ensure you are aligned with your driver, and he picks you up early so you can witness the best places to see in Gangtok conveniently.
We started a little late but managed our time as we missed two things to do in Gangtok. Here is the complete list:
1. Do Drul Chorten
It is said to have one of the finest bird’s eye views of the Kanchenjunga. It is a stupa that was established by Guru Trulshik Rinpoche. He was the head of Nyingma, the oldest Tibetan Buddhism school.
The stupa is famous for having 108 Mani Lhakor (prayer wheels). It also has two statues of Guru Trulshik Rinpoche. This place houses a monastery and is an educational institution for monks.
Entry fee: free
2. Tibetology Museum
Located 500 meters from the Do Drul Chorten lies this museum that astounded us with several unknown facts about Buddhism. This place does not allow photography and fines you if caught. Continuous CCTV coverage and a guard ensure the policy is followed.
Known as the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and named after the Chogyal of Sikkim, this place is for lovers of history and spirituality. If you are completely unaware of the dark side of Buddhism, this is the place where you can enlighten yourself.
There is a cafeteria located right outside the premises. We stopped here to munch on some sandwiches to finish our breaky. The view from this cafeteria might intrigue you as the place looks like a forest right beside.
Entry fee: INR 20 per person
3. Ropeway
It was quite a bummer that we could not avail of the Gangtok ropeway services due to an ongoing political meeting. It is one of the most beautiful experiences here and a must-try thing to do in Gangtok.
The ropeway takes around 24 passengers per vehicle and flies you across 2 kms (to and fro) while you witness the beautiful city. The entire journey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
Entry fee: INR 110 per person
4. Handicraft centre Gangtok
After spending over 20,000 INR while shopping in Jaipur, one thing we avoid now is shopping places. As our driver moved us towards the handicraft emporium, we refused and wanted to go to the next place.
If you want to explore Tibetan handicrafts, find local craftsmen creating fantastic art pieces for you to take back, this is the place to be. While reviews suggest that you would get similar products at MG Marg, you will experience the making first-hand.
Entry fee: free
5. Flower Exhibition Centre
I did not know that there is a mini paradise within the paradise (Sikkim) that welcomes you to exotic flora. This is a must-visit if being amidst nature is what you love or simply want to acquaint yourself with exotic flowers.
When I came here, I discovered that lilies and orchids could have many colours. I was also jumping around and making Instagram reels while Priyo worked on his photography skills.
There were many more flowers I did not know about before visiting, like Surfinia and Primula obconica. But I posed with the rose tree and got some of my favourite pictures clicked here.
If you think we’re done with the top 5 places to visit in Gangtok, the best ones are right below!
Entry fee: INR 110 per person
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6. Enchey Monastery
While the Enchey Monastery distance from Gangtok central city is about 8 minutes, the view was completely different. That’s the beauty of mountains; there is something new at every turn!
Before entering Enchey Monastery, we took a moment to look down and see the tiny cottages amidst fog-clogged skies. If you’re coming to Gangtok for honeymoon, this is the place to stop by and click some snaps for your Insta story.
As we entered Enchey, I thought of making a video of the prayer wheels I saw. It was just in time when I met a monk and asked him to explain what it was.
Enchey Monastery introduced us to the largest prayer wheel we ever saw. It was hard to turn it, but it’s tougher when you know what it’s meant for – washing away your sins.
As we entered Enchey, we were mesmerized by the beauty inside. The colourful monastery is fantastically built and filled with red, green, blue, and yellow hues. The architecture outside and the interior inside is mesmerizing.
The monastery dates back to 1909 and is a part of the Nyingma order of Vajrayana Buddhism. It received blessings from Lama Drupthob Karpo, whose expertise was in tantric Buddhism.
Enchey stands for Solitary and is believed to have protecting deities present inside the holy place. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava restrained the spirits of Yabdean, Khangchendzonga, and Mahakala in this place.
Entry fee: free
7. Ganesh Tok Gangtok
A bright yellow mandir that was bustling with visitors and shops is where you would come next on your Gangtok day tour. As you climb the stairs, you will find a small shop selling souvenirs and religious items. I bought a pair of steel chopsticks from here. If you plan to go to MG Marg, you can skip buying souvenirs here as you will get many more options there.
You will also have climbed to 6,500 metres above sea level. The view from the vantage point is fantastic if the skies are clear and you can see the Kanchenjunga. Photography of the idol is not allowed, but the backdrop of the viewpoint will give you some of the best shots.
We stopped to have parathas, coffee, and veg momos at the food shop beside the temple. We also had local dogs greet us after our meal.
Entry fee: free
8. Hanuman Tok Gangtok
The gleaming eyes of Hanuman ji oozing out from an idol coloured in matt red looked at me. It was after we kept our shoes and climbed up the stairs and had religious pictures greet us on the way. It is yet another place where you will have fantastic views and serenity.
There is a Hanuman idol right outside the temple, and he is seen carrying the Gandhamadhana Parvatham. There are staircases for walking up to this temple – one narrow at the side that lets you quickly go down and the regular one.
Entry fee: free
9. Gonjang Monastery
Built-in 1981, this is yet another colourful monastery in Sikkim. It was established by H.E. Tingkye Gonjang Rimpoche, considered the incarnation of Yolmo Terton Ngakchang Shakya Zangpo.
While we could not enter this monastery as the doors were closed, we caught glimpses of the massive Buddha statue from outside. When you visit Gonjang Monastery Gangtok, you will find a beautiful viewpoint. The wind gushing against the tall prayer flags make noises and amplify the spiritual quotient.
The monastery follows the Jangter tradition of the Nyingmapa school, another Tibetan Buddhist sect. Here, the monks learn English and Tibetan and go through comparative studies of different philosophies of life.
Entry fee: free
10. Bakthang waterfalls
You end your day trip in Gangtok by witnessing Bakthang waterfalls. Bak means forest and thang means meadow. It is fed by the Ratey Chu River, which originates from 12,500 ft above sea level.
It is the perfect place to take pictures before returning to the city centre. There is a small bridge that lets you get water droplets all over, but you cannot go inside to drench yourself.
Entry fee: free
Bonus tip!
After going through all the places to visit in Gangtok in one day, end your dinner at MG Marg.
We stopped at Taste of Tibet Gangtok and had Sha phaley and momos. Plenty of budget restaurants in Gangtok, like Thakali and The Dragon Wok also exist. The entire road of MG Marg is filled with places to eat, so you’re good to go!
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