Gangtok: the Bounteous Gift of Nature
(i)
How to get there: Nearest Railway Station
-New Jalpaiguri (117 km)
Nearest Airport
-Bagdogra
(124 km)
(ii)
What to see: Lingdum Monastery (murals and
statues); Himalayan Zoological Park (home to Red Panda, Snow Leopard and
Barking Deer); Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (rare Lepcha, Tibetan and
Sanskrit Manuscripts); Nam Nang view point, stroll on M.G. Road; bird watching
in the morning.
(iii)
Where to stay: Ideal to arrange a stay with a
local person to enjoy the trip fully.
(iv)
Cuisine: Thukpa with aloo-chura is fantastic;
Niguru with churpi and Gundruk with sinki are also worth trying. Don’t forget
to treat yourself with a cup of Temi tea.
(v)
Flora: Abundance of rhododendron (the state
tree), dendrobium the (the state flower), orchids, pines and eucalyptus.
(vi)
Scenic view: On a sunny day, one can watch
Kanchenjunga with all its glory.
(vii)
Time of the year to visit: March- May or
September – November
(viii)
Importance: one of the three ecological hotspots
in the country.
