Gangtok
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim Sikkim is a unique mountain town in the northeast of India and undoubtedly one of the most visited. Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is located 110 km from Siliguri and is well connected to other important places in the region. Perched on a hilltop at an altitude of 1700m, Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is renowned for its scenic beauty and breathtaking views of Kangchenjunga, the highest mountain in the world. The capital of Sikkim, the incredible city of Gangtok is a hilly city and one of the most famous places in northeast India.
Gangtok has good road links to all major cities around such as Kolkata, Delhi and other places in Sikkim. The amazing city of Gangtok has a lot to offer tourists.
While Sikkim is full of great places to visit, Sikkim's most treasured asset is the amazing city of Gangtok. Gangtok, located right in the middle of the Eastern Himalayas, is one of the most scenic places to visit in all of India. Gangtok is a lively and welcoming hill station and the capital of the Himalayan state of Sikkim. Among the highest peaks of the Himalayas and with a mild temperate climate all year round, Gangtok is at the centre of the Indian state of Sikkim's tourism industry.
Gangtok, Sikkim Sikkim is one such place that sits beautifully in the lap of the Himalayas and offers surreal scenery that you can't resist. Incredibly charming, pleasantly rugged and shrouded in clouds, Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is one of India's most famous hill stations.
Gangtok is not part of India's mobile city cluster and these tourist attractions in Gangtok make it one of the most desirable cities in East India. Get a bird's eye view of Gangtok, one of the most popular places in Gangtok city and a top tourist attraction in Gangtok.
Today, Gangtok is the administrative and commercial centre of Sikkim, as well as a city with a very cosmopolitan atmosphere, which has its own multiplexes, shopping malls, internet cafes, discos, pubs and cafes. Gangtok was the seat of government for the kingdom of Sikkim until the abolition of the monarchy (1975) and the incorporation of the state of Sikkim into India (1976).
After India gained independence from British India in 1947, the Indian state of Sikkim decided to maintain an independent monarchy with Gangtok as its capital. In 1975, after years of political unrest and conflict, including riots, the monarchy was abolished, and Sikkim became the 22nd state in India with Gangtok as its capital after a referendum. Then, in the mid-19th century, the extraordinary city of Gangtok became the capital of Sikkim after the British were conquered by the hostage crisis. In 1894, Sikkim monarch Tutunangje moved the capital from Tumrum to Gangtok, where he built a new palace and other government buildings.
Gangtok is also the seat of the High Court of Sikkim, which is the smallest High Court in India in terms of area and population jurisdiction. As the headquarters of the eastern district of Sikkim, Gangtok also houses the offices of the district collector, a government-appointed administrator.
Gangtok does not have its own police station like other cities in India. Gangtok is managed by the Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) in conjunction with various departments of the Sikkim State Government, most notably the Department of Urban Development and Housing (UDHD) and the Department of Public Health (PHED).
Gangtok is one of the cleanest cities in India, well organized and well maintained. Gangtok, where there are no big shops, is a pleasant respite from typical city life. The town is a charming place to spend a few nights, the winding side streets hide some unexpected gems, and the main street (MG Marg) is pedestrianized and a pleasant place to stroll. The modern capital of Sikkim is attractive not only for specific places but also as a place to relax after trekking or meet other travellers to organize group tours and obtain permits.
Regular jeeps, vans and buses connect the cities of Gangtok and are the only route to the city from the rest of India. From there, you have the option to get to Gangtok by public bus, about 5-6 hours on the way. The nearest railway station to Gangtok is New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri, from where you can directly connect to New Delhi, Kolkata and other major cities in India.
The average speed between Gangtok and other cities is about 30 km/h. The valleys and villages of this place are located about 8 kilometres from Gangtok, along the North Sikkim Highway near Pangtang. Then there is Lachung, a mountainous city about 125 kilometres from the state capital Gangtok.
The name Gangtok comes from the Tibetan word for hill, and Gangtok has a population of about 100,000 (2012), which is a mixture of native Sikkim and people of Nepalese and Tibetan origin. The population of Gangtok includes Nepalese, Tibetans, Lepchas and Indians.
According to the 2011 census, Gangtok's official population is less than 100,000. The Indian state of Sikkim is known for having a very low crime rate, and while there are no official urban crime statistics, it can be said indirectly that Gangtok has one of the lowest crime rates in India. Although Sikkim is the least populous state in India and the second largest after Goa, it is still an excellent tourist destination due to its privileged location and incredible topography such as Gangtok destination.