
Gangtok Situated at an altitude of 1,780 m, Gangtok in the Sikkimese and Bhutia languages literally means a hillock cut out to make flat land. A piece of such flat land was used to build the Gangtok Monastery as early as 1716. The uncut rock pedestal near the present-day Tsuklakhang Royal Monastery near the Chogyal Palace shows the level of the original hillock and the depth of cutting involved in making the land flat.Until 1894, Sikkim’s capital was Tumlong. So when the capital shifted to Gangtok, the latter must have been a sort of village surrounded by hamlets such as Dambikyong, Lingding, Samatar, Suchagang, Burtuk, Syari and Tadong. Urban development in Gangtok probably started in the beginning of the last century, which makes it the youngest hill station in India.Presently it is as good as any other hill station. Straddling a ridge, much of the development has taken place on the western and southern slopes of the ridge. Also on the ridge are the palace, the Tsuklakhang Royal Monastery, Mintokgang, the official residence of Sikkim’s Chief Minister, Tashiling, the Secretariat, the Sikkim Legislative Assembly building, White Memorial Hall and the Ridge Road.The Ridge Road leading to the palace was in the old days the main commercial hub of Sikkim.
Old photographs of Gangtok show that shops lined both sides of the road, especially near the White Memorial Hall. Where the Mahatma Gandhi Marg and Lal Bazaar, including the Sikkim Guards Ground, stand today, was then a dry but cultivated area.Some other places to see in Gangtok are the Enchey Monastery, Institute of Tibetology that houses rare manuscripts, statues and thanka paintings, the beautiful Do-Drul Chorten (stupa) and the Government Institute of Cottage Industries where you can pick up souvenirs.The National Highway from Siliguri-Bagdogra, which connects Gangtok with the outside world, runs along the rivers Tista and Rongni in an easy gradient up to Ranipool, a small town 10 km from Gangtok. From Ranipool, the steep road climbs to a height of 1,219 m in just 10 km. The steep climb towards the capital, however, does not give a picturesque view of Gangtok. The British, who had built the road long back, had intended to use it as a trade link with Tibet. For a panoramic view of Gangtok, one must travel through Ranka, a village 12 km from Gangtok.Until the early 1960’s, Gangtok was a staging point for mule caravans traveling on the ancient trade route to Lhasa. The road climbed over Nathula Pass before entering Tibet.



FACTFILE
Sikkim’s capital shifted to Gangtok from Tumlong in 1894. Situated at an altitude of 1,780 m, Gangtok in the Sikkimese and Bhutia languages means a hillock cut out to make a flat piece of land.
The old caravan route to Tibet began at Gangtok and climbed over the Nathula Pass.
The heart of the state capital is its bazaars - Old, New and Lal Bazaars.
Gangtok’s landmarks include the Chogyal Palace, Tsuklakhang Royal Monastery, Mintokgang (Chief Minister’s residence), Tashiling (secretariat), Sikkim Legislative Assembly and White Memorial Hall.
Other places of interest are the Enchey Monastery, Institute of Tibetology, Do-Drul Chorten and Government Institute of Cottage Industries.
Gangtok is about three and a half hours’ drive from Siliguri, a transport hub 36 km from the Indo-Nepal border.