If you can get any closest to heaven while still being alive, you have to visit these two places. The sight of seeing the first rays of the sunlight lighting up the peaks of Kanchenjunga and Mt.Everest is ‘nirvana’
To go to Gangtok / Darjeeling, you have to reach Siluguri . The airport is at Baghdora and the railway station is at New Jalpaiguri(NJP) both nearly 10km from Siliguri. A hired or a shared taxi takes you to either of these hill station.
Gangtok
Gangtok is the captial of Sikkim, one of the youngest state of Indian Union. The very joining of Sikkim to the Indian Union is rife with controveries. Notwithstanding the political background of the region, one thing that strikes the most is the cleanliness of the capital city. The mountain state of India, has extremely clean cities with orderly traffic and highly efficient police force.
Gelling with the natural beauty, the very construction of Gangtok like a colourful blanket on the valley is a feast for one’s eyes. The tourist season begins in mid-March when snow starts clearing up. The popular mode of transport is the Maruti Omni or Mahindra jeep.
Not to miss in Gangtok are Hanuman Tok, Enchen Monastry, Rumtek Monastry, Botanical Garden and several viewpoints like Tashi Viewpoint etc. The ‘height’ of your visit would be Tsango/Changu lake which is 11,200 ft. above sea level. You need to dedicate a whole day to this place to enjoy the beauty of the frozen lake and indulge yourself in playing in the snow. This is very close to Nathula Pass, the Indo-china border.
Remember: Night / late evening travel is never done in this place and it is best to keep a day for reaching or getting out of this place.
This place is the seat of Buddism in India, it was primarily a buddisht country before acceding to the Indian Union. The influence of the Tibetans is not a coincidence because much of the buddism roots is due to the Tibetan interests. The ’sons of the soil’ Bhutia-Lepchas are a minority with the Nepali Hindus making more than half the population of the state.
Much against its turbulent accession to India, Sikkim is a lot a calm place.
Some References
http://www.hill-stations-india.com/gangtok/
