|
FEATURED
ADVENTURES |
|
|
|
|
|
PHYSICAL
FEATURES |
|
|
|
|
|
PEOPLE
& CULTURAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Places of Interest- East
Sikkim |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enchey Monastery
An important seat of the Nyingma order, the Enchey
Monastery meaning the Solitary temple, was originally
built with the solace that no other construction
would be allowed near it is built on the site
blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, a tantric master
known for his flying powers. This 200-year-old
Monastery has in its premises images of god, goddesses
and other religious objects. Every year around
January 'Chaam' or religious masked dance is performed
with great fanfare for two days. it is situated
adjoining the Sinolchu Tourist Lodge, 3 kms from
Gangtok Town. |
|
|
|
|
|
Permanent
Flower Show
White Hall, Close by the White Memorial Hall and
just below the Palace Ridge park is the more recent
Flower Show Hall. In recent years this show has
become quite popular and famous as there are flower
exhibitions throughout the year in accordance
with the seasons and the flowers in bloom. |
|
|
|
|
|
Do-Drul
Chorten ( Stupa)
The Do-Drul Chorten or Stupa was built by the
Venerable Trulshi Rimpoche, head of the Nyingma
order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1945. Inside this
stupa, there are complete mandala sets of Dorjee
Phurba (Bajra Kilaya), a set of Kan-gyur relics
( Holy Books), complete 'Zung'( mantras) and other
religious objects. Around this Chorten, which
is one of the most important stupas in Sikkim,
are 10 Mani-Lhakor( prayer wheels). These prayer
wheels are turned by the devout Buddhist while
chanting "Hail to the jewel in the Lotus",
to invoke the Buddhisattva. The Chorten is surrounded
by Chorten Lakhang, where there are two huge statues
of Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava). |
|
|
|
|
|
Water
Garden
Water Garden at Martam Khola is on the 31-A National
Highway some 16 kms. south of Gangtok. It is an
ideal spot for picnic with a small swimming pool
for children. |
|
|
Top |
|
|
Tsomgo
Lake
Tsomgo lake is only 40 kms. from Gangtok town
and is situated at an altitude of 12,210 ft. The
drive from Gangtok takes about 2½ hours
by bus. The lake is bout 1 km. long and oval in
shape, 50ft. deep and is regarded extremely Holy.
It is also a home of Brahmini ducks besides stopover
for various migratory ducks.
Between May and August, it is possible to see
variety of flowers in bloom, including the rhododendrons,
various species of primulas, blue and yellow poppies,
iris and many other species of floras. It is also
an ideal habitat of the Red Panda and various
species of birds. Open for both the Foreign and
Indian nationals. Foreign visitors have to be
in a group of two or more and have to apply for
the visitors permit through a registered Travel
agency. |
|
|
|
|
|
Nathula
56 kms from Gangtok is a 'Nathula' Pass at an
altitude of 14,200 ft. bordering between India
and China in the Tibetan Plateau. It is one of
the highest motorable roads and richly covered
by many varities of alpine flora and fauna. A
tranquil place to visit. Nathula is open only
for Indian nationals on Wednesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays and Sundays. The visitors have to get
the permit to visit the place by applying to the
Tourism Department through a registered Travel
Agency. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ganesh
Tok
It is a very small temple of Ganesh, a God worshipped
by Hindus. It is on a hillock on Gangtok-Nathula
Road. A Sikkim Government nursery is just nearby. |
|
|
Top |
|
|
Sa-Ngor-Chotshog
Centre
It is a Tibetan refugee monastic institution established
in 1961 by his Eminence Luding Khen Rimpoche,
Head of Ngorpa, sub-sect of the Sakya Order, with
the blessing of H.H. Sakya Trizin and H.H. the
Dalai Lama. This is the only monastery of the
Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism in Sikkim. It
is located on a beautiful hill-top just 5 kms
away from Gangtok Sikkim. |
|
|
|
|
|
Saramsa
Garden
About 14 kms from Gangtok is the Saramsa Garden,
the home of Sikkim's most exotic orchids and other
rare tropical and temperate plants. Established
and maintained by the Department of Forest, it
is an excellent recreation and picnic spot. |
|
|
|
|
|
Jawaharlal
Nehru Botanical Garden
Very close by to Rumtek Monastery, and maintained
by the parks and Gardens unit of the Forest Department
of the Government of Sikkim, the Garden is an
enchanting and soothing experience among the lush
green vegetation, rare plants and trees and certain
species of Himalayan flowers and Orchids. |
|
|
|
|
|
Handloom
and Handicrafts Centre
It is now known as the Directorate of Handicrafts
and Handlooms as well as the Government Institute
of Cottage Industries. Started during the time
of the Chogyals of Sikkim, as a venture to protect
and propagate the craft and skills of local and
village artisans, it has become on t of the major
attractions for people visiting Sikkim where traditional
handcrafts, furniture, handlooms carpets and other
products can be viewed and also purchased . A
word of caution to the innocent guest. It is better
to check whether there is a government holiday
or not as the G.I.C.I. is closed on Sundays, all
government declared holidays, second Saturdays
and the odd unforeseen holidays. |
|
|
|
|
|
Rumtek
Dharma Chakra Centre
About 45 minutes drive from Gangtok, 24 kms away,
is the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre, the seat of
the Kagyu order, one of the 4 major Tibetan Buddhist
sects. Since the late 1960s, after the arrival
of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, the Centre
houses some of the world's most unique religious
scriptures and religious rare objects. Traditional
in design, it is almost a replica of the original
Kagyurpa Monastery in Tsurphu, Tibet. |
|
|
|
|
|
Namgyal
Institute of Tibetology
The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, after the
late Chogyal of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal
whose brainchild it was has since become one of
the most prestigious depository of Tibetan literature,
rare manuscripts, paintings, thangkas, statues
and religious objects and other works of art and
history. Today, it is a renowned worldwide centre
for study of Buddhist philosophy and religion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tashi
View Point
Built by the late King of Sikkim Sir. Tashi Namgyal,
it is situated 4 km from Gangtok town from where
one can have a clear view of opposite hills, besides
Mt. Khangchendzonga. This site offers a breathtaking
panorama of the majestic Mt. Khangchendzonga and
surrounding hills. |
|
|
Top |
|
|
|