Weekend Trip to Gangtok~The Heart of Sikkim 

Gangtok easily serves as one of the most beautiful and popular weekend getaways from siliguri without any doubt. December is a crazy month for Sikkim surely, as tourists from all over the globe makes a visit there, making it quite crowded (specially Gangtok). Gangtok is about a 4 hours journey from Siliguri. We (my mom & me), started our journey around 3pm in the afternoon. We opted for the shared taxi option, which is easily available from Darjeeling/Gangtok Taxi stand @Hill cart road. "Shared Taxi" is a very economical and safe option for going to Gangtok. The roads to Sikkim is very good and hence comfortable. As soon as you cross the town boundaries, you will be greeted with fresh air, lush greenery, and the mountains-which will only appear to get closer by every passing turn. The clear crystal water of Teesta river flowing along with the winding roads, being a constant company to our journey.

Share Taxi Fare :- Rs 250/- per person(may hike to 3oo/- during peak season. *A little bargaining may help*

Tip :- Try getting the front window seat. They always provide the best views.

It was roughly a 4 hours journey along with a quick tea-break in between. We reached Gangtok around 7 in the evening and headed straight to our hotel. After freshening up we left for the famous M.G. Marg, which was just a 5 mins walk from our hotel.

Hotel Name :- Central Ninamma Boutique Resort

Hotel Fare :- Rs 3,405/- (with breakfast)

Note :- It is advised to book your hotel beforehand (during the peak season). We were lucky enough to get a good hotel at a decent rate.

M.G.Marg can rightly be said as the most happening street in Gangtok. This beautiful squared boulevard, lighted up with sparkling lights, is filled up with great restaurants, pubs, bakeries, cafes, and shops. You can see everyone hanging out with a warm smile on their face and twinkle in their eyes. Hundreds of tourists and locals strolling around the road, occasionally sipping on a steamy cup coffee, or just idly sitting on one of the many side benches in the marg. MG Marg is undoubtedly one of the best places to buy little souvenirs and handicrafts items for your loved ones. This place has a whole "feel good" vibe which will hardly fail to lift your spirits up. After roaming around, we decided on "Baker's Cafe" to fill up ourselves with a light dinner. The place was swarming up with people (more since, it was the Christmas day). Well, to be honest the food was not as great as expected, but it certainly did not fail to give this whole happy,cheerful,festive christmas-y vibe - which all together made the experience quite good. After dinner, both my mom and me called it a night and retired to our cosy beds in the hotel.

Market Entry Time :- 8am - 8pm. Closed On:- Tuesday

Tip:- if you are planning for apparel shopping (winter garments) then it's better to purchase them from the adjacent market to M.G.Marg which provides the same quality but at a relatively cheaper price.

Next day, we woke to to a beautiful clear blue sky accompanied with cotton clouds and the snow capped mountains smiling brightly at us. Now, this was a view I can never get tired waking up to. I honestly wouldn't even give a second thought for sacrificing my precious sleep at the early morning hours, if this is what I am greeted with everyday. (now, believe me this is hell a lot of commitment from my side)!

"A flower a day, can brighten up your day"(at least it always works for me!) Imagine what a medium sized greenhouse filled with different varieties flowers could do! Certainly, no less than magic i guess! My mom has great interest in gardening and hence, visiting the "Flower Exhibition Centre" was a must. The exhibition centre is very close to M.G.Marg (in fact walking distance), and hence it was our first stop. This little place is a heaven for flower lovers - with a riot of colors and fragrances. One will find different varieties of colorful flowers all around you - specially a great variety of orchids. The best time to witness this place in its full glory is during the annual flower exhibition (held during April-May).

Entry Time :- 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Entry Fee :- Rs10/-

After the Flower Exhibition Centre, we headed towards the Enchey Monastery. The distance between the above is a short one. I personally chose this monastery over the others because of its religious significance and interesting history. "Enchey Monastery" literary means "Solitary Monastery". Built during 1909, with an amazing view of Kanchenjunga ranges this, place will never fail to find your inner self, peace and solitary. One's search for peace, love and faith can certainly end here. It can easily be declared as one's "Zen Place".

Entry Time :- 7:00 am - 4:00 pm Entry Free :- None

Folk Lore story:- According to the local legends, Guru Padmasambhava (8th century Buddhist master), has restrained the spirits of Khangchendzonga, Yabdean, and Mahakala here.

Banjhakri Falls , undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions of Gangtok. Literary coming from two words,"Ban" meaning Forest and "Jhakri" meaning shamans (in Nepali). The park intends in celebrating the traditional shamanic belief of the Sikkimese people. Banjakhri Falls is a magnificent natural waterfall, falling from a height of 30 metres from a spring, and its beauty can not simply be put into words. The roar of the waterfall, the clear crystal water and the bright sunlight dancing upon every drop of water as it splashes over the rocks, and the magic that all these together creates , can not be merely justified in a sentence. One has to witness it in order to bask in its charm and beauty. This is certainly one of the "not-to-miss" attractions of Gangtok.

Entry Time :- 8am - 6pm Entry Fees :- Rs 50/-

Fun Factor :- Do try out clicking photos in the traditional Sikkimese dress, which is easily rented out in the park at very nominal rate. (I got mine at Rs 100/- !)

Next day trip was an early start. Today we were visiting the famous Baba Mandir and the incredible beautiful Tsomgo Lake! We had already booked our car (with the same tour operator) and the cab showed up at out hotel around 7:30 am. It is always recommended to give an early start while visiting Tsomgo Lake/Baba Mandir/Nathula Pass. After all, it is roughly a journey of about 2-3 hours(one side) depending on the weather and traffic and hence an early start certainly works as an advantage and gives you more time to explore. The morning was quite warm with a tinge of chilliness in the air. The world just seemed perfect. :) ????❤

Vehicle Fare :- Rs 4oo0/- (*exclusive vehicle*)

NOTE :- Both Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir (even Nathula) need Protected Area Permit (PAP). The permits are taken care by the tour operators themselves and needs to be processed a day before the journey.

Permit Cost :- Rs 200/- + Rs 20/- per person (may vary a little). The cost is mostly included in the vehicle fare.

Having steamy momos for breakfast on the way, whirling around the mountains, passing by hundreds of Rhododendron trees, smelling the nature and cold winds hitting your face - it was undoubtedly one of the most incredible 3 hours journey I had in my life.

When you finally reach Baba Mandir and step down from your car, you are firstly held awestruck by its beautiful surrounding and then firstly again you are hit by the strong cold wind gushing towards you! Yes, both together and the same freaking time! And, I think this only just adds to the charm of this place. Baba Mandir is situated at an elevation of 13,123ft! And hence, you can very distinctly feel the drop in the temperature. Baba Mandir is actually a shrine built in the memory of an 22 years old Punjab regiment sentry named, Harbhajan Singh, who had a tragic death while on duty. Afterwhich, Baba started appearing in dreams of his fellow regiments and asked them to built a shrine for him. The mandir is believed to have wish granting power and it is also believed the his spirit still protects the Indo-China border and the fellow soldiers. Baba Mandir is literary located in the lap of mountains. With high rising barren arid mountains surrounded on all sides and the clear sky is a literal heaven for all peace and nature lovers. The Mandir also has a small souvenir shop and a canteen up here.

Entry Time :- 8am - 2:30pm Entry Fees :- None

Popular Stories :- There are popular stories that Baba still makes his round along the border and even many soldiers have claimed to see a turbaned soldier doing rounds during the night.

Note :- 1. This is the New Baba Mandir, built on 11th Oct,1982. (The old mandir is further up the Nathang Valley with a difficult terrain, and hence the new mandir was built for the devotees.)

2. Nathula Pass lies further ahead to Baba Mandir and it about a 20 mins drive from here.

Tsomgo Lake is a 30 minutes ride down from Baba Mandir. It lies at an elevation of 12,313 ft height and is 49 ft deep. Tsomgo is a glacial lake and the name merges from two words, "Tso" meaning Lake and "Mgo" meaning head, literary meaning into "Source of Lake".

The first look at Tsomgo Lake (popularly known as Changu Lake) will literally take your breath away. If there is heaven on earth, then surely this has to be a part of that heaven! Surrounded by mysterious steep mountains, this humongous oval shaped lake lies in between with its beautiful crystal clear water. The innumerable pretty Buddhist flags fluttering in the wind, the mountains, the azure blue lake along with an indefinite blue sky, altogether can easily remind you of place that you may have only witnessed in your dreams. The lake is believed to change it color along with the season and remains completely frozen during winter (although a lot depends on the weather. For example, we didn't get snow around this time! *sad*very sad*). The snow garauntedly changes the whole picturesque of the place and gives the tourist a brand new changu lake with frozen water and snow covered mountains. However, neither time you can escape its charm!

Entry Fees :- None

Folklore Story :- Tsomgo Lake is believed to contain spiritual healing powers . During Guru Purnima, the Jhakris of Sikkim gather around the lake to benefit from the spiritual power of the lake.

Fun Factor :- Do try out the yak ride available at Changu Lake, or you may even just click a photo with a price of Rs 50/- per picture. There is also a ropeway cable here!

Note :- In case you get a little hungry or cold, there are a number of little local shops (located alongside the road of Tsomgo Lake) selling both warm food and warm clothes! Warm smile is always served complimentary!