~:East Sikkim Sightseeing:~
21 (Twenty One) popular place of interest in East Sikkim
M.G. Marg
This is considered the main thoroughfare of Gangtok Town . Slightly less then a kilometer in length and lined with shops hotels restaurants bars bakeries studios cyber café, and curi shops, this strech of road constitutes the commercial hub of Gangtok. After 5pm in the evening no vehicles are allowed in this road. It transforms from a busy road to a hustling and bustling place where tourists and locals come together and mingle. Soft music is played which further alleviates the mood of the people.
Lal Bazaar Was buit in 1956 and named after the late J. S. Lal. Dewan of the Chogyal. The Bazaar is a place where lights, sounds and business mingle together. Sundays are traditionally the hut or market days and the goods and wares on sale are as varied and colourful as the sellers themselves. Close by is the popular super market where one can buy exclusive gift items.
Saramsa Garden
About 14 Km from Gangtok besides Ranikhola is this garden, the home of Sikkim’s many exotic orchids and other rare tropical and temperate plants. Formed and maintained by the Department of Forest, it is an excellent recreational and beautiful picnic spot
 Nathula Situated at an altitude of 14420 ft this is the border area between India and China. This border was closed due to differences between the two countries. Recently this border has opened as a friendly gesture of the two countries. Presently it has opened only for trade. One has to acquire a special permit to visit this place which DNE can arrange for. Standing on the border one can get a clear view of the border roads of China and the beautiful snow clad mountains nearby.
Baba Harbajan Singh Memorial
 This temple is dedicated to Baba Harbhajan Singh who was a soldier in the Indian Army. he died as a brave soldier who till his end protected his motherland. The till date the soldiers and the locals believe him to be alive and even do day to day duties as he used to when he was alive. His mysterious living has captured the imaginations of many and he is considered very holy. Even now his belongings are kept intact and even washed and ironed. A must visit for tourists to this region.
 Tsomgo Lake
A natural lake of Sikkim, which is regarded extremely sacred. It is approximately 36 km
 From Gangtok and is at an altitude of 12,400 ft. during the winter season this lake remains top frozen and people can even stand on the layer of ice. But due to it being a sacred lake no one steps on it.
Menmecho Lake This is another beautiful lake located near the Tsomgo Lake. It is rich in fish, especially trout, salmon and carp. The Enchey Monastery
About 3 km from the centre of town, a small hermitage was built by lama Druptob Karpo (renowned for his power of flying). It is said the monastery was built on the spot he landed after he flew here from Maenam Hill in south Sikkim whixh was more than 200 years ago. The monastery was built in the form of Chinese Pagoda. Annually a great Puja is held here with religious masked dances on the 18th and 19th days of the 11 month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar which corresponds to the month of December.
Orchid Sanctuary
It is near Research Institute of Tibetology, where you can see many of the 454 species of orchid found in Sikkim. The best time to visit is April-May, July-August and October-November. Deer Park
Embraced by gardens flowers lies a beautiful Deer Park – an ideal place to be solitude, beside the Secretariat. Built to commemorate the Buddha’s reincarnation as a musk deer, it has a large fielded statue of Buddha under a beautiful canopy in preaching posture, a replica of the statue at Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. It is a popular viewpoint on the edge of the ridge.
Phodong Monastery
It is about 38 km From Gangtok, which belongs to the Kargupa sect, built by the late Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal in the first quarter of the 18th Century. The original monastery has been rebuilt. The main annual puja is performed here on the 28th and 29th days of the 10th month of the Lunar calendar with religious dances being the main attraction. Beautiful mural paintings and frescoes adorn the walls of this monastery. The original monastery was rebuilt and is today one of the most beautiful monasteries in Sikkim. |
