IN · Sikkim · 27.33°N 88.62°E

gangtok

Monasteries, momo stops and mountain views above Sikkim's steep green valleys.

Best time
October–November brings the clearest views, and March–April is mild, with rhododendrons flowering higher up. June–September rain often brings landslides that close the road up from Bagdogra, and winter is cold, with snow on the high passes.
How long
3 days
Getting there
No direct flights from KL. Fly with one stop, usually via Kolkata, to Bagdogra (about 7–9 hours all in), then it's about 4–5 hours by road. India is 2.5 hours behind KL.
Save postcard
IN · Sikkimgangtok27.33°N 88.62°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Monasteries, momo stops and mountain views above Sikkim's steep green valleys.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingGangtokIN, Sikkim
KLgangtok
≈ 3,027 km from KL, as the crow flies
Taken on 31st december 2010

Photo: soumyajit pramanick · CC BY-SA 2.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, climbs a steep hillside, with a car-free main street at its centre and monasteries on the ridges around. It's a comfortable first taste of Sikkim, with Kanchenjunga on clear mornings and hot momos when the mist comes in.

Makan

  1. MomosSteamed dumplings with a punchy chilli sauce, from street carts and cafés.Map ↗
  2. ThukpaNoodle soup with vegetables, a warming lunch in the cool hills.Map ↗
  3. ChurpiRock-hard dried yak or cow cheese, chewed slowly like a sweet.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. MG MargThe pedestrian main street, with benches, shops and tea rooms, busiest in the evening.Map ↗
  2. Rumtek MonasteryOne of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim, about an hour's drive across the valley.Map ↗
  3. Namgyal Institute of TibetologyA small museum of thangka paintings, statues and old manuscripts in a traditional Sikkimese building.Map ↗
  4. Tashi View PointA lookout north of town for Kanchenjunga on clear mornings.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Foreigners need a Restricted Area Permit for Sikkim. It's now applied for online after you arrive in India and before you cross into the state, and agents in Siliguri and Darjeeling can help.
  • Tsomgo Lake needs an extra day permit through a registered agent, and Nathu La is closed to foreigners, so a package that promises it is one to skip.
  • Halal is hard to find in Gangtok; vegetable momos and Indian vegetarian food are the easy options.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.