East Sikkim is the most popular place in Sikkim covers an area of 954 square km with a dense population of around 1,78,000 people. When it comes to tourism east Sikkim is the most popular district among tourists due to easy transportation facilities and a large variety of tourism options. Gangtok is the headquarters of East Sikkim and is popular for its rich culture, diverse communities, and a wide variety of Himalayan activities such as Tinjure trek, Ropeway, Paragliding, Yak ride, and many more. East Sikkim is the largest populated district of Sikkim where agriculture and tourism are the most important parts of the district where people are highly conscious regarding the conservation of the environment and practices of Sustainable Tourism.
Places to visit in East Sikkim
Gangtok
Gangtok is the headquarters of East Sikkim and also the most populated city of the entire Sikkim. The city located across 19.2 square km includes a wide variety of communities and has a population of more than 136,000 people. The city of Gangtok is famous for its number of tourist attractions and the scenic beauty of full of natural landscapes.
Tsomgo Lake
Tsomgo Lake also widely known as Changu Lake is a glacial lake and is one of the most loved tourist destinations of East Sikkim. Located approximately 20km from the town of Gangtok the lake is at an elevation of 12,313 ft above sea level. The Tsomgo Lake is famous for its surfaces that emit different colors based on changing seasons. Yak ride is one of the common activities near this lake.
Nathula Pass
Nathula Pass situated at a height of 14450 ft is one of the highest passes of the world that are applicable for vehicles. Situated at the border of China, Nathula Pass connects Sikkim to an autonomous part of China. The pass is also important for trade practices between India and China.
Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple
Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple is a temple that was built in the name of Maha Vir Chakra winner Harbhajan Singh for his bravery against China. Also known as the “Hero of Nathula” the Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple is full of stories and rich history.
Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden
Situated in the foothills of the Himalayan region the garden is famous among the tourist for its rich greenery and a wide variety of plant collections. Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden has one of the largest oak collections in the entire state of Sikkim.
Ganesh Tok
Ganesh Tok is a temple of Lord Ganesh that is located 7km away from Gangtok. The temple was built by a former political officer of Sikkim Mr. Appa B Pant. The temple is famous for worshiping and offers the best view of Gangtok City.
Sikkim Himalayan Zoological Park
Established in the year 1991, Himalayan Zoological Park is one of the famous tourist attraction points that inhabits a wide variety of flora and fauna. The park is popular for breeding of endangered species such as Red Panda and Snow Leopard.
Pakyong
Pakyong is one of the newly formed districts of East Sikkim located on the foothills of the Himalayan region at an altitude of 3770ft. The district got its name from two Lepcha words 'pa' and 'yong' which translates to "bamboo of the bow". Situated at a distance of 30 km from the city of Gangtok, the place offers wonderful weather and scenic views of the mountains of the Himalayan region. Pakyong has the only airport in Sikkim named Greenfield Airport of Sikkim. The airport is also a main reason for the rapid growth of tourism in this district. Agriculture is one of the main sources of livelihood in the hilly areas of Pakyong where ginger and round chilies (Dalle Khorsani) are produced on a large scale.
Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek Monastery is a holy place used to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha. Situated 23 km away from Gangtok the monastery is a place full of greenery and has a peaceful environment which is ideal for spiritual lovers.
Things do to in East Sikkim
- Enjoy the bird eye view of Gangtok with Ropeway
- Tinjure trek in Gangtok
- Paragliding
- Yak ride near Tsomgo Lake
- Helicopter Ride
How to reach East Sikkim
You can reach East Sikkim by road by taking a bus or cab from Siliguri which is 130 km away from the Gangtok. You can reach east Sikkim by taking a flight to Bagdogra and then taking a cab from local tour operators.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit east Sikkim is between March and May which offers natural floral beauty. Visiting east Sikkim between October and December allows one to witness the beauty of the snow-covered mountains of the Himalayan region.
