13 Places to Visit in Gangtok (2026): Tourist Spots, Timings & Entry Fees
Gangtok mixes a walkable town centre with some of Sikkim's biggest day trips. In town: MG Marg, the ropeway, Enchey Monastery and the viewpoints at Tashi, Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok. Out of town: Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and Baba Mandir on one high-altitude day, Rumtek Monastery, and the old Silk Route at Zuluk.
1.MG Marg, Gangtok
Central Gangtok
MG Marg is Gangtok's car-free main street, a litter- and spit-free promenade lined with cafés, shops and benches. Here is what to do there, the rules, and where to eat and shop.
- Timings
- Open all day; most shops about 9am–8pm
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 120 km from NJP and Bagdogra
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time
- Evenings, all year
2.Tsomgo (Changu) Lake
East Sikkim, about 38 km from Gangtok
Tsomgo Lake, also called Changu Lake, is a glacial lake at about 12,300 ft, 38 km from Gangtok. It's the easiest place near Gangtok to see snow, on a permit filed the day before.
- Timings
- Open all week; the district lists about 10am–4pm
- Entry fee
- Permit about ₹200 per person; yak rides and cable car extra
- Distance
- About 40 km from Gangtok, 1.5–2 hours each way
- Time needed
- Half a day, or a full day with Nathu La
- Best time
- January–April for snow and ice, October–November for clear skies
3.Nathu La Pass
East Sikkim, 56 km from Gangtok
Nathu La is the India–China border pass at about 14,140 ft, a day trip from Gangtok with Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir. It's open to Indian nationals only, on a permit filed the day before.
- Timings
- Wednesday to Sunday, roughly 8am to early afternoon; closed to tourists Monday and Tuesday
- Entry fee
- Permit about ₹200 per person (2026 reports); vehicle hire extra
- Distance
- About 56 km from Gangtok, 2.5–3 hours each way
- Time needed
- A full day from Gangtok, with Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir
- Best time
- April–June and October–November
4.Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
East Sikkim, on the Nathu La road
The shrine to 'Baba' Harbhajan Singh, a Punjab Regiment soldier who died near Nathu La in 1968, sits at about 13,100 ft on the Tsomgo–Nathu La road. Here is the story, the permit and how to fit it into a Gangtok day trip.
- Timings
- Roughly 8am–2:30pm (permit day trips return by early afternoon)
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 55–60 km from Gangtok, 2.5–3 hours
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- April–June and October–November
Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir: full guide, how to reach and tips →
5.Rumtek Monastery
About 23 km from Gangtok
Rumtek is Sikkim's largest monastery, the seat of the Karmapa in exile, rebuilt in the 1960s in the style of Tsurphu in Tibet. It's about an hour from Gangtok.
- Timings
- Roughly 7am–7pm; the Golden Stupa room closes around 11:30am–12:30pm
- Entry fee
- About ₹10 per person (reported)
- Distance
- About 22–24 km from Gangtok, about 1 hour
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Best time
- October–May; Losar in February or March for ceremonies
6.Enchey Monastery
Gangtok
Enchey Monastery sits on a ridge above Gangtok, among pines and prayer flags, and is the town's best-known gompa. Timings, the Chaam masked dance, history and how to reach it from MG Marg.
- Timings
- About 6 am–4 pm
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 3 km from Gangtok's main market
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- Year-round; January–February for the Chaam dance
7.Hanuman Tok
Upper Gangtok, off the Nathu La road
Hanuman Tok is an army-run Hanuman temple on a hilltop above Gangtok, with one of the best Kanchenjunga views near the city. Here are the timings, the legend and how to fit it into a Gangtok sightseeing day.
- Timings
- Roughly 5am–7pm (some sources say 5pm)
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 8–11 km from MG Marg, 20–30 minutes
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Best time
- October–March for mountain views
8.Ganesh Tok
Gangtok
Ganesh Tok is a tiny Ganesh temple on a hilltop above Gangtok at about 6,500 ft, with one of the best views over the town and, on clear days, Kanchenjunga. Timings, distance and how to pair it with Hanuman Tok and Tashi View Point.
- Timings
- About 6 am–7 pm
- Entry fee
- Free
- Distance
- About 5–7 km from MG Marg
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Best time
- October–May, early morning
9.Tashi View Point
North Sikkim Highway, Gangtok
Tashi View Point, on the edge of Gangtok, is the town's classic sunrise spot for Kanchenjunga. Timings, the free entry, the drive from MG Marg and when the mountain is most likely to be clear.
- Timings
- About 5 am–6 pm
- Entry fee
- Free; binoculars about ₹10
- Distance
- About 7–8 km from MG Marg, 20–25 minutes by car
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- October–December and March–May, at sunrise
10.Gangtok Ropeway
Deorali to Tashiling, Gangtok
The Gangtok Ropeway is a cable car of about 1 km across the town, from Deorali to Tashiling, with views over Gangtok and the valley. Stations, timings, rough ticket prices and tips.
- Timings
- About 9:30 am–4:30 pm (check locally; weather permitting)
- Entry fee
- Roughly ₹110–130 per adult for a return ride
- Distance
- Deorali station about 2 km from MG Marg
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour including queue
- Best time
- October–May, clear mornings
11.Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park
Burtuk, about 7 km from Gangtok
Banjhakri Falls is a 30-metre waterfall in a landscaped park on the edge of Gangtok, themed on Sikkim's forest shamans. It is an easy, family-friendly stop on a Gangtok city tour.
- Timings
- Roughly 8am–5pm or 6pm
- Entry fee
- About ₹50 for adults (reports range ₹20–100), extra for cameras
- Distance
- About 7–9 km from MG Marg, 20–30 minutes
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Best time
- March–May and October–November; fullest flow July–September
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park: full guide, how to reach and tips →
12.Aritar Lake (Lampokhari)
Aritar, Pakyong district, East Sikkim
Lampokhari, better known as Aritar Lake, is a long, boot-shaped lake in the forested hills of East Sikkim, one of the oldest natural lakes in the state and one you can go boating on. Aritar is a quiet base for the Silk Route.
- Timings
- Daylight; boating in daytime
- Entry fee
- Small entry and boating charges
- Distance
- About 65–67 km from Gangtok; 14 km from Rongli
- Time needed
- Half a day; a night if doing the Silk Route
- Best time
- October–April
Aritar Lake (Lampokhari): full guide, how to reach and tips →
13.Zuluk and the Old Silk Route
Rongli subdivision, East Sikkim
Zuluk is a tiny army-and-homestay hamlet at about 9,400 ft on the old Kalimpong–Lhasa trade route, famous for its zigzag road and Kanchenjunga sunrise at Thambi. Here is the permit, route and when to go.
- Timings
- Day permits; most people stay a night in a homestay
- Entry fee
- No entry fee; permit charges via your operator
- Distance
- About 90 km from Gangtok via Rongli
- Time needed
- 1–2 nights
- Best time
- March–May and October–December
Zuluk and the Old Silk Route: full guide, how to reach and tips →
Best time to visit Gangtok
March to May and October to December are the best months. Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La see snow from December to March. Monsoon (June to September) can close the Nathu La road.
Gangtok weather month by month →How to reach Gangtok
Gangtok is about 120 km from Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station, 4–5 hours by road. Pakyong airport is about 30 km away but has few flights.
See Gangtok with a local team
Private trips with a driver, hotels and permits arranged, built around the places above.
Gangtok tour packages →Gangtok: frequently asked questions
How many days are enough for Gangtok?+
Three days: one for the town sights, one for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La, and one for Rumtek and the viewpoints. North Sikkim needs another two or three days.
Do I need a permit for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La?+
Yes. Both need a permit, arranged through a registered tour operator a day ahead. Nathu La is closed to visitors on Mondays and Tuesdays, and foreign nationals can't visit it.
What are the best places to visit in Gangtok town?+
MG Marg, Enchey Monastery, the Gangtok ropeway, Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok, all within about 10 km of the centre.
Is Gangtok good for a winter trip?+
Yes. December to February is cold but clear, and the best chance of snow at Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La.
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