The capital of Sikkim covers an area of ~19sq. kms and is located at an altitude of 5,400 ft. Gangtok is a thinly populated town. At first appearance, it is like any other hill station in India, nothing that actually stands out. But I found it has nice places for tourists to visit.
What to see in Gangtok
- Rumtek monastery is one of the most famous and sacred monasteries in India. Located ~23 kms away and perched on a hill, bit of a walk uphill is required from the vehicle drop off point. A very beautiful building, full of Buddhist history.
- Nehru Botanical garden was a must visit as my spouse is fond of rare orchids.
- Do Drul Chorten Stupa for spending some quite moments. My favourite!
- Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a nice museum to spend some time.
- Tashi view point is about 8 kms away and visited for views of Mt Kanchenjunga. Always visit on a clear day to avoid disappointment.
- Stroll on M G Road, the main shopping hub with plenty of restaurants.
- I took a two way ride on the ropeway for some great views. Again better to choose a clear day.
- Himalayan Zoological park if you are keen to watch red pandas and snow leopard.
- Hanuman Tok, 11 kms away from Gangtok is a temple dedicated to Hanuman. I found it to be quite a scenic place.
View of Gangtok from the ropeway, Sikkim 
Do Drul Chorten Stupa, Gangtok, Sikkim 
Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok, Sikkim 
Namgyal Museum, Gangtok, Sikkim 
M G Road, Gangtok, Sikkim 
Colourful orchids at Nehru garden, Gangtok, Sikkim
Day trip to Tsomgo lake and Nathula Pass
Both Tsomgo lake and Nathula pass are located in the same direction and can be covered in a day’s trip from Gangtok. Tsomgo lake is about 36 kms away from Gangtok and Nathula pass about 55kms. It takes 2 hours to get to Nathula pass.
Indian citizens need special area permit to visit both Tsomgo lake and Nathula Pass.
Tsomgo lake is located at an altitude of over 12000 ft. One of the highest lakes in India but is actually small, with an area of ~60acres, as compared to say the Pangong Tso in Ladakh. The lake freezes in winter and hence, can be visited either in summer or winter.
Nathula Pass is located at an altitude of 14,000 ft. and connects India and Tibet. Among the highest motorable roads in the world, it can be visited only in summers as heavy snowfall ensures closure during the winter months. During the rainy season, it is fairly risky to drive. The journey is said to be as scenic as the destination.
When I visited in the month April/May, Nathula pass was unfortunately closed. So I skipped Tsomgo lake also.
How many days in Gangtok
I think 2-4 days is normally adequate.
