Top Ten Things to do around Gangtok

1. Take a stroll down MG Marg 
Mahatma Gandhi Marg or the MG Marg as it is popularly known is a pedestrian only street in the heart of Gangtok town. It serves as the nerve center of the beautiful mountain city with rows of endless restaurants, cafes & bakeries, garment stores and quaint curio shops. 
Your visit to Sikkim will be incomplete without a walk down Gangtok’s most popular boulevard where you can simply park yourself at one of the many wooden benches and people watch to get a sense of the vibe of the city !

2. Take a Yak Ride or a Cable Car Ride in Tsomgo Lake and also visit Nathula Pass:

Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district about 40 km from the capital Gangtok.  The drive is beautiful and during winter season, you will also be able to get snow at Tsomgo lake. One can opt for fun yak rides or the new cable car across the lake that has been installed to enjoy the beauty of the scenery of the mountain side. 

You can also visit Nathula Pass (probably a good idea to visit Nathula first and then Tsomgo lake). Nathula Pass is a high mountain pass in the Dongkya Range of the Himalayas between China's Yadong County in Tibet, and the Indian state of Sikkim. The pass lies at an altitude of 14000 feet above sea level and connects Gangtok with the villages and towns of the lower Chumbi Valley -  a valley in the eastern Himalayas that sits between Bhutan and Sikkim. Nathula Pass is located around 54 kilometers east of Gangtok in Sikkim and 430 kilometers from Lhasa, Tibet. 

3.  Visit Do Drul Chorten, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in Deorali and take a ropeway back to Nam Nang near MG Road

• Do-drul Chorten is a stupa located near to the Namgyal Institute in Deorali, Gangtok. It was built by Trulshik Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1945. The stupa is marked by a golden top with a deity enshrined on it. It is a steep 10 minute walk to reach the Chorten
•  Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in Gangtok is a great place to explore Tibetan culture. The museum is well stocked with an impressive collection of artifacts, manuscripts and books. The displays are well laid out and informative.
• The Gangtok Ropeway is a 1 km ride that offers a scenic birds-eye view of Gangtok town and Deorali Bazaar. The daily timing is between 9 am to 5 pm and ticket price costs Rs 117 per person. The ropeway can be accessed from two points that takes you one way and again drops you back to the same point.

4.  Meet the cute Red Pandas at the Zoological Gardens 

The Himalayan Zoological Park is located in Bulbuley around 3 km away from the main town. It is an open and serene place for nature and wildlife lovers. It is located at an altitude of 1780 meters and is also a conservation center for high altitude fauna like the Himalayan Thar,the  Blue Sheep, Yak, the Monal Pheasant, the Ghoral to name a few. The most popular species here are by far the Himalayan Red Pandas which is also the state animal of Sikkim. You can catch a glimpse of them on the tree tops munching on young shoots and leaves while lazing around in the sunshine.

5. Learn to make Momo and Khabsey with a local family 
For an immersive experience of Sikkimese culture and food, we highly recommend all travelers to stay at a homestay with a local family. Staying at a local homestay gives visitors a peek into the lifestyle and day to day activities of the people residing there.
One can sample many regional dishes that would otherwise be unavailable at restaurants. You can also try your hand at making momo (no ‘s’ in momo please - singular or plural !), hand pulled Pastas like Thenthuk and Bhakthuk as well as sweet and savory deep fried cookies called Khabsey.

You can book the momo making experience at a local homestay in Gangtok through the below link:
https://www.ourguest.in/experience/details/momo-making-culinary-experience

6. Sample the local Artisanal Fruit Wine and Millet Beer
Alcoholic beverages in Sikkim are easily accessible and also comparatively cheaper than the rest of the country due to the lower custom duties here. You will find many liquor shops across town selling a variety of spirits both local and international. 
The hand crafted Passion Fruit and Kiwi wines are worth sampling and make for a good gift or to take home as a souvenir. Besides wines, the traditional Sikkimese drink called Chaang or Tongba is immensely popular both among tourists as well as residents. They are presented attractively in bamboo barrels with handcrafted straws and served with hot water. The drink is made from millet grains and is delightful on a cold evening with a side of local blood sausages called Gyuma.

7. Discover local produce at the Organic Farmers’ Market 
One of the best ways to get to know a town and its people intimately is through it’s food and by exploring it’s cuisine. What better way to get to know Gangtok, than through the produce that ordinary people purchase at the local markets?
One can find a variety of home grown organic vegetables, fruits, pulses, herbs, wild honey, local cheese etc from all the districts of Sikkim on a visit to the Organic Farmers’ Market and the Lal Bazaar vegetable market especially on Sundays. Do keep an eye out for Yak Churpi, Kinema, Tasampa, Khabsey, Selroti, Chimphing, Stinging Nettle,Dalley Khursani, local blood sausages - Gyuma etc which you can buy and bring back to your homestay and request your host to prepare them for you.

8. Learn about traditional Art & Craft at the Handlooms and Handicraft Center
The Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom is a hub for the development of traditional arts and crafts of Sikkim. It was established in 1957 as a Technical Institute for Training and Production with the sole purpose of promoting and preserving ethnic fine arts and crafts. 
The center is a treasure trove for  handwoven carpets with traditional motifs, blankets, shawls etc in Lepcha prints and designs.
The museum is an authentic warehouse showcasing the artistic side of Sikkim. There is a Sales Emporium as well on site where visitors can buy hand made souvenirs produced by the apprentices at the center. It is a well known  fact that the artists of Sikkim have long perfected the art of wood carving. You can take home one of the Eight Lucky Signs, carved and hand painted on wood for good fortune as a token of remembrance from Sikkim !

9. Take a day hike through Fambonglho Sanctuary at Tinjure for haunted forest vibes
The Tinjurey hike which passes through the Fambong-lho Wild Life Sanctuary is an easy day hike from Gangtok. It is suitable for all age groups and is an ideal adventure for families and friends looking to explore the Himalayan wilderness.
The Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 20 km from Gangtok and covers an area of about 52 sq km.
The hike covers about 5 kms in about 2.5 hours through thick forests after which you reach the Tinjurey View Point from where you can see a full view of Gangtok town, Ranka and the Kanchenjunga mountains.
You will need to pay an entry fee at the Forest & Wildlife Management Department’s office and obtain a permit. It is advised to hire a guide  for the hike and is one of the best places to observe the flora and fauna of the Himalayan Range.

10. Visit Monasteries steeped in ancient lore and legend
If ancient legends and stories are your thing you can visit the Rumtek Monastery where the Mystical Flying Hat is kept sealed in a glass box. It is the largest monastery in Sikkim and is a replica of the original monastery in Tsurpu inTibet. 
The monastery houses some of the rarest Buddhist religious artifacts found in the world and is also a center for Kagyu teachings.
Enchey Monastery is another renowned monastery in Gangtok much revered by the locals. The literal meaning of Enchey  is the "Solitary Monastery". Its sacredness is attributed to the belief that Khangchendzonga and Yabdean – the protecting deities – reside in this monastery. According to legend, Guru Padmasambhava had subdued the spirits of the Khangchendzonga, Yabdean and Mahākāla here. The monastery belongs to the Nyingma order of Vajrayana Buddhism and considered the most sacred among all monasteries in Sikkim.

Gangtok is one of the most cosmopolitan and peaceful cities in North-East India. There are some really good restaurants in Gangtok. You can read our blog about some of the best restaurants in Gangtok and choose something that suits you. Spending three days in Gangtok is good idea when you are going for your North Sikkim tour package. and choose something that suits you.

Written by Prerna:

Prerna, a seasoned travel & hospitality expert, isn't just a writer – she's a curator of experiences. Leading OurGuest's operations at The Barfung Retreat, she leverages her extensive background at Taj, Hyatt, ITC, and more. A Master's graduate in English Literature, Prerna's passion for storytelling is fueled by her childhood spent traversing India with her police officer father. Fluent in Bengali, Hindi, English, and Nepali, she fosters genuine connections across cultures. Join Prerna as she unveils the hidden gems and vibrant soul of Northeast India, one captivating story at a time.

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