Dooars Ecoviillege: This winter visit "India's switzerland", Gangtok

Wreathed in clouds, Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim is located on a ridge at a height of 5500 feet. With a spectacular view of the Khangchendzonga, the town provides the perfect base for travel through the state. Once an important transit point for traders traveling between Tibet and India, it is today a busy administrative and business centre and presents an interesting mix of cultures and communities.

It is very widely known and esteemed for its scenic beauty and striking views of the mount Kanchenjunga, 3rd highest peak in the world. The hill resort is about 110 km from Siliguri and it is very well linked with other important places of this region.

With various cultures and religions thriving in perfect concord, Gangtok has proved that 'unity in diversity' exists in Sikkim. Sikkimeses possess firm bonding with their antique customs and traditions. Gangtok is emphatically not behind the rest of the places in the world in terms of modernization and urbanization. The town has broad roads, discothèques, educational institutes, fast-food centres, flyovers, posh markets, state-of-art hospital, and all other advanced and modern comforts that the heart can want for.

Some Attractive Places to Visit in Gangtok

Tsomgo Lake or Changu Lake

Tsomgo Lake is located 35 km away from the city on the Gangtok-Nathula highway. This highway is also a part of the old route that links India and China. Worshipped by Sikkimese, this holy lake is approximately 20 km away from the Nathula Pass, while located at a distance of around 400 km from Lhasa.

The water in this lake has been accumulated from the melting snow on the mountains located nearby. The river Lungtze Chu originates from this lake, which meets Rangpo-chu down its course. According to the history, the colour of water of this lake was studied by Lamas so as to forecast about the future. They believed, if the water had a dark tinge, it indicated a year full of trouble and unrest in the state.

The lake has charming Alpine forests, which is home to some rare animals like the Red Panda, Brahminy ducks and variety of birds. Between the month of May and August one can see a variety of flowers blooming like the Rhododendrous, various species of Primulas, Blue and Yellow Poppies, Iries etc.

Nathula Pass

Nathula Pass, located at a distance of 56 km from Gangtok, is a pass on the Indo-Chinese border. Serving as a trade link between India and China, this park also once served as the main access for Sikkim-Tibet trade. Popularly known as the Silk Route, this pass is at an elevation of 14,450 feet and is rich in diverse alpine flora and fauna. The Nathula Pass is divided into terms 'Nathu' and 'La', which mean 'listening ears' and 'pass' respectively.

At present, tourists are permitted to visit the pass on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition, the Nathula Pass also reduces the travelling distance to some of the major Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites such as Lhasa and Mansarovar Lake.

Ganesh Tok

Ganesh Tok, a small temple, is located at a distance of 7 kilometre from Gangtok. Situated next to the television tower on the small hill nestled on Gangtok-Nathula road, the temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. This temple is so small in size that at a time, it can only accommodate one person. In addition, one needs to crawl to get inside this temple.