Day 5 - Gangtok

We managed to leave Pelling by 8:30 AM for another long drive to Gangtok. The previous Tata Spacio was back. Although the distance was only 120 kms, it took us nearly 5 hours to reach Gangtok, via Ravangla. Inbetween, due to the rugged roads, we had a puncture also, which took half an hour to fix.

Since Gangtok was the capital of Sikkim, we had to observe a peculiar rule there. Tourist vehicles were not allowed in the capital between 9 AM to 6 PM. This was probably due to the narrow roads & to control traffic. So, our driver made us get down at the city taxi stand and asked us to hire a cab to go to the hotel. He had told the driver of the cab about the location of the hotel - Venjula Residency.

It was around 2 PM when we reached the hotel. On the way, we saw outlets of many popular branded companies - Wrangler, Lee, Levis, Adidas, Reebok, etc. We wondered how these made way till here! The locals looked like foreigners. It was hard to distinguish between locals & foreigners actally. Back in the hotel, we quickly ordered lunch and by this time another cab had arrived which was meant for local sightseeing of Gangtok. We grabbed a bite and left for the half day tour of Gangtok.

The driver kept on asking which places we were interested in seeing in Gangtok. Hell we knew what was there in Gangtok. So finally, with the help of the tourist guide book which I had bought in Darjeeling, we fixed on the following 5 points - Enchey Monastery, Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Tashi View Point, Ropeway, Chorten Stupa and Flower garden. Each of these were well within 5 kms radius.

First, we went to Enchey Monastery, the 3rd Monastery in our trip. The way to the Monastery had bells on one side. As usual, a big Buddha idol was there. This Monastery is more than 200 years old.

Next, we went to Hanuman Tok which was on a small hill. Tok, in their language meant tip of the hill. This Hanuman Temple is maintained by the Indian Army & whoever army personnel come here first visit this temple.

Next we went to Ganesh Tok where a cute Ganesha idol was there. Photography wasn't allowed inside the temple. From Ganesh Tok, the city of Gangtok could be seen fully.

Next we came to Tashi view point from where another view of Kanchenjunga could be seen. But due to mist, it wasn't visible.

We then hurried to go to the ropeway, as it was already getting late and we were super excited to go on it. We reached exactly 10 minutes before the ropeway closes at 4:30 PM, bought the last tickets, each of Rs. 60 per head and waited for the ropeway to come at the lounge. This ropeway was connected between 2 high points in the city. This was the second time I went in a ropeway, and first for her. It took approx 10 mins to go from one end to the other. In between, they stopped for a while to have a look of Gangtok.

We alighted from the ropeway at around 5:30 PM and went back to the cab. The driver told that since it was time up, the flower garden would have been closed. So he took us to our last point - Chorten Stupa.

There was a big Stupa in the centre & 108 prayer wheels surrounded it. Inside this Stupa, many Holy books & other religious objects are present.

We came back to the hotel by 6:30 PM and asked the receptionist if there was anywhere to go for shopping. She told to go to M.G. Marg and that it would cost us Rs. 10 per head while going in shared taxi & Rs. 40 when returning as our hotel was in the interiors. We quickly refreshed & took a shared cab to M.G. Marg at 6:45 PM. Before leaving, we gave a copy of our identity proofs & photos to her, as it was required to obtain permit to visit Tsomgo Lake & Baba Mandir the next day.

When we entered M.G. Marg, we were surprised to see no traffic on the road, lines of shops on either side & benches for resting in the middle. This was probably the only M.G. Road in India which doesn't allow vehicle movement. I felt like I was on High Street of Croydon. It really looked abroad.

We strolled around, found shops which sold souvenirs & from one shop bought some Sikkim wall hangings & wallets to distribute back home. We then went to a small South Indian restaurant (the name board looked like South Indian), had hot Gulab Jamun, Rosogulla & Kachori Chat. After sometime, at a nearby place, we bought Pakodas too. We finally came back to our hotel room at around 8:30 PM, had dinner & slept. We were looking forward for another famous attraction of our trip the next day - Tsomgo Lake on the Himalayas.