{"id":3230,"date":"2020-04-06T17:49:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T17:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/?p=3230"},"modified":"2024-02-15T21:51:26","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T21:51:26","slug":"gangtok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/06\/gangtok\/","title":{"rendered":"Gangtok \u2013 Sikkim\u2019s capital in the Himalayas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3230\" class=\"elementor elementor-3230\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c1e9280 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2c1e9280\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-104ecb4f\" data-id=\"104ecb4f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca10de4 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"ca10de4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-f0b7872 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-calendar-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 30, 2019\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-fcf06e9 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-calendar-check\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDay 126\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-b7f90aa elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-compass\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGangtok, India\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-5c90350 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-suitcase\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t15260 Km\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-372e4d91 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"372e4d91\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"leadin\">Already long before we started this journey, we had been talking about Sikkim. The Indian state of Sikkim is nestled between Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet in the Indian Himalayas. The former kingdom just joined India in 1975. This part of India was completely new to us. We imagined it to be a very different from the rest of the country \u2013 some kind of a mystical place far away in the mountains. And now we were heading there, more precisely to the capital, Gangtok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150079-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Street art in Gangtok, where Buddhism is one of the main religions\" class=\"wp-image-3211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150079-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150079-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150079-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150079.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Street art in Gangtok, where Buddhism is one of the main religions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150080-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Gangtok is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Himalaya\" class=\"wp-image-3212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150080-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150080-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150080.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Gangtok is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Himalaya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Entering Sikkim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To enter Sikkim, one needs a special permit called the Inner Line Permit. Getting it is easy and completely free of charge, it just requires a registration at the border of the state and the whole process took for us around ten minutes. Not all border crossing points have the needed facilities for this process (the \u201cfacilities\u201d seem to be a few papers and a stamp, btw), which means that foreigners are allowed to enter from West-Bengal to Sikkim only through two entry points: Melli or Rangpo. Our mode of transport from Darjeeling to Gangtok was a shared Sumo, which took the latter route. After some four hours on the mountain roads we reached Gangtok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First impressions of Gangtok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As we entered Gangtok, and especially its pedestrian zone MG Market, we were surprised. To be honest, we had expected the capital of this remote state in North-East India to be much more traditional and old-fashioned than it was. The stone clad central street, reserved only for pedestrians, was dotted with shops, bars and restaurants and there were stylish locals as well as (Indian) tourists walking around. The whole street was lit with beautiful Christmas lights. For some reason this place <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/2019\/09\/21\/charming-nizhny-novgorod\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"reminded us of Nizhny Novgorod (opens in a new tab)\">reminded us of Nizhny Novgorod<\/a> in Russia, which we also liked much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150186-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"MG Market\" class=\"wp-image-3228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150186-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150186-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150186-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150186.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>MG Market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150086-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"One of the atmospherically lit side streets of MG Market\" class=\"wp-image-3213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150086-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150086-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150086-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150086.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>One of the atmospherically lit side streets of MG Market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Around the MG Market, there are several streets leading up and down, as the whole city is built on a slope of a mountain. When the weather is clear, one can see the surrounding mountains and even the peaks of Kanchenjunga. Maybe you\u2019ve never heard of it, at least we hadn\u2019t before, but Kanchenjunga is the world\u2019s third highest mountain, right after Mt. Everest and the K2!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150059-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Streets going up and down\" class=\"wp-image-3208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150059-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150059-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150059-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150059.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Streets going up and down<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150060-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The mighty Kanchenjunga\" class=\"wp-image-3209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150060-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150060-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150060-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150060.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The mighty Kanchenjunga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We stayed in a hotel a bit out of the center (the accommodation prices were surprisingly high in Sikkim) but once again it was easy to get around with a shared taxi. We also found a nice walkway (with a lot of up or down hill) from our place to the city with gorgeous views. The weather in Gangtok was as cold as in Darjeeling. This time we didn\u2019t have to freeze all the time, though, since we could get a small heater to our room for a small extra charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG-3762-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"This little toaster looking thing kept our room warm, or at least non-frozen\" class=\"wp-image-3207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG-3762-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG-3762-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG-3762.jpg 1350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>This little toaster looking thing kept our room warm, or at least non-frozen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150184-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Cuddling is also a good way to keep warm\" class=\"wp-image-3227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150184-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150184-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150184-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150184.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Cuddling is also a good way to keep warm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The food in Gangtok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One very special thing about Sikkim is that it\u2019s the world\u2019s first completely organic state, meaning that all farmland there is certified organic. Therefore, we could also assume, that most of the food we consumed in Gangtok was organic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191228_154732-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"Tibetan soup\" class=\"wp-image-3206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191228_154732-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191228_154732-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191228_154732-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191228_154732.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Tibetan soup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The food in Gangtok was strongly Tibetan influenced, even though almost everything was on offer. Because Johanna was still feeling ill, she didn\u2019t have much appetite during our whole stay in Gangtok, but Seri did. He had declared already before entering Sikkim that he will eat momos (the Tibetan dumplings) every day as long as we are in the state. To his luck we found an excellent momo restaurant called Shuffle Momos. Previously they did only delivery but had just nine days ago opened their first restaurant. The workers and the owner were super nice and the momos (and the masala fries) delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191227_183419-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"Momos a la Shuffle Momos\" class=\"wp-image-3205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191227_183419-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191227_183419-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191227_183419-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_20191227_183419.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Momos a la Shuffle Momos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Another food that seemed to be popular in Gangtok, besides momos and traditional Tibetan food, were \u201erolls\u201c. They are crispy rotis filled with different fillings in wrap\/burrito style. The most popular roll restaurant was clearly the Roll House decorated in a quirky style. We ate there twice and really liked it (even sick Johanna). Our rolls were filled with soya chunks, corn and cheese as well as with tomato, onion and other vegetables, with tasty sauces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Rumtek Monastery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Rumtek monastery, located 35 kilometers from Gangtok, is the largest one in Sikkim and one of the most important attractions in the area. Honestly, we had had almost enough of Buddhist monasteries after Darjeeling already, but still decided to visit after all. Good that we did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After going to a wrong taxi stand near our hotel at first, we finally found a shared taxi to Rumtek at the central taxi station. Already the 1,5-hour ride was worth going there. The weather was sunny, and we got to sit at the front seat of the Sumo, having the best views.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150097-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Enjoying the Sumo ride\" class=\"wp-image-3214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150097-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150097-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150097-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150097.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Enjoying the Sumo ride<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150100-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Narrow mountain roads\" class=\"wp-image-3215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150100-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150100-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150100-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150100.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Narrow mountain roads<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the monastery gate we almost got into troubles because we didn\u2019t carry our passports and inner line permits with us. Luckily, we had the pictures of our passports\u2019 information pages and of our visas on our phones, and that with a little bit of debating was enough to let us in. Whenever visiting some tourist sights in Sikkim, carry your passport and permit with you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We really liked the monastery and were happy that we had come there. This one was livelier as the ones we saw in Darjeeling \u2013 even though one monk there told us that almost everyone is gone for the holidays and that there\u2019s not much happening at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150167-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Rumtek Monastery\" class=\"wp-image-3224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150167-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150167-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150167-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150167.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Rumtek Monastery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The area is huge and there are several buildings that one can visit. The biggest prayer hall was beautiful. Around it were some housings for the monks. We could see the young monks playing around and some were drawing mandalas at the roof in the sunshine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150176-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Monks playing a game with a coin\" class=\"wp-image-3225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150176-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150176-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150176-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150176.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Monks playing a game with a coin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150123-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Young monks drawing on the roof\" class=\"wp-image-3219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150123-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150123-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150123-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150123.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Young monks drawing on the roof<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Golden Stupa we caught the last minutes of the monks\u2019 prayers. When the prayer time was over, the monks told us to take some of the treats and fruits from the bowls next to the statues. We\u2019ve never thought about the fact before, but of course someone has to eat the offerings brought for the Buddha (if he\u2019s not able to finish them all himself\u2026). Apparently because most of the monks were on their holidays, also the visitors could take some. Buddha\u2019s cookies and fruits were tasting especially good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150109-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Thanks Buddha for the treats and the wise words\" class=\"wp-image-3217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150109-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150109-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150109-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150109.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Thanks Buddha for the treats and the wise words<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then we visited another building, where we found another prayer hall. A friendly monk walked us around and explained us a little bit about the traditions there. Then we got to go to the roof from where we had an amazing view towards Gangtok. The monk recommended us to have a small walk in the peaceful forest, to where we saw a path decorated with prayer flags leading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150104-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"City of Gangtok seen from Rumtek Monastery\" class=\"wp-image-3216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150104-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150104-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150104-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150104.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>City of Gangtok seen from Rumtek Monastery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our walk in the forest was really peaceful, indeed. During our walk we came to the conclusion that this was out favorite monastery on this trip so far. There was so much to see, not just the monastery itself but also the surroundings. In the forest we even found the monastery\u2019s football field, decorated with countless prayer flags, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150138-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Johanna has fallen in love with this kind of little white dogs that we also met in Darjeeling\" class=\"wp-image-3221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150138-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150138-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150138-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150138.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Johanna has fallen in love with this kind of little white dogs that we also met in Darjeeling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150143-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The forest was filled with prayer flags\" class=\"wp-image-3222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150143-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150143-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150143-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150143.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The forest was filled with prayer flags<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150147-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The monastery\u2019s football field\" class=\"wp-image-3223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150147-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150147-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150147-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150147.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The monastery\u2019s football field<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, it wasn\u2019t as easy to get back to Gangtok as it had been to get to the monastery. Despite some drunken hillbilly trying to help us out, we had to wait at least for an hour in the cold before we could find a car back to Gangtok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Orchid Sanctuary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because Johanna was not feeling too good during our whole time in Gangtok, we didn\u2019t do much sightseeing, apart from visiting the Rumtek Monastery. But one sunny day we decided to walk up to the Deorali Orchid Sanctuary. It\u2019s a big hall with over 200 different orchid species. Even though December is not the blooming season, we could see some beautiful, colorful orchids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150069-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Some of the over 200 orchids at the Deorali Orchid Sanctuary \" class=\"wp-image-3210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150069-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150069-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150069-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150069.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Some of the over 200 orchids at the Deorali Orchid Sanctuary <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Towards Namchi and the new year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our next destination was going to be Namchi, some 80 kilometers from Gangtok. In the morning we headed again to the central taxi stand and entered a Sumo to Namchi. There we wanted to celebrate the New Year\u2019s and also to visit a special place\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image postimage\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150196-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Sumo at Gangtok\u2019s central taxi stand\" class=\"wp-image-3229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150196-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150196-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150196-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150196.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Sumo at Gangtok\u2019s central taxi stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a37c76 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-3685 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6a37c76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63b592d elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-3676 elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"63b592d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Post Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/02\/darjeeling-christmas\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-left\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">Darjeeling \u2013 Christmas surprises, Buddhist monasteries and local tea<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/13\/namchi\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">Namchi \u2013 Sacred mountains, countless blessings and exotic drinks for the start of new decade<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a8f184 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-3682 elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2a8f184\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related stories<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c0d8af elementor-grid-tablet-3 elementor-posts--align-center elementor-posts__hover-none elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"1c0d8af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:8,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-3191 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-india tag-cable-car tag-christmas tag-darjeeling tag-india tag-indien tag-intia tag-north-india tag-north-east-india tag-overland-to-asia tag-tea tag-tea-plantation tag-west-bengal\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/02\/darjeeling-christmas\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-3163\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1140783-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/02\/darjeeling-christmas\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tDarjeeling \u2013 Christmas surprises, Buddhist monasteries and local tea\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-3269 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-india tag-char-dham tag-homestay tag-india tag-indien tag-intia tag-namchi tag-new-year tag-overland-to-asia tag-sikkim tag-things-to-do\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/13\/namchi\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150262-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-3252\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150262-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150262-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150262-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/13\/namchi\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tNamchi \u2013 Sacred mountains, countless blessings and exotic drinks for the start of new decade\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-3297 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-india tag-chenrenzig tag-geyzing tag-goibibo tag-how-to-get-to tag-india tag-indien tag-intia tag-overland-to-asia tag-oyo tag-oyo-hotels tag-pelling tag-pemayangtse tag-sikkim tag-sky-walk\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/15\/pelling\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-3284\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/P1150468-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodridestories.com\/en\/2020\/04\/15\/pelling\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tPelling \u2013 More monasteries, mountains and giant Buddha statues\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[305,300,303,218,249,304,219,302,467,301,299],"class_list":["post-3230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india","tag-from-darjeeling-to-gangtok","tag-gangtok","tag-how-to-get-to","tag-india","tag-indien","tag-inner-line-permit","tag-intia","tag-monastery","tag-overland-to-asia","tag-rumtek","tag-sikkim"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Gangtok \u2013 Sikkim\u2019s capital in the Himalayas &#8211; Good Ride Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Already long before this trip, we had talked about India&#039;s Sikkim, nestled between Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. 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