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Pilgrimage Travel Sikkim (Gangtok)>>
Pilgrimage Travel Gangtok (Sikkim)
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Location : |
East District, Sikkim
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Altitude: |
1,870m
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Significance: |
Capital Of Sikkim.
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Best Time To Visit: |
Mid- February To May End & Mid - September
To December
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Gangtok is endless. The small
town itself is a beautiful place to move around. It houses sites like the most
important 'stupa' of Sikkim, the Do Drul Chorten, the solitary temple or the
Enchey Monastery, the marvellous collection of orchids in the Orchid Sanctuary
and the picturesque Tashi Ling that provides an astounding view of the
Kanchenjunga range. The Namgyal Institute of Research and the Tsuk la Khang, a
depository of a large collection of scriptures and the principal place of
worship for the local Buddhists.
Do Drul Chorten - Do Drul
Chorten is one of the many important attractions of Gangtok. It is regarded as
the most important 'stupa' of Sikkim. Built in 1945 by Trulshi Rimpoche, head of
the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism, this stupa also has sacred gold-topped
shikhara with 108 prayer wheels. This highly revered Chorten is also
characterised by complete mandala sets of Dorjee Phurba (Bajra Kilaya), a set of
Kan-gyur relics ( Holy Books), complete 'Zung'( mantras) and other religious
objects. The Chorten also has two huge statues of Guru Rimpoche (Guru
Padmasambhava) around it.
Institute of
Tibetology: About 1.5 km (nearly a mile) from
downtown Gangtok is the Institute of Tibetology, an organisation dedicated to
furthering Tibetan studies, Buddhist philosophy and region. It attracts scholars
from all over the world. It houses a rare collection of 30,000 books, Tantric
documents, rare manuscripts written in gold on the bark of a poisonous tree,
antique thanks and 200 icons, all prized objects of art for the Buddhist world.
The Institute has won both national and international acclaim.
Tsuk la Khang -
Another place that must be included in your sightseeing is the Tsuk la Khang. A
depository of a large collection of scriptures, this is the principal place of
worship and assembly for the local Buddhists. The Tsuk la Khang is also
characterised by the beautiful and impressive building with mural covered
interior, lavishly decorated altars or images of Buddha, bodhisattvas and
Tantric deities and the many fine works of woodcarving.
Namgyal Institute
- A must visit in Gangtok, the Namgyal Institute was built in the year 1958 to
promote research in Mahayan Buddhism and Tibetan language and traditions. Built
in a traditional style, this institute has world's largest collections of books
and rare manuscripts on Mahayan Buddhism, in addition to the works of art and
silk embroidered Tankhas. Moreover, it also houses relics of monks, samples of
Lepcha scripts, masks and sacred objects like Kapali, a bowl made from a human
skull, and the carku, a flute made from a thigh bone.
La Bazzar or Market
- On Sunday, Gangtok' s Lal Bazaar is a melody of colour. Various ethnic groups
from different villages gather to haggle, bargain, gossip or just sell their
wares. The marketplace rings to a cacophony of sound-the babble of ethnic
tongues, the chiming bells of the Indian sweet shops the whining of a beggar,
the chanting of prayers, the advertising of the Sikkim lottery and the blaring
Hindi love songs from the Denzong cinema.
Tashi Ling -
Tashi Ling is located at a distance of just 6 kilometres from the main town. The
Tashi Ling is another important site to visit in Gangtok for it provides
astounding view of the Kanchenjunga range. Here lays the Tashi Ling monastery
mostly known for its 'Bumchu' (Sacred Pot). This pot contains holy water, which
has never run dry for last 300 years. The place also provides view of the
Phodong and the Labrang monasteries located on the opposite hill. Just a
day's walk from Pemayangtse, this is also a wonderful picnic spot.
Tour Packages
Sikkim /
 Hotels
in Sikkim
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B
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Trekking Itineraries
