Gangtok - A Lovely Place To Spend Holidays

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Gangtok lives up to its name meaning the ’superior hills’. It sits comfortably nestled in the lap of the high elevations of the lofty peaks of the Kanchenjunga. The latter is the third highest peak of the Himalayas. The Himalayan town of Gangtok gained importance when the former Sikkimese ruler under the British governance translocated the erstwhile capital from Tumlong to Gangtok in 1894. It was retained as the capital even there after as it grew into the largest city of the Indian state of Sikkim on the parallel lines.

Sikkim was amalgamated into the Republic of India in 1947 by signing a treaty between Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then primer minister of India and Chogyal. It was granted the status of statehood in 1975 following the lifting up of the monarchy. Located in the foothills of the lower Himalayas; Gangtok was till recently only akin to a tiny hamlet although it began to be used as a stopover between British India and Tibet following the construction of the very sacred Enchey Monastery in 1840. By the end of 19th century after the Tibetans lost to the British, the development was amplified and the place was furnished with the telegraph and roads. The rapid incoming of the Tibetan pilgrims, Gangtok began fast developing and expanding its wings. Today the place is vibrant with numerous Buddhist monasteries and institutions of religious learning.

Gangtok is a hub for imparting and radiating the rich Tibetan tradition, culture and the distinctive Tibetan paintings, handlooms and other unique handicrafts to the younger generation. Gangtok maintains a government collage of cottage industries to learn manufacturing, promotion and sale of the local handicrafts as the carving of the wooden tables called the choksees, weaving woolen carpets, crafing out Buddhist masks, statues, bamboo made lamp shades, furniture and much more. The Nathula and Jelepla passes, the branches of the ancient Silk Route near Gangtok were the passageways to facilitate the conduit of trade between India and Tibet until the break of Sino-Indian War in 1962. The two passes are now stand sealed.

Gangtok is a perfect locale for holidaying and relaxing with yourself or your partner. It gives an equally enthralling experience even if you come with your family. The state is well known to be zero crime places, a rare feature much endeared all over and a perfect place to enjoy and stay for the tourist coming from across the globe.

The picturesque panoramas of this exotic destination is filled with varied colors and garnished with a mild and a pleasant climate. The place reverberates with the mystique of Buddhist holy chants, the prayer flags lashing with the fast blowing breeze, the brightly colored houses designed on the lines of a pagoda amidst the stupas, temples and monasteries thriving side by side. It is as if serenity is perpetually in the air of this God blessed land.

The landscape of Gangtok is adorned with the deciduous forests of the birch, silver oak, popular, junipers, pine and conifers give a touch of mystique to the place and the exotic orchids while the rare and endemic flora and fauna add to its charm. Animals as red panda, barking deer, Himalayan black bear, the civet cat, spotted dear and the snow leopard are the zoo features of this enthralling luxuriant green mountainous terrain.

Cold water springs can be seen erupting from every here and there of its sloping mountains. The source appears to be the deep roots of lush bamboo plantations which help dig out the waters underneath the surface of the mountains. The beautiful handicrafts and other products of the cottage industry as the locally made watches, textiles, and country made liquor, Buddhist paintings, statues, the embroidered tapestry and several other such items are sold on the roadside as well as the shops. The mouth-watering local cuisine as momos, chowmin, fakthu, wonton, gyathuk, thanthuk and thukpa are relished by the locals as well as tourists alike. Hindu and Buddhist places of learning and interest flourish and coexist side by side.

Rosy Vohra works for booksellers India

Tags: booksellers India, Gangtok, sikkim

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