If you are bored with your daily life and want to escape for a while, you can go and visit Gangtok as a weekend trip. I did it in this year January. It was almost 3 months passed I did my last trip to Spiti Valley and I wanted to go for a leave badly. But taking leave from my current office was quite impossible at that time. So, I have decided to use my weekend and I packed my bag and leave for NJP (New Jalpaiguri). It was Friday night and I finished my office work and went quickly to Sealdah station to catch my train for NJP. It was 10:05 PM Darjeeling mail.
Well before you start reading, just watch this small 3 min video of my Gangtok trip
Day 1: It was a sunny Saturday morning. I have reached NJP around 9:30 AM. Left the station and took a light breakfast from local shops. Then start bargain with the shared taxis for Gangtok. Got a shared taxi with cheap fare and started the journey for Gangtok. We left the place around 11 AM
The journey was very good. Have seen the beautiful green Tista river just right side of the road and it was mesmerizing. Stopped a while for lunch in a middle of our journey.
It took almost 5 hours to reach Gangtok. After reaching and before going to my hotel I have decided to see the local attractions that day. I booked a 7-points sightseeing package from a local tour operator.
In this Gangtok Sightseeing package, I have visited these below places –
- Chorten Stupa
- Suicide point
- Flower garden
- Bakthang Waterfall
- The famous Gangtok Ropeway
- Tashi Viewpoint
- Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
After this, I came back to my hotel and checked in. My hotel was at the end of MG Road center, so that place was quite happening all the time. I just got fresh myself at the hotel and went for a walk on M G Road. Ate some snacks from the roadside food centers, visited some local shops to check out beautiful souvenirs. The road was very colorful during the night. Don’t miss to eat the momos there.
I have planned to visit Changu Lake and Baba Mandir next day. As this place is near China border so you need inner line permit. As per the local tour operator’s instruction I have given them a copy of my voter id and passport size photo.
Day 2: Next day I woke up early in the morning to see the sunrise from Tashi viewpoint. This viewpoint is popular to watch an amazing view of the golden reflection of Sunrays over the mighty Kanchenjunga. I hired a cab to Tashi viewpoint and experience the beauty.
After returning back I took my breakfast, had my shower and got ready for Changu lake journey. I reached the central taxi stand from where all taxis for Changu lake and Baba Mandir will depart.
My taxi left at 8 AM. It took almost 2 hrs 30 mins to reach Baba Mandir. After baba Mandir, we visit Changu Lake or Tsomgo Lake. At that time Changu Lake was half frozen. Here are some of the photos of Changu lake.
I reached Gangtok from Changu at 3 PM. After that look some lunch and hired a shared cab for NJP station as my return train was at 8:30 PM. I left Gangtok at 4 PM and reached NJP by 7:30 PM.
The train was on time and I reached Sealdah at 9 AM. Later that went home got fresh and out of Office with some unforgettable memory of this Gangtok trip.
Well for this trip my total expenses were nearly Rs. 5000 and I am breaking down all costs below.
- The Expenses (approximate) for this 2 days Gangtok trip:
- Train fare (Sealdah to NJP): Rs. 350 (Sleeper)
- Train fare (NJP to Sealdah): Rs. 350 (Sleeper)
- Shared Car fare (NJP to Gangtok): Rs. 200
- Share Car to Baba Mandir & Changu Lake: Rs. 500
- Shared Car fare (Gangtok to NJP): 300
- Local sightseeing Shared Car Fare: Rs. 500
- Hotel cost (1 night): Rs. 900
- Breakfast was complementary
- Food cost total for 2 days: Rs. 1200
- Ropeway fare: Rs. 110
- Flower garden entry fee: Rs. 10
Total Cost: Rs. 4420
Approximately the expanse was Rs. 4500 to Rs. 5000
It was a very very short trip but enough to boost my energy for a couple of months office work. Well at the time of returning I have planned for my next trip which is Pelling in West Sikkim.
So, if you want a break from your daily life and visit a hill station, I would recommend Gangtok and Changu Lake. Go and experience the beauty of Sikkim.
