India (Gangtok, Sikkim) Sept / Oct 2019 Part 1

Day 20 & 21 Sunday & Monday 29-30/9/2019 - My 3 days 2 nights stay in Gangtok, Sikkim 

" Gangtok is the capital of the mountainous northern Indian state of Sikkim. Established as a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the 1840s, the city became capital of an independent monarchy after British rule ended but joined India in 1975. Today, it remains a Tibetan Buddhist center and a base for hikers organizing permits & transport for treks through Sikkim's Himalayan mountain ranges. 

1) Arrival at the New Jalpaiguri Junction (10.30 - late by 2 hours) from Allahabad.

2) Shared auto rickshaw ride (Rp20) from New Jalpaiguri Junction & rushed to Siliguri Sikkim Government Bus Station & Sikkim Tourism Office (next to each other).

3) Inner Line Permit (LIP) application (Rp5) at the Sikkim Tourism Office, Siliguri requires one photo, photo copies of passport & Indian visa for submission. Suggest apply for the LIP first before buying the bus tickets. 

4) Sikkim Government bus from Siliguri to Gangtok, Sikkim (13.00 > 20.00) - bus ticket  Rp150 one way. First bus to Gangtok is 06.30 & the last bus departure is 15.00. Our group took the next available bus departing Siliguri at 13.00 arriving Gangtok at around 20.00

5) Stamping of passport & Inner Line Permit at Foreigners Reporting Office, Rangpo, East Sikkim. Reminded to stamp our passport & Inner Line Permit when exiting either at Rangpo or Melli, the two border check points of Sikkim. 

6) Border town of Rangpo in East Sikkim

7) Hotel Check in - Hotel Pandim, Secretariat Road, Below Royal Palace, Gangtok, Sikkim Tel +91 79082 88872 - online booking room tariff (Basic 4 bed male dorm) booking fee  + Rp680 (Rm41) per pax per night. 

8) Tourist Information Center, M.G. Marg, Gangtok, Sikkim - providing advice on Restricted Area Permit & tourist information on North & South Sikkim, Gangtok & places of interests & maps etc 

9) Panoramic view of Himalayan mountain sceneries & Gantok city from our hotel's windows during the early morning. 

10) On our last day, we woke up early & finally managed to see a small part of the Himalayan mountain range from our hotel's windows ! But our a short while, the Himalayan range was totally covered by white clouds !

11) M.G. Marg in downtown Gangtok, Sikkim - a popular shopping & food street  

12) M.G Marg, Gangtok (Sikkim) by Night 

13) Mani Lhakhang, Gangtok (Sikkim) & mountain scenery views 

14) Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok (Sikkim) 

15) Tashiling Secretariat, Gangtok (Sikkim) 

16) A Hindu Temple in downtown Gangtok (Sikkim)