Gangtok

High in the mountains of northeast India at an altitude of 1650m is the bustling city of Gangtok, also the capital of Sikkim. Deriving its name from the Tibetan word for 'hillside' the city is an eclecticmixture of the Tibetan, Sikkimese and Nepalese cultures. The city is beautiful and one of the cleanest you will ever see earning it the epithet 'Switzerland Of The East', While many trekkers travel through as they look to scale the grandest mountains in the world, The Himalayas, Gangtok holds its own with an offering of trekking routes and mountain biking, river rafting in the Teesta and Rangit, night safari at the Chalsa Forest and even the immensely popular hang gliding. As your Gangtok city guide will mention, stunning views of the surrounding countryside against the backdrop of the third highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga, can be viewed from Enchey Monastery, a 200-year-old Tibetan Buddhist building. The Banjhakri waterfalls are surrounded by many beautiful sculptures and provide a great place to enjoy nature with a picnic. The valley around the serene Tsomgo Lake turns into an awe-inspiring riot of colours in summer! This should explain why visiting Gangtok is a once in a lifetime experience for any traveller looking to get close to the majesty of the Himalayas.