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The red-pillared prayer hall of Rumtek Monastery across a wet courtyard, with mist and trees behind it
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Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0
1 night · 2 daysFirst visitClassicrelaxed

Two days in Gangtok — the town, Banjhakri Falls and Rumtek Monastery

A two-day Gangtok plan: the Do-drul Chorten, the Tibetology museum, the Tsuklakhang and Banjhakri Falls, then Rumtek Monastery, Lingdum and Saramsa Garden.
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Two days without a permit. The first stays with the town: the Do-drul Chorten, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, the Tsuklakhang and the Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park. The second goes south to Rumtek Monastery, then Lingdum and the Saramsa garden. If you have only one day, take the monasteries and the ridge instead.

Photos: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Abhishek Dey (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Anjan Kumar Kundu (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

First-time visitors with two days, and anyone who wants Rumtek without rushing.

Day by day

Day 1

The stupa, the museum, the royal chapel and the falls

5 stops · 37 min on the road

The town's central sights in the morning, then the waterfall park to the north.

  1. 09:30
    Do-drul Chorten
    temple · 14 min from Gangtok · about 30 min there
    The white stupa with its 108 prayer wheels.
  2. ↓ a short walk
    10:30
    Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
    museum · 13 min from Gangtok · about 45 min there
    The Tibet museum, below the stupa.
  3. ↓ 6 min by road · 3 km
    12:00
    Tsuklakhang Monastery
    temple · 8 min from Gangtok · about 30 min there
    The royal chapel of Sikkim's Chogyals.
  4. ↓ 18 min by road · 8 km
    14:30
    Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park
    waterfall · 23 min from Gangtok · about 1 h 15 min there
    The waterfall and shaman-healer park on the North Sikkim road.
  5. ↓ 12 min by road · 6 km
    17:00
    Mahatma Gandhi Marg
    area · 10 min from Gangtok · about 1 h there
    The promenade, for the evening.
Day 2

Rumtek Monastery and the hills to the south

3 stops · 1 h 11 min on the road

A southern loop: the largest monastery in Sikkim, a second monastery at Ranka and the old orchid garden.

  1. 09:30
    Rumtek Monastery
    temple · 51 min from Gangtok · about 1 h there
    The Dharma Chakra Centre, seat of the Karmapa in exile.
  2. ↓ 32 min by road · 15 km
    12:30
    Lingdum Monastery
    temple · 41 min from Gangtok · about 30 min there
    The Zurmang Kagyu monastery at Ranka.
  3. ↓ 39 min by road · 18 km
    14:30
    Saramsa Garden
    monument · 34 min from Gangtok · about 45 min there
    The garden of 1922, now an orchid garden, on the way back.

Getting there

Bagdogra airport is about 126 km away; see how to reach Gangtok.

Where to stay

Stay in Gangtok for the night. We have no verified lodging or prices.

Know before you go

  • The roads south are steep and wind; the monsoon, June to September, often brings landslides, so ask about the road the night before.
  • Rumtek has had a long dispute over its control and is patrolled by security forces; carry ID and ask at the gate about any rules.
  • We have no verified opening hours for any stop; ask locally.

Places on this route

Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
temple · 8 min from Gangtok
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
museum · 13 min from Gangtok
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
temple · 14 min from Gangtok
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer
waterfall · 23 min from Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
temple · 51 min from Gangtok

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

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Other ways to do it

All Gangtok itineraries →
One day in Gangtok — monasteries, the royal chapel and the ridge
One day in Gangtok — monasteries, the royal chapel and the ridge
Day plan · First visit · Temples & heritage
A one-day Gangtok plan: the Do-drul Chorten, the Tibetology museum, the royal Tsuklakhang, Enchey Monastery, Hanuman Tok and an evening on Mahatma Gandhi Marg.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
North Sikkim road day from Gangtok — Kabi Lungchok, Phodong and Labrang
North Sikkim road day from Gangtok — Kabi Lungchok, Phodong and Labrang
Day plan · culture · Temples & heritage
A day trip north of Gangtok: the Kabi Lungchok blood-brotherhood site, Phodong Monastery of the early 18th century and Labrang of 1826–1843, with road times.
Best Mar–May · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Gangtok →
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
temple · 2.0 km away
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
temple · 2.5 km away
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
monument · 5.3 km away
Phodong Monastery and Labrang — two old monasteries on the North Sikkim road
Phodong Monastery and Labrang — two old monasteries on the North Sikkim road
temple · 7.2 km away
Tsomgo Lake (Changu) — the high glacial lake on the Nathu La road
Tsomgo Lake (Changu) — the high glacial lake on the Nathu La road
lake · 15 km away
Nathu La — the border pass east of Gangtok, and who may visit
Nathu La — the border pass east of Gangtok, and who may visit
pass · 22 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
The town of Almora spread across a terraced ridge under a blue sky with clouds
Almora
912 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Rows of boats with red cushioned seats moored on Nainital Lake, with forested hills across the water
Nainital
925 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
A wide panorama of forested ridges below a long line of snow-capped Himalayan peaks seen from Ranikhet
Ranikhet
934 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
Joshimath's houses spread down a steep mountain slope above a deep valley, with high ridges and blue sky beyond
Joshimath
951 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
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Questions people ask

Is two days enough for Gangtok?

For the town, Rumtek and a few nearby sights, yes. The town stops lie 8 to 23 minutes from the centre on our routing, and Rumtek is about 51 minutes away. Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La need a third day and a permit, and the North Sikkim road's monasteries need another, so use the other plans for those.

How far is Rumtek from Gangtok?

About 24 km, and about 51 minutes by road on our routing from the centre; Wikipedia also gives 24 km. The road is steep and winding, and landslides often cut roads in the monsoon. Rumtek is the largest monastery in Sikkim by Wikipedia's account, so it earns the morning.

When is the best time for this plan?

Spring and autumn, when Wikipedia describes the weather as generally sunny and mild. The monsoon, June to September, brings intense rain and landslides, and winter is cool with fog. Ask about the roads on the day before the Rumtek morning, since that is the leg most affected by slides.