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The white-and-red domed Hanuman Tok temple behind a wide paved forecourt with tall conifers and a blue sky
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Photo: Anjan Kumar Kundu · CC BY 4.0
temple20 min from Gangtok

Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge

Hanuman Tok, the Hindu temple complex on the ridge above Gangtok, kept by the Indian Army: its 1950 founding, the Sanjeevani legend and the Kanchenjunga view.

What it is

Hanuman Tok is a Hindu temple complex on a ridge in the upper part of Gangtok, dedicated to Hanuman. Tok is the Sikkimese word for a hilltop, and Wikipedia says the Indian Army maintains the temple.

Photos: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India Derivative work: UnpetitproleX (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Anjan Kumar Kundu (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

History and the legend

In 1950 a civil servant named Appaji Pant raised the temple over a rock, and the Army later took over the surrounding land and the temple with it. Local legend says Hanuman rested at this spot on his way to Dunagiri mountain, flying to fetch the Sanjeevani herb that would save Lakshmana, Rama's brother.

What you see

A white temple with a red-and-saffron top and flags, a forecourt, and the ridge's long view over forested hills. Wikipedia names the Kanchenjunga range as visible to the west of the town, and the ridge is among the town's higher viewpoints. Ganesh Tok, a smaller temple to Ganesha, is near it in the upper town.

Getting there

The temple is in the upper reaches of the town, on the road north of the centre; see the quick facts for our measured road time. Ask for the Army-kept temple, and check at the gate for any visiting rule: we have none verified.

Combine it with

The one-day plan takes the ridge after Enchey Monastery. Read things to do in Gangtok and when to visit Gangtok.

Plans that include this

All 1 plans that stop here →
The red, white and yellow main hall of Enchey Monastery with a palm tree and tall conifers behind it on a sunny day
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 →

Nearby places

All of Gangtok →
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
temple · 813 m away
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 · 2.5 km away
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
temple · 2.8 km away
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
museum · 4.3 km away
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
temple · 4.5 km away
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
monument · 5.9 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 · 8.5 km away
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
temple · 9.3 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
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Questions people ask

What is Hanuman Tok?

A Hindu temple complex dedicated to Hanuman in the upper reaches of Gangtok. Wikipedia says a civil servant, Appaji Pant, raised the temple over a rock in 1950, and that the Indian Army later took over the land around it and now maintains the temple. Ganesh Tok, a temple to Ganesha, is nearby.

What is the legend of Hanuman Tok?

Local legend, as Wikipedia records it, says Hanuman rested here for a while on his flight to Dunagiri mountain, where he was to fetch the life-saving Sanjeevani herb for Lakshmana, the brother of Rama. The temple is said to mark the spot. It is a belief, not a dated historical record.

Can you see Kanchenjunga from Hanuman Tok?

Commons holds a photograph of the Kanchenjunga range taken from the ridge, and Wikipedia places Kanchenjunga, 8,598 m, west of Gangtok; it is the third tallest mountain on Earth. Whether you see it depends on cloud, which Wikipedia says often covers the town in monsoon and winter, so go early on a clear day.