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General Information
Area : 7300 sq.kms
Number of districts : Four (North,
East, South and west
Population : 4,21,500
Language spoken : Nepali, Bhutia,
Lepcha, Tibetan, English, Hindi
GANGTOK
Gangtok is the capital town of Sikkim, which is also
one of the well known hill stations of India. It is
at an altitude of 5840ft. (1780m) above sea level
with approximate population of 50,000 and and area
of 15 square kilometers. An important transit point
on the busy trade route with Tibet at one time, Gangtok
today has become the base from which tourists can
plan their exploration of Sikkim at the same time
providing a breather from the exhilarating experience
of the rest of Sikkim
The town has emerged into the mainstream of the tourism
industry with more and more tourists visiting this
Himalayan state every year.
CLIMATE
Sikkim has a typical four-season year. The temperature
of Gangtok in summer is Max. 210C and Min. 130C and
in winter it is Max. 130C and Min. 0.480C. Gangtok
records rainfall on an average of 325cm per annum.
Best season to travel: March to late May/October to
December.
MONEY
Indian currency called 'RUPIAH' is in use throughout
Sikkim, which comes in the note of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20,
50, 100, 500 and 1000.
COMMUNICATION
Sikkim is linked to the world through satellite and
there are many internet service providers, where you
can surf the net and mail and international direct
dialing and subscribers trunk dialing facilities are
also available.
ENTRY FORMALITIES
Trekking permits are issued to foreign tourists consisting
of a group of 4 or more provided they are sponsored
by recognized travel agents.
Follow the formal entry routes into Sikkim as prescribed
in the inner Line Permit.
Foreigners may now visit Lachung and Yumthang Valley
in North Sikkim for 5 days and Tsangu in East Sikkim
for one day, subject to obtaining protected area permits
from Secretary Tourism, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok.
Permits may be obtained in advance or on arrival at
Gangtok through recognized travel agent. If you are
traveling from Nepal you can opt for Visa from Indian
Embassy in Kathmandu.
SHOPS
Gangtok has facilities for the tourists who want to
buy books, souvenirs, gifts and handloom garments,
Tibetan carpets, thangkas. Many of them has interesting
selections of books on Sikkim and India, post cards
and handmade paper. You can also take back with you
the special products of Sikkim such as Cheese, Teas
and fruit juice. The main thoroughfare of Gangtok
town is MG Marg. Slightly less than a kilometer in
length adn lined with shops, hotels, restaurants,
bars, bakeries, studios, cyber cafe, pool rooms and
curio shops.
TOURISM DEPARTMENT OF SIKKIM
A great deal of information can be easily available
from the Tourism Department of Sikkim in Gangtok.
Tourist Information Center is located at MG Marg. |
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