Gangtok

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We flew from Kolkatta to Bagdogra airport in Siliguri. It took five hours from airport to Darjeeling and three hours drive from there to Sikkim. You see Tsomgo Lake ie 50 kms from Gangtok, is close to the China border. You need to get special passes to go there. Carry yr ID card and passport picture. Visit photographers site www.webbingsystems.com to know more about his work.

You see a Yak that is used for transportation of goods and people at high altitude. Best time to travel is March to late May, October to Mid-December. Tsomgo is a holy lake worshipped by the Sikkimese.

You see my wife sitting on a Yak. We paid Rs 50/ to the man for allowing us to use the Yak for this picture. The lake is at 12400 feet above sea level. A small Shiva temple is built on the lakeside. Alpine plantation grow around the lake.

Mountain peak view clicked from Tsomgo lake. Lots of fog. The lake is about 20 kms away from Nathula Pass and 400 kms from Lhasa.

Road to Tsomgo Lake. 25 kms is Nathula a great place that we hope to do in our next trip. The lake is located on the old trade route between India and China.

Gangtok town has a ropeaway that cuts across the town. It is a must do when u visit this hill city. Great view.

A picture of the town taken when we are in the ropeway.

The streets are amazingly clean as you can see in this picture. Note the well tucked flowers in the centre right of the picture. This is called M.G. road. No cars are allowed on the road.

This picture gives you an amazing view of the main market.

Flower in flower exhibition centre that runs throughout the year.

Another close up view of a flower with a butterfly.

You see the Ranka Monastery, is about 40 kms from Gangtok. Isolated and on a hill top.

A view of the inside of the monastery. Clean and colorful.

Stupa inside the Ranka Monastery.

Kyongnosla Waterfall at 10375 feet. Is in Gangtok but outside the city, enroute to Tsomgo Lake.

A board that gives you information about the waterfall.

Chhoedten Stupa in Gangtok.

My wife with the prayers wheels that were in the Stupa complex.

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology where vast collection of instruments made from human bones are displaced with wonderful wall paintings as you see in the next picture. It is a storehouse of Tibetan literature and artifacts.

A classic wall painting inside the institute building. It is one of the three institutes worldwide the other two being "Institute of Peoples of Asia" in Moscow and Toyo Bunko, in Tokyo.

A classic wall painting inside the institute building.

Banjhakri Waterfall, about 40 kms from Gangtok. It has a large collection of solar powered equipment and joy ride for children.

Base of another stupa that we saw near Gangtok helipad. Notice the workanship.

Life size statutes of Banjhakri and Lemlemey. They are magicians, singers of the folklore. Sikkim is a must visit.

Panoramic view of the Paljor Stadium ie in the heart of Gangtok city. We enjoyed our trip and suggest you visit Sikkim as well. All pictures by Pashminu Manuskhani. Visit his site www.webbingsystems.com to know more about his work.

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