Hanumantok, Gangtok, Sikkim.
It was a day off and I had a plan ‘all – ready’.
So if you are visiting Gangtok and go around for local sightseeing, this will be one of the points- ‘Hanumantok’. Located at a height of around 7200 feet above sea level, the highest viewpoint in Gangtok, this place has its own history. It is believed that Lord Hanuman while on his way back with the 'Sanjeevani booti', rested here for some time! Now that may sound fascinating!
The enormity of space on one side of the road you travel with stunning hues of mountains- one covering the other at the horizon, and the tiny little buildings at the distance revealing a part of the town you know you came from. Walking is so much fun if you switch on your senses in true sense! And with watchful eyes, you can even cut some distance and the metal road with shortcuts along the hill. This would certainly give the feeling of a trek, though not in real. Now this is actually the Nathula-Changu route that you undertake and finally bifurcate from ‘teen mile’ checkpost; from where you climb another two kilometres uphill. At the near end of the destination is a place for meditation for the Buddhist monks or ‘lamas’. I really wanted to see the place from inside but unfortunately, nobody is allowed in there!
NOTE: Whatever is being written here are the personal views of the author and are subjected to agreement or disagreement.
It was a day off and I had a plan ‘all – ready’.
1. First, choose a good location.
2. Pray for good weather.
3. Carry water to hydrate and
chocolates to keep off the hunger among other essentials.
4. Start walking.
So if you are visiting Gangtok and go around for local sightseeing, this will be one of the points- ‘Hanumantok’. Located at a height of around 7200 feet above sea level, the highest viewpoint in Gangtok, this place has its own history. It is believed that Lord Hanuman while on his way back with the 'Sanjeevani booti', rested here for some time! Now that may sound fascinating!
But what is spectacular is the view of the beautiful himalayan ranges of Kanchenjunga that one can see from the top if the weather permits.
The place is around ten kilometres from Gangtok. So to and fro makes it to around twenty. Not to forget the gain in elevation that one attains with every step, summing to at least seventeen hundred feet. The weather was pretty good and so was the road. I carried an umbrella none the less to keep off the sun rays.
Because I stay in Arithang, I had two ways to start the journey on foot. One via the NH and diverting from zero point, or walk upstairs to MG Marg and follow the Tibet road. I chose the latter. The first locality on the way is a place called Chandmari. It’s mostly a residential area with a small market place around. Once you get past it, the beautiful journey unfolds.
The enormity of space on one side of the road you travel with stunning hues of mountains- one covering the other at the horizon, and the tiny little buildings at the distance revealing a part of the town you know you came from. Walking is so much fun if you switch on your senses in true sense! And with watchful eyes, you can even cut some distance and the metal road with shortcuts along the hill. This would certainly give the feeling of a trek, though not in real. Now this is actually the Nathula-Changu route that you undertake and finally bifurcate from ‘teen mile’ checkpost; from where you climb another two kilometres uphill. At the near end of the destination is a place for meditation for the Buddhist monks or ‘lamas’. I really wanted to see the place from inside but unfortunately, nobody is allowed in there!
It took me two hours to reach my summit and took an even longer time getting down, now that I had so much time left in the day. So on the way back, I found this lovely place in Chandmari where you must have the full course in case you happen to pass by . The food was served hot and was delicious to say the least. Gangtok, in general, is a very costly place. But to my surprise, this restaurant was an exception by its standards.
You also get mountain bikes for hire from here!
NOTE: Whatever is being written here are the personal views of the author and are subjected to agreement or disagreement.
