Gangtok
Gangtok (Sikkimese: [ɡaŋt̪ʰòk]) is the capital and the most populous city of the Indian state of Sikkim. The seat of eponymous district, Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of 1,650 m (5,410 ft). The city's population of 100,000 consists of the three Sikkimese ethnicities the Bhutias, Lepchas, Gorkhalis and also plainsmen from other states of India have settled here. Within the higher peaks of the Himalayas and with a year-round mild temperate climate, Gangtok is at the centre of Sikkim's tourism industry.
Gangtok | |
|---|---|
State capital | |
Clockwise from top: M.G. Marg, Gangtok cable car, Gangtok from Tibet Road, Rumtek Monastery, Dro-dul Chorten, Kangchenjunga view from Gangtok | |
Gangtok Location of Gangtok in Sikkim Gangtok Gangtok (India) Gangtok Gangtok (Asia) | |
| Coordinates: 27.33°N 88.62°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Sikkim |
| District | Gangtok |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Gangtok Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Nell Bahadur Chettri |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.3 km2 (7.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,650 m (5,410 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 100,290 |
| • Density | 5,332/km2 (13,810/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official |
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| • Additional official | |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 737101 |
| Telephone code | 03592 |
| Vehicle registration | SK-01 |
| Website | gangtokdistrict |
Gangtok rose to prominence as a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site after the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840. In 1894, the ruling Sikkimese Chogyal, Thutob Namgyal, transferred the capital to Gangtok. In the early 20th century, Gangtok became a major stopover on the trade route between Lhasa in Tibet and cities such as Kolkata (then Calcutta) in British India. After India won its independence from the British Empire in 1947, Sikkim chose to remain an independent monarchy, with Gangtok as its capital. After Sikkim's merger with India in 1975, Gangtok continued as the state capital.