Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is not only known for its monasteries and flower show circuits but also with time, it has developed into a contemporary hillside town offering a thriving food, culture and art scene. You get to learn much more about Gangtok that nobody talks about in general when you visit this tourism-friendly city.
Explore cafes cum Bookstores
During your visit to Gangtok, you can explore a few quaint bookstores-cum-cafes, including Rachna bookstore which is said to be one of the best indie bookstores in India. Rachna bookstore won Publishing Next’s Bookstore of the Year award in 2015-16 in the South East Asia category. The shelves of the bookstore are filled with Sikkimese, Nepal and Tibetan history, culture, folklore and arts. It also has a wide range of book collections regarding women writers, graphic novels and literary magazines. Rachna Bookstore hosts interesting events with writers, illustrators, publishers from India and abroad. In addition, it also publishes its own books (e.g., Opening the Hidden Land: State Formation and Construction of Sikkimese History by Dr. Saul Mullard).
While reading a book of your preferred genre, you can also enjoy sandwiches, momos and steaming bowls of noodles, pasta and pies, freshly-baked cakes, brownies, waffles, and cheesecakes from its own café Fiction.
Visit Museums
If you are a history buff, you can browse through rare and historical documents at the High Court Museum. This 1910 bungalow used to be the chief justice’s bungalow. In 2016, it was converted to a museum. When you enter the bungalow, you will be greeted by the statues of Sikkim Guards clad in bright red uniforms. Its five galleries work as a watchdog of ancient documents, sepia-toned photos, illustrated manuscripts, antiquities, coins, archaeological objects, armour, and natural history specimens.
A Mock Court Room allows you experience the feeling of being inside an actual one. When you are in the library, you can view and read old judgments and documents. Its audio-visual room screens documentary films and videos on Sikkim. Additionally, you can catch up on your souvenir shopping at the attached shop that sells handicrafts and products made in Sikkim.
Shop Organic Foods at Lal Bazar
Located below MG Marg, close to the Denzong cinema hall, Lal Bazar has two-floor house shops that offer local fruits, vegetables, cheeses, grains, etc. Its organic produce market sells different kinds of chhurpi (local cheese), nakema (a wild orchid variety that is made into a dish), fresh-churned butter, homemade noodles, pickles, dried meats, a variety of beans, vegetables like nettles, fiddle-headed ferns and miniature eggplants. Besides, you can also pick up clothes and accessories at a minimal price using your bargaining skills.
