Sikkim is a vast canvas for any aspiring photographer and Ganesh Tok offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the region. Situated at a height of 6,500 ft, the circular viewing decks can get crowded on clear days. If you are patient, you will be rewarded with a scenic view that is straight out of a painting. Tall pine trees, snow-capped mountains, swirling mists, and the tiny roofs of Gangtok town cover a wide expanse, and it is not surprising that Ganesh Tok is a popular tourist attraction.
The Himalayan Zoological Park is nearby and can be a welcome change for the kids.
The tiny Ganesh temple, said to be one of the oldest Hindu shrines in Eastern Sikkim, draws several pilgrims who make their offerings and then spend a long time staring out at the snow-kissed mountains.
When to reach
The temple gates open at 6 a.m. and you should arrive by 9 a.m. to get the best views. From March to June, spring through summer, Ganesh Tok is an observatory in the skies that portrays Sikkim in a completely different light. The birds-eye-view of the region is only second to Hanuman Tok. Time flies as you stand on the viewing deck wishing you could stay longer in the magical land of Sikkim.
In the land of monasteries, Ganesh Tok offers something for the pilgrim as well as the traveler. If you want to go for a short morning ride from Gangtok town, this temple is where you should land up. There are quite a few food stalls in the vicinity where you can have a simple breakfast of egg on toast or gorge on sumptuous vegetable momos.
How to reach
Ganesh Tok is 7 km from Gangtok town and the road is lined with Tibetan prayer flags making it a colorful journey. Your best option is to hire a cab to and from the temple. There is a parking area nearby so this shouldn’t be too challenging a climb.
