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Kabi
Longstok:
Twenty
kilometers on the way to North Sikkim, before Phodong, is Kabi
Longstok, where the treaty of brotherhood between the Lepcha
Chieftain-Tekong Tek and the Tibetan Chief Khye Bumbsa was signed. The
spot where the treaty was signed is marked by a memorial stone and is
seen on the left side of the road while traveling from Gangtok to
Mangan.
Phodong
:It
is a small town with around ten shops and few hotels almost on the
middle of the Gangtok-Mangan journey. A police outpost, a senior
secondary school, Jawar Navodya Bhidhayala and a physical health
center are near by.
Phodong Monastry:Phodong
Monastry belonging to
Kargyupa Sect(karmapa), is situated about a kilometer uphill by a
jeepable road that bifurcates from the north Sikkim highway a little
bit ahead of Phodong towards Mangan. The monastry was built by the
Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal somewhere in the first quarter of the
eighteenth century.
The
main annual Puja (worship) is performed on the 28th and 29th
day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar when the religious
Chaams or the dances are also performed.
Labrang
Monastry.
:Another
Kilometer uphill from the Phodong Monastry on the same jeeepable road
is the Labrang Monastry which was built about one hundred years later
then Phodong Monastry but belongs to the Nyingmapa sect.
Ruins
of Tumlong Palace.:
The
capital of Sikkim was shifted from Rabdanste to Tumlong in the
beginning of neneteenth century. It is the fourth capital of Sikkim
and remained capital for around ninety years. The ruins of the palace
of Maharaja is seen just below the road between Phodong Monastry and
Labrang Monastry.
Mangan:Mangan
is the capital of North Sikkim. It is 65 kilometers from Gangtok. It
lies at an altitude of 3950 ft. .The
Bazar(market) with around fifty different types of shops is situated
on the north sikkim highway. The district collectorate where the
district collector and other government department function is
situated around two kilometers uphill from market at a place called
Pentok and is approached by a link road. On the sides of this link
road while traveling towards Pentok lies a public ground and Mangan
Senior Secondary School. Just opposite to Mangan, separated by river
Teesta, is seen a sloppy villages namely Lingdong, Barfok,
Hee-Gyathang falling under Dzongu area. From the Pentok area, the
picturesque view of mount Silnoulchu (a Range of mount Kanchendzonga)
is also seen.
Singhik
ViewPoint:
Singhik
is situated four kilometers away from Mangan towards the north. It has
few shops on the roadside and a junior high school. The view point
lies just on the road side from where is seen a very picturesque view
of mount Silnoulchu . Right downwards from the viewpoint is seen the
confluence of River Teesta and River Kanaka. Other sorrounding places
too look very beautiful from the viewpoint. A nice and clean
guesthouse, suitable for a night halt is also available near by.
Chungthang:Chunghthang
is 30 kilometers away from Mangan further north. It is around
95 kilometers away from Gangtok. It is a small town on the way
to Yumthang surrounded by high mountains that seem to be almost
touching the sky. At an altitude of about 5,600 ft, Chungthang lies at
the confluence of the Lachen Chu (Teesta) and the Lachung Chu {“
Chu” means river in bhutia language}. The north Sikkim highway
bifurcates here to take different routes for Lachen and Lachung.
Spot
of interest in Chungthang is a legendary rock having an imprint which
is believed to be the foot mark of Guru Padmasambha. There is a small
opening in the rock which remains filled with spring water. Adjacent
to the rock there is a small stretch of paddy field defying the
condition that demands the growth of paddy in this area.
Yumthang
Valley & Hot Spring.:
Situated at an altitude of 12000 ft.,
Yumthang is a valley between the snow clad hills all around. It is
around 75 kilometers from district headquarter, Mangan and around 95
kilometers from Gangtok. The route to Yumthang from Lachung-adjoining
the Singba Forest Reserve has a very picturesque landscape and is
lined with rhododendrons that bloom in different colour at their best
during the month of May. The natural scenic beauty around Yumthang,
look very much similar to that of Switzerland. The valley has a grassy
plane area in the middle, a river on the side and a forest Dak Bunglo
(Guest House), surrounded all sides by snow clad mountains. It is a
big fun over here playing with the snow and throwing it at each other.
Before
entering the valley a small pedestrian road goes through a small
bridge right way which connects the Yumthang Hot Spring. Hot water
rich in sulphur, emanates from a small spring and is diverted inside a
hut where two pools are made for the bathers. In such a cold place, it
is a very pleasant experience to bath in the water, which is so hot in
its natural form.
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