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.
