Gangtok

Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. It is situated in the lower Himalayas, located at {{coor d|27.2|N|88.4|E|}}. Known for its clean surroundings and temperate climate, this hill station of about fifty thousand people is the centre of Sikkim's tourist industry.

Geography

Gangtok is situated in the lower Himalayas at an altitude of 1,780 metres (5,480 feet), in southeast Sikkim. In addition to being the state capital, it is also the headquarters of the East Sikkim district. The town lies on one side of a hill, with "The Ridge", a promenade housing the governor's residence at one end and the palace, situated at an altitude of about 6,000 feet (1,828 m), at the other. The city overlooks the Ranikhola in the valley below. Most of the roads are steep, with the buildings built on compacted ground alongside them. The peaks of the snow-clad Himalayan range, including the world's third tallest peak, the Kanchenjunga, can be seen to the east of the city.

Related Topics:
Himalaya - Metre - Feet - East Sikkim - Governor - Ranikhola - Kanchenjunga

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Because of its elevation and sheltered environment, Gangtok enjoys a mild, temperate climate all year round. Like most Himalayan towns, Gangtok has five seasons: summer, monsoons, autumn, winter and spring. Temperatures range from a high of 25 °C (77° F) in summer to a low of about 3 °C (37 °F) in winter. Snowfall is rare, and in recent times Gangtok has received snow only in 1990, 2004 and 2005. Temperatures below freezing are also rare. During this season the weather can be sporadic, and change abruptly from bright sunshine and clear skies to heavy rain within a couple of hours.

Related Topics:
Temperate - Summer - Monsoon - Autumn - Winter - Spring - C - F - Snowfall - 1990 - 2004 - 2005 - Freezing

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During spring and autumn the weather is generally sunny and mild. Owing to its elevation, Gangtok is often enveloped in fog during the monsoon and winter months. Between June and September (the monsoon months), the rain often causes landslides in the area. The lower Himalayas in general are composed of labile rock formations and therefore prone to landslides even in dry seasons. These landslides can result in the town being cut off from other parts of Sikkim.

Related Topics:
Fog - Landslides

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Flora around Gangtok includes temperate, deciduous forests of poplar, birch, oak, and elm, as well as evergreen, coniferous trees of the wet alpine. Densely forested regions of these evergreens lie just around the town. A wide variety of rare orchids are often featured in flower shows around the city. Sunflower, marigold, poinsettia, and other flowers bloom in November and December.

Related Topics:
Deciduous - Poplar - Birch - Oak - Elm - Evergreen - Coniferous - Wet alpine - Orchids - Sunflower - Marigold - Poinsettia - November - December

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Bamboo grows in abundance along the slopes of Gangtok, providing a perennial source of spring water, which originates from the roots of the trees. In the lower reaches of the town, the vegetation graduates from alpine to subtropical and temperate deciduous.

Related Topics:
Bamboo - Subtropical

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