About
East Sikkim is a district in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, in the Himalayan foothills of Asia. It is the most populous part of the state and the centre of its public life, holding the capital city of Gangtok along with much of Sikkim's administrative and commercial activity.
What a visit offers
For most travellers, East Sikkim is a base as much as a destination. Gangtok, the capital, is where government offices, shops, markets and services are concentrated, so it is a practical place to arrange onward travel, buy supplies and see how the state runs day to day. Because the district is the state's main hub, it tends to be the first stop for visitors arriving in Sikkim and the place they return to between excursions.
Planning your trip
- Stay in Gangtok if you want the widest choice of services, transport connections and things to do close at hand.
- Allow time to move around, since the district's roads climb steeply through hill country and journeys can take longer than the distances suggest.
- Check local conditions before you go, as travel within the hills can be affected by weather and road maintenance.
East Sikkim suits visitors who want to combine time in a working capital with access to the surrounding mountain landscape. It is a sensible choice for anyone interested in seeing Sikkim's centre of administration and daily life rather than only its remote valleys.
