| The district headquarter of north District
of Sikkim, Mangan is a small town about 65 km from Gangtok. The
main road connecting Gangtok to the rest of North Sikkim passes
through the middle of Mangan Bazaar. Except for the main market
area, the rest of Mangan is a tranquil little town which with its
unique cultural heritage.
Non-Sikkimese need permission to venture beyond Mangan. There are
a couple of small hotels in the heart of Mangan with basic facilities.
Tourists pass through Mangan on their way to Northern Sikkim. But
Mangan as a town does not see much tourist activity. Down below
Mangan a few kilometers drive can take one to Tista. There is a
small hanging bridge over Tista at this spot. Crossing the river
will take one to the Lepcha land. There are restriction about outsiders
visiting the other side of Tista known as the Dzongu area. Recently
restrictions have been relaxed but zyou still need permission to
visit the Dzongu area. Some of the villages in the area include
Lingdong, Barfok, Gyathang etc
.
Although North Sikkim is the largest district among the four districts
of Sikkim, it is relatively sparsely populated and provides some
of the best visual treats anywhere in the world. At an altitude
of 3950 ft, your visit to North Sikkim starts right from Mongan.
All along the way beyond Mangan, you will find small and large waterfalls,
dense forests a simple and friendly people.
An attractions near Mangan is the famous Phodong monastery which
is about 30 km from here. This is considered one of the six most
important monasteries of Sikkim. The original monastery has been
rebuilt and is today one of the most beautiful monasteries in Sikkim. |
