Rangpo in Sikkim

What Makes Rangpo Worth Visiting

Rangpo is a small town and the perfect place to experience the rural culture and tradition of Sikkim and its pristine natural beauty, dotted around the home-stay there are various spots to visit. Far from the urbanized world, it is a perfect hideout amidst nature to explore the life outside cities and soothe your distressed soul. Due to its pleasant weather and natural beauty, Rangpo is truly an ideal family holiday or a weekend gateway for every kind of traveler. Moreover, it is also on the way to the other destinations like Lachung, Pelling, and Yuksom which makes it worth visiting.

Places to Visit near Rangpo

Rumtek Monastery

From Rangpo, the distance of Rumtek monastery is just 40 km and takes not more than two hours to cover this road distance. The Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre is one of the prominent tourist sites known for its jaw-dropping Tibetan architecture, artifacts, and the vast stretch of pine trees in the backdrop. This monastery was originally built during the mid-18th century by Changchub Dorje. It is the largest monastery in Sikkim and the home of many monks where they perform many Buddhist rituals. Here you can get to see a golden stupa that contains the relics of the 16th Karmapa, paintings, and a huge premise to wander around.

Temi Tea Garden

From Rangpo, Temi Tea Garden is another place to visit. This tea garden was established in 1969 by the Government of Sikkim which has now become a popular tourist site. Laid over a gradually sloping hill and surrounded by the hills, Temi Tea Garden offers a sweeping view of the valley and complete serenity which makes the visitors fall in love with this tea garden. It is covering an area of 440 acres and the average altitude is between 4000 feet to 6000 feet. You can walk around these tea gardens to watch tea gardens, meet the local village, enjoy trekking through the forest of pine and dhupis, enjoy the view of the snow-peaked Kanchenjunga on a clear day. Moreover, explore the tea factory of Temi to witness the tea processing.

Ban Jhakri Fall

Around 40 km from Rangpo and just a little away from Gangtok, Ban Jhakri Fall is another pictorial site you will certainly love to visit. Located inside the quite popular Energy Park, 100-foot Ban Jhakri Waterfall is quite an ideal site for having a picnic and spends some quality time with your friends and family. The intense spouting of the water gushing on the stones and the beautiful view of the surrounding creates a worth-capturing scene.

Ganesh Tok

Ganesh Tok is one of the most preferred among the tourists in the city. Dedicated to Lord Ganesh, you will fall in love with the splendid architecture. Apart from its architecture, you will also love to capture the alluring view of the Himalayan range. Spending time here will be a memorable one while enjoying the beauty of its Tibetan architecture and the backdrop view of nature. At an elevation of 6500 feet above sea level, Ganesh Tok is truly a worth visiting site from Rangpo.

Tsomgo Lake

One of the magnificent lakes in the entire Sikkim, Tsomogo Lake or Changu Lake can be quite easily visited from Rangpo. The approximate distance between them is around 82 km which takes around 3 hours to cover. It is a glacial lake with an approximate height of 12,310 feet and surrounded by hills. The deep blue water of Changu Lake and the Himalayan range in the backdrop really offer a soothing view. On its shore, there is a Shiva Temple. The lake is also believed to be a sacred one as the surface of the lake shows different colors in different seasons. Local delicacies can also be tried from the food stalls near the lake during spending some quality time near the lake.

Nathula Pass

From Rangpo, Nathula Pass is another must-visit spot. It is one of the highest motorable passes in the world and also part of the Silk Route that link Sikkim with China's Tibet autonomous region. For those who seek solace amidst nature and want to behold the daunting hills, there are no other places like Nathula pass. By spending multiple hours here, visitors can truly enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of nature, fresh breeze and behold the scenic view of the snow-covered mountains along with the picturesque Chumbi valley of Tibet.

How to Reach the Town

By Air: Sikkim does not have any operational airport. Rangpo's nearest airport is located at Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri, and West Bengal. The approximate distance between them is around 90 km which takes around 3 hours to cover by a car.

By Train: Sikkim does not have a railway station either. The nearest one to Rangpo is the New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP) at a distance of around 80km. From this railway station, it is going to take not more than 3 hours to reach the town if you opt for a rented car.

By Road: Visiting Rangpo by road is the most convenient way as it is nicely connected with its entire major nearby cities. The nearby commercial hub is Siliguri. From there, plenty of cars are available to hire. Cars can be rented even from other nearby cities. If you are going to start your journey from Siliguri, it will take around 3 hours to reach after covering approx. 76 km of road distance.

Hotels and Homestays in Rangpo

Even though a small town in East Sikkim, you can find many hotels and homestays including budget and deluxe categories. Homestays in Rangpo will provide you with all kinds of basic amenities such as an attached western bathroom, geyser, view rooms, organic foods with both veg and nonveg options, neat and clean spacious rooms, and more. Contact North Bengal Tourism to book a room at the homestays or hotels in Rangpo. You can even plan an entire Sikkim Tour Package including the breathtaking Rangpo with the help of North Bengal Tourism.

Best Time to Visit Rangpo

The best time to visit Rangpo is during the months of May to June and then again from October to November. Even though the weather of the town stays on the cooler side throughout the year, it is still pleasing. The sky also remains clear most of the seasons except monsoon. During monsoon, frequent slides are reported due to heavy rainfall. Hence, travelers should avoid visiting Rangpo during the monsoon season. In the winter season, bring warm woolen clothes is recommended. As per the temperature is concerned, it overs around 25°C in summer, and in winter, the temperature can be as low as 1°C.