Gangtok, the capital of the State lies at the heart of this District and is the nucleus of all activity in the State. With a population of approx. 50,000 and situated at a height of about 5,500 feet. Gangtok is a fast-developing city where quaint little curio shops exist in harmony with shopping Arcades and Cyber Cafes.

In and around the city, one can visit the Enchey monastery situated above Gangtok on a hilltop with a panoramic vie of the town and the surrounding hills. A few kilometers away is the Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology, a treasure house of rare Tibetan scriptures and artifacts. Nearby is th round Do Drul Chorten, where visitors may also see giant statues of Guru Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Sikkim and Lord Buddha.

The Sikkim flower show complex is a showcase of the world-famous Sikkim Orchids, displayed here are the rare and exotic varieties. also available in a convienient retail outlet with in the complex where visitors may take home bulbs and saplings at nominal rates.

For the connoisseur of Sikkimese art and craft, the Directorate of Handicraft and Handloom offers good bargains. Here, the visitours can also see the skilled artisans at work as they deftly carve, weave and pant exquisite designs.

About a 45 min drive away on the hill opposite Gangtok is the Rumtek Monastery, the Dharma Chakra Centre and the seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa Karmapa, who is the head of the Kagyupa order of  Tibetan Buddhism. Behind the main monastery si the lavishly decorated Karma Nalanda Institute of Buddhist Studies, which attracts students from the world over. Opposite the entrance to the Institute is a small hall feathring a beauriful jewel studded chorten the Golden stupa, which countains the ashes and remains of His Holiness, the XVI Gylwa Karmapa.

Half a Kilometer before the Rumtek Monastery is the Nehru Botanical Garden a mixture of will-tented tropical and temperate plants and trees with a huge greenhouse containing many species of orchids. Another spectacular monastery on the Gangtok-Ranka route is the recently established Lingdum monastery which is the seat of Zurmang Garwang Rinpoche. The present Gharwang Rinpoche is the XII successive incarnation in this lineage.

The serene Tsomgo Lake is a 2 hours driver (about 40 kms) away from Gangtok and is located at a height of about 12,400 feet. The lake derives its waters from melting snows off the surrounding mountains. Enroute to Tsomgo lies the unique high altitude Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, home of the Red Panda and the Blood Pheasant, which are the state animal and the state bird respectively, Indian tourists can now also visit the Indian outpost at Nathula, the erstwhile gateway of the fabled Silk Route in days of yore.

Saramsa Garden / Himalayan Zoological Park / Ganesh Tok / Hanuman Tok / Water Garden / Aritar / Baba Harvajan Singh Memorial / Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary.