GEYZING TRAVEL GUIDE

Gyalshing or Geyzing, as it is popularly known, is a small town in West Sikkim, and also the district headquarters. “Gyalshing” literally means “the King’s garden,” and Gyalshing was once the royal garden, attached to the royal palace of Rabdentse. Located at 117km from Gangtok, and 823m above MSL, Gyalshing is a small but busy town, well connected to all other major towns of Sikkim and West Bengal.

Predominantly occupied by Nepalese people, the popular language of the town is Nepali, and the town is primarily a Buddhist tourist center, though it does not fail to delight tourists who are nature lovers. Gyalshing has beautiful views of the Himalayas, specifically the Kanchenjunga mountain. It is also an educational hub of Sikkim and North East India in general, and has good medical facilities available.

Climate And Best Time To Visit

Gyalshing has a temperate climate and is pleasant for most part of the year. The best time to visit is the summer months (April-June) or the Autumn months (September-December).

Getting There & Getting Around Gyalshing

Gyalshing is accessible via the Bagdogra Airport, and the New Jalpaiguri Railway station, which have direct connectivity to the town via road. You can also reach Gyalshing via road from other important cities and towns like Gangtok, Pelling, Yuksom etc.

Best time to visit GeyzingHow to reach Geyzing

The best way to tour around the town is to book a private taxi.

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

Gyalshing has beautiful monasteries around it, along with viewing points for splendid views of the Himalayas. Traveling around Gyalshing is a joy, as it shows a different side of Sikkim, which is well connected to nature, bustling with activity, yet not too touristy to spoil natural sights.

VARSEY RHODODENDRON SANCTUARY

This is one of the most charming sight seeing spots near Gyalshing. Sprawling over 104 sq km area, this is a wildlife sanctuary, officially declared so in 1996. Having three points of entry, this sanctuary is home to diverse fauna like leopard, red panda, Himalayan Langur, Kaleej etc, apart from being a reserve for Rhododendrons. The climate here is wet and cold, and the Rhododendrons are in bloom only in the months from March to May. The sanctuary is located in the Singalila Range in Sikkim. It is best explored on foot, and has beautiful, untouched forest surroundings, and ethereal views of the Kanchenjunga. Visitors are advised to keep all their garbage with them and avoid littering the place. Plastics are strictly banned in the sanctuary. Care must be taken to respect local customs and cultural traditions, and the wildlife should not be disturbed in any way.

YANGTEY

A small village, located at an altitude of 1828m, Yangtey is an ideal spot to take a day off and immerse yourself in the calm of nature. A quiet getaway, it is not a touristy destination which gives beautiful views of the mountain and rivers. You can see peaks like peaks like Frey, Pandim, Narsing and Rathong from here. It has waterfalls, meadows, alpine trees, and neat houses that look just out of a book. It is also close to the Rabdentse Ruins, which are the historical site of the royal palace.

GYALSHING BAZAAR

This is one of the oldest markets in the area, dating back to 100 years ago. This lies opposite to the Mendang or Holy Wall, constructed by the third king, Chogyal Chador Namgyal. It is close to Radentse and Pemayangste. This has been a place where monks from the monasteries and villagers could do their shopping, and merchants from villages could sell their goods like vegetables, dairy products, crops, and other items of daily use. Growing over a period of time, the market is now a full fledged market, with shops for every purpose. This is also a community center, with meditation hall and places of worship for all.

Gyalshing is a place not to be missed by anyone who wants to take time off to learn more about the culture, flora and fauna of Sikkim, and explore views of the Himalayas.