Gangtokis a municipality, the capital and the largest town of theIndianstate ofSikkim.The town's population of 100,000 belongs to different ethnicities such asNepali,LepchasandBhutia. Nestled within higher peaks of the Himalaya and enjoying a year-round mildtemperateclimate, Gangtok is at the centre of Sikkim's tourism industry.
Gangtok rose to prominence as a popularBuddhist pilgrimagesite after the construction of theEnchey Monasteryin 1840. In 1894, the ruling SikkimeseChogyal,Thutob Namgyal, transferred the capital to Gangtok. In the early 20th century, Gangtok became a major stopover on thetrade routebetweenLhasainTibetand cities such asKolkata(then Calcutta) inBritish India. After India won its independence fromBritainin 1947, Sikkim chose to remain an independent monarchy, with Gangtok as its capital. In 1975, after the integration with the union of India, Gangtok was made India's 22nd state capital.
The precise meaning of the name "Gangtok" is unclear, though the most popular meaning is "hill top".Today, Gangtok is a centre ofTibetan Buddhistcultureand learning, with the presence of several monasteries, religious educational institutions, and centres forTibetology.
