Gangtok is the largest city of Sikkim state and it is also the capital of Sikkim. The city is located within the higher peaks of the Himalayas. Gangtok is a prevalent Buddhist pilgrimage site and is a center of the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Therefore, the region has several monasteries and religious educational institutions in this region. Get the details about Gangtok here.
The Gangtok real estate market has been slowly looking upwards. A part of the capital for building the physical infrastructure will come from the state and the center. Nonetheless, a large portion of the investment will depend on the private sector.
Industries such as IT, education, healthcare, and adventure tourism are expected to expand soon in the region. This will undoubtedly improve the real estate market by increasing the demand for residential properties Gangtok. Sikkim Police is responsible for the law and order situation in the state of Sikkim, including Gangtok. There are 12 Police stations in the city and the Director-General of Police heads the Police force.
The corporation is responsible for the provision of services like construction and maintenance of civic infrastructure, water supply, and tax collection among others. Gangtok houses the office of the district collector appointed by the Union Government of India.
Gangtok is the headquarters of the East Sikkim district. The North district in the north, the Darjeeling district of West Bengal in the south, China and Bhutan in the east, and the South district in the west surround the district.
The city’s economy does not have a large industrial base but has a flourishing cottage industry in handicrafts, watch-making, and country-made alcohol. The largest industry in Gangtok is that of hospitality, as the city is the key base for Sikkim tourism.
The city of Gangtok thrives on tourism. For this reason, the hospitality industry is the largest in Gangtok. Eco-tourism has grown as an important economic activity in this region with activities like mountaineering, trekking, and river rafting dominating the scene.
The cottage industry is another major industry in the region. Distilleries and tanning are other prominent industries in and around the city.
The economic status of most inhabitants is good in Gangtok with the government being the single largest employer. Agriculture is the major economic activity in this region and is practiced on the terraced field that has been painstakingly created from hillsides. Floriculture is also an industry that has been flourishing. This is because some of the most exotic floral species thrive in the region.
Bagdogra is the nearest airport to Gangtok. It is located in the state of West Bengal. Almost all domestic airlines such as Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, etc. run regular flights from Bagdogra to the important cities of India such as Kolkata and Delhi.
National Highway 31A, an all-weather metaled highway, connects Gangtok to Siliguri and also the rest of India. The city also has several arterial roads.
Located in West Bengal, Siliguri New and Jalpaiguri are the two rail stations closest to Sikkim. These stations are well connected to all the major cities in India.
Infrastructural development in Gangtok has been gaining speed due to increased economic opportunities. The main growth axis for the city is towards the south and the south-west direction, along NH 31A.
The presence of steep slopes, large forest cover, vulnerability to landslides, and inadequate access to most areas has been an obstacle to the growth of the city. Having said this, Gangtok is a town booming with construction activity across the city and nearby.
