Safe haven in Sikkim
Massive avalanche hits Sikkim’s Nathu La area; Seven tourists killed as avalanche hits Nathu La in Sikkim; Many vehicles still buried under the snow were among the top headlines as I switched on the television to update myself on what’s happening around that April 4 morning. As the details of the incident poured in over the next couple of hours, a chill went down by my spine – I happened to be at the same place less than a week ago where this unfortunate natural disaster took place.
Visiting Sikkim, the least populous and second smallest among Indian states, for business, most of my stay had been dominated by meetings. I had chosen to stay at Ramada by Wyndham Gangtok Hotel and Casino Golden as it stands in the heart of the capital city of Gangtok and is in close proximity to the main market – MG Marg. In between my work obligations, the hotel would turn into a haven for me to enjoy the beautiful view of the peaks of Mt Kanchenjunga as I sipped a hot cup of cappuccino. There was so much peace and tranquility around that I decided to extend my stay by a couple of days to know Gangtok and around better. Another reason was the welcoming atmosphere and the ever-smiling staff at the hotel along with topnotch facilities. Now that I was at leisure, I decided to have a conversation with the man in-charge of the operations at the property, General Manager Shashank Shankar Roy. The gracious host as Roy turned out to be informed me about the Gangtok Ropeway, 10 minutes from the hotel that I could enjoy before heading to the in-house Karma spa to relax and thereafter, dinner. He even deputed a staff member, Mann, to help arrange things for me.
Upon returning from the mesmerising ropeway ride that gave me a bird’s eye view of the city and a rejuvenating massage session at the spa, I sat down for a scrumptious meal comprising Paneer Butter Masala, Moong Dal and some noodles from the delicious dinner buffet along with specially requested home-style dishes from nearby regions such as Aloor Dum and Bhappa Aloo at the Trinity Restaurant & Bar. As I enjoyed my mouthwatering meal, Roy, who accompanied me for the meal, shared that the hotel has 57 rooms, divided into Standard, Deluxe and Executive along with Suites, Duplex and Super Suites.
“While currently the primary clientele is business and leisure traveller, I’m working to increase my hotel’s reach as a weddings and MICE destination. With a 2,400 sq ft banquet hall as well as a rooftop bar, The Sky Deck, next to the temperature-controlled open pool, I believe we can deliver high-end weddings and MICE events,” he said.
If you’re flying in, Wyndham Gangtok Hotel and Casino Golden is 123 km from Bagdogra International Airport) and 25 km from Pakyong Airport. The hotel, informed Roy, offers facilities like the fitness centre, Bodykraft, and then there’s a business centre, a children’s play area, dry cleaning service and friendly 24x7 front desk staff. “Each non-smoking guest room is appointed with a sitting area, Smart HDTV, coffee-tea maker, minibar, desk, electronic safe, ironing amenities, slippers, robes, hair dryer, bath products and bottled water,” he added.
For the next day, Roy suggested I visit Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La Pass, Baba Mandir, Rumtek Monastery, Ranka Monastery, Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Tashi View Point, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Banjhakri Falls and Himalaya Zoological Park. When I expressed my interest in visiting the Tsomgo Lake, Roy promptly arranged everything – from the car to the breakfast on-the-go – advising I leave early as the uphill drive could take time. The next day as we drove towards the Tsomgo Lake, unsure if the snow from the previous day had cleared out enough to pave way for cars to reach the destination, we passed the very spot where a week later the avalanche would wreak havoc.
I returned late in the evening, tired and exhausted. A quick bite and I retired for the day as I had a flight to catch early next morning but not before promising to return soon to spend some quality ‘my’ time at Wyndham Gangtok Hotel and Casino Golden and its environs.
