Culture · Hanuman Tok
Gangtok's three-point morning by taxi
The classic early taxi round of Tashi View Point, Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok, three hill-top viewpoints around Gangtok, with a stop for red pandas at the zoo if it is open. Simple, cheap and best done before breakfast.
Photo: Anjan Kumar Kundu · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Gangtok's taxi drivers sell sightseeing by 'points', and the three-point tour is the shortest: Tashi View Point on the North Sikkim road, Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok on the ridge above town. A small car for two to four people costs about ₹1,200–1,800 for around three hours. Agree the stops and waiting time before you leave.
Start at Tashi View Point, about 8 km north, for sunrise. Then cross back over the town and climb the ridge to Hanuman Tok, the highest of the three at about 2,200 m. Finish at Ganesh Tok, where a short climb leads to a tiny shrine and a terrace over the town. The Himalayan Zoological Park is opposite, and usually opens mid-morning; add an hour for it.
It is a lot of hill driving in a short time, so carry motion-sickness tablets if you need them. Children enjoy the zoo most. Back in town by 9:30 am, you still have the day for Enchey, the Institute of Tibetology and MG Marg.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
What is included in the Gangtok three-point tour?
Usually Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok, sometimes with a photo stop at Bakthang Falls on the way to Tashi View Point. The five-point and seven-point tours add places such as Enchey, the Do Drul Chorten, the Institute of Tibetology and the ropeway. Confirm the list with your driver.
How much does the three-point tour cost in Gangtok?
Indicatively, about ₹1,200–1,800 for a small car in 2026, shared by up to four people. Rates are higher in peak weeks around Durga Puja, Diwali and May school holidays. Agree the price and waiting time first, and check current rates before you travel.
Can we add the Himalayan Zoological Park to the three-point tour?
Yes. The zoo is opposite Ganesh Tok, so it is an easy add-on, but it usually opens mid-morning rather than at dawn, and walking the loop takes 1–1.5 hours. Tell your driver at the start so he can plan the waiting time; expect to pay a little more.
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