Tashi View Point is a roadside viewing terrace at about 1,890 m on the North Sikkim Highway, roughly 8 km and 20–25 minutes north of MG Marg. It is Gangtok's favourite sunrise point for the Kangchenjunga range, best from mid-October to February. Tea stalls open early. No permit needed.
Best months
Mid-October to February; March–April also good
Nights we suggest
Dawn trip from Gangtok, 1.5–2 hours
From Gangtok
≈ 8 km · 20–25 min from MG Marg
Altitude
≈ 1,890 m
Known for
Kangchenjunga sunrise, first stop on the north road
Tashi View Point sits on a bend of the North Sikkim Highway just beyond the northern edge of Gangtok, where the ridge opens to the north-west. A small terraced platform with railings, prayer flags and a few stalls looks across the deep valleys towards the Kangchenjunga range. Taxis start arriving well before dawn in the winter months, and by sunrise the terrace is full of families in jackets holding cups of tea.
On a clear morning, the summits catch the first light several minutes before the valleys, turning pink, then gold, then white. Kangchenjunga, at 8,586 m the third-highest mountain on earth, is the centre of the view, roughly 60 km away as the crow flies. The terrace is named, as told locally, after Tashi Namgyal, the Chogyal of Sikkim from 1914 to 1963.
Because it is on the road north, Tashi View Point is also a natural first stop on the way to Kabi Lungchok, Phodong, Mangan and the Lachung and Lachen valleys. Most visitors, though, come for a dawn trip from town as part of the three-point tour with Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok, and are back at their hotels for breakfast.
Highlights
What to see and do
Sunrise on Kangchenjunga
On clear winter mornings, the Kangchenjunga range lights up pink and gold a few minutes before the valleys below. Arrive 20–30 minutes before sunrise to find a spot at the railing, and stay 20 minutes after it, when the colours change fastest.
Tea on the terrace
Stalls open early for the dawn crowd, selling tea, coffee, instant noodles and biscuits for about ₹30–100. A hot cup in cold hands while the light changes on the peaks is part of the ritual. Take your cups and wrappers to the bins.
Valley views to the north
Even when the high peaks are in cloud, the terrace looks over the deep, forested valleys towards North Sikkim. In spring the slopes are green and dotted with villages; in autumn, after the monsoon, the air is so clear you can see individual ridges far to the north.
First stop on the road north
If you are heading to Lachung, Lachen, Mangan or Dzongu, Tashi View Point is the first photo stop out of Gangtok. Kabi Lungchok, with its 13th-century blood-brotherhood stones, is about 9 km further along the same highway.
Bakthang Falls on the way
Between town and the viewpoint, the road passes Bakthang Falls, a roadside waterfall that is fullest from July to October. Drivers often stop for a few minutes. Admire it from the road edge and keep clear of traffic.
The story of Tashi View Point
A promise to the Chogyal at the summit
The mountain you watch from Tashi View Point is more than scenery in Sikkim. Kangchenjunga is honoured by Sikkim's Buddhists as a guardian deity, Dzö-nga, and is celebrated every year at Pang Lhabsol. When a British expedition set out to climb it in 1955, that belief shaped how it ended. According to Wikipedia's account of the first ascent, the team had given a promise to Tashi Namgyal, then Chogyal of Sikkim, that the top of the mountain would remain inviolate. On 25 May 1955, Joe Brown and George Band climbed the Yalung Face from the Nepal side and stopped just short of the true summit, keeping that promise; Norman Hardie and Tony Streather did the same the next day. Many climbers since have followed the tradition of stopping a few metres below the highest point. The Indian side of the mountain remains closed to climbers, and in 2016 the Khangchendzonga National Park around it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When the sun first strikes the summit from this terrace, you are looking at a peak whose top, by long custom, nobody stands on.
Until 1852 Kangchenjunga was believed to be the highest mountain in the world; survey calculations then showed Everest was higher, and in 1856 Kangchenjunga was announced as the third highest.
Source: Wikipedia: Kangchenjunga
Tashi Namgyal, after whom the viewpoint is named as told locally, reigned as Chogyal of Sikkim for nearly half a century, from 1914 to 1963.
Source: Wikipedia: Tashi Namgyal
At about 1,890 m, Tashi View Point is roughly the same height as the Tashiling end of the Gangtok ropeway, and about 240 m above MG Marg.
Book a reserved taxi the evening before. A dawn return trip from MG Marg costs about ₹500–800 a car with waiting, or ₹1,200–1,800 as part of the three-point tour with Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok. Shared taxis on the north road do not run early enough for sunrise.
On the way north
Shared and private vehicles to Mangan, Lachung and Lachen pass the viewpoint about 20 minutes out of Gangtok. Private cars will stop on request; shared jeeps usually do not. Leave enough time to cross the Toong check post by 4:00 pm if you are heading to the protected areas.
From Bagdogra / NJP
Reach Gangtok first, about 125 km and 4.5–5 hours from Bagdogra (IXB) or NJP on NH10, which closes after monsoon slides; the alternative is via Kalimpong or Algarah. Plan the sunrise for your first or second morning. Check current status before you travel.
Permits in East Sikkim
Indian travellers need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek, Lingdum, Martam or Sang. Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir need a protected-area permit through a registered agent, usually filed the day before with ID and photos. Nathu La is for Indian nationals only, about ₹200 per person, usually Wednesday to Sunday. Cho La opened to domestic tourists in September 2025 on limited, escorted trips. Foreigners need the Sikkim restricted area permit, applied online on the e-FRRO portal, and may visit Tsomgo on a one-day pass in a group of two or more. Sikkim also charges a ₹50 tourist fee at hotels. Check current status before you travel.
Stay in Gangtok, 20–30 minutes away. Hotels on the north side of town, around Tashiling and the Secretariat, and on Tibet Road shave a few minutes off the dawn drive. On a budget, Mintokling Guest House and Hotel Sonam Delek are dependable. For value, Netuk House and Hotel Tibet have friendly front desks that will book an early taxi. For a comfortable or premium stay, The Chumbi Residency, Elgin Nor-Khill and Taj Guras Kutir are all within easy reach.
About 8 km from MG Marg on the North Sikkim Highway, 20–25 minutes by taxi. A dawn return trip costs about ₹500–800 for a small car, indicatively. It is also the first stop on the drive to Mangan, Lachung and Lachen.
What is the best time to visit Tashi View Point?
Sunrise between mid-October and February, when the Kangchenjunga range is most often clear. March and April mornings can be good before haze builds. During the monsoon, from June to September, cloud usually hides the peaks. Leave town about 40 minutes before sunrise, and keep a second morning free in case of cloud.
What can we see from Tashi View Point?
On clear mornings, the Kangchenjunga range, including the 8,586 m summit about 60 km away, glowing at sunrise. Below are the deep, forested valleys of North Sikkim. Even on cloudy days the valley view is wide. Tea stalls open early for sunrise visitors.
Who is Tashi View Point named after?
As told locally, it is named after Tashi Namgyal, Chogyal of Sikkim from 1914 to 1963. He is the Chogyal to whom the 1955 British Kangchenjunga expedition promised to leave the summit untouched, according to Wikipedia. We have not found an official record of the viewpoint's construction date.
Is there an entry fee at Tashi View Point?
No. The terrace is free and open to all. You pay only for your taxi and anything you buy at the tea stalls. Toilets, where available, may charge a small fee. Check current status before you travel. Tea costs about ₹30–60.
What is the altitude of Tashi View Point?
About 1,890 m, around 240 m higher than MG Marg. It is slightly lower than Ganesh Tok at about 1,980 m and Hanuman Tok at about 2,200 m. Altitude is not a concern for a short visit, but winter dawns are cold.
How cold is Tashi View Point at sunrise?
In December and January, around 0–6 °C at dawn, sometimes colder with wind. In October and March, roughly 7–12 °C. Wear thermals, a warm jacket, cap and gloves in winter. The stalls' hot tea helps. Wind on the terrace makes it feel colder.
Can we combine Tashi View Point with other places?
Yes. The three-point tour adds Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok on the ridge above town, about three hours in all. Alternatively, continue 9 km north to Kabi Lungchok for Sikkim's blood-brotherhood stones, a half-day trip with no permit needed. A half-day car costs about ₹1,800–2,500.
Is Tashi View Point open in the monsoon?
The terrace is beside a public highway and stays accessible, but views are usually lost in cloud from June to September, and landslides occasionally slow the road. There is little reason to go for the view in those months. Check current status before you travel.
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