Gangtok, the "Lofty Hill" or the "Hill made flat to build the Gangtok monastery in 1716". Gangtok is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books.
The area of the district is approximately 2,085-sq-kms bordered by Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the Southwest and Sela ranges separate West Kameng district in the East.
The 5754 ft. (1,780m) high town is almost a level valley enclosed on all sides by pine-clad low stooping hills. This area, also called Apatani Plateau, is famous for Paddy-cum-Fish culture.
The laid back, scenic, but rapidly swelling hamlet of Pelling, situated 2,085m above sea level only 2-km beyond Pemayangtse, looks north towards the glaciers and peaks of Kanchenjunga.