A visit to Gangtok is really incomplete without paying visits to M. G. Marg, Gangtok, which is a ‘must visit’ place. Marg’ refers to ‘Road’ in Hindi, so MG Marg means MG Road. Gangtok is the town centre of the hill town and just like any other important road in a city of India would be named as Mahatma Gandhi Road or MG Road, Gangtok is no exception and hence this place is named as M. G. Marg, Gangtok. Over the years, the road and the area around it has transformed.

The entire road is lined up with numerous glittering shops, restaurants, cafes and bars on both sides. It looks very similar to a shopping mall but out in the open. Locals and tourists take leisure walks or just sit and relax. Many tourists take a table at a roadside restaurant and watch the activities on the street, or relax on one of the benches laid alongside the road. The atmosphere out there is like a carnival. At MG Marg in December, The annual Gangtok Food and Culture Festival is held.

The whole area is smoke-free, litter-free, and devoid of vehicles. For approximately 1 kilometre stretch of the road, vehicles are not allowed as it’s a pedestrian-only zone. All buildings on both sides of this road are painted green, in line with the government’s green initiative. The Statue of Unity depicts peace, love and harmony and the statue overlooking MG Marg comprises the figures of Bhutia Chieftain Khye Bumsa, the Lepcha leader Thetong Tek and his wife Ngo-Kong-ngol. About midway is an imposing statue of Mahatma Gandhi. There are victorian lamps along this road. The entire place looks magical, when lit up after dark.

In the month of December, Gangtok Annual Food and Culture Festival takes place here. At the Titanic park in MG Road, many different food stalls are set up, opposite to Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department. Cultural shows take place where ethnic dance performances and musical shows are organized as part of Gangtok Annual Food and Culture Festival.

While on this road, there are numerous restaurants and bars. Some well-known ones include the Baker’s Cafe (great for coffee, pastries, patties, momos & other snack items), located on a narrow alley off MG Road, The Roll House, Parivar – a pure veg restaurant, PUB25 – a popular pub and the like.

The main market area of Gangtok is also M.G Marg having shops selling souvenirs, clothing (for men & women), handicraft items, shoes and even convenience items. Shops are open from 8 am to 7 pm in MG Marg. On Tuesdays, the market here is closed. The Sikkim Tourism Center is at one end of MG Marg and further down toward Tibet road you can get taxis for local sightseeing tours.

Also Read: Best places to visit in South Sikkim – Best sides of Sikkim

M.G Marg is a street which is one of the focal points for tourists in Gangtok. Now that you know what all you can do in M.G Marg, Gangtok, don’t keep the travel lover and shopaholic in you waiting. Just pick a date, and plan your trip to Sikkim with Pickyourtrail right away! Lots of treats and surprises await you in this Sikkimese paradise. After all, Gangtok is an experience that nothing else can match up to in the whole of northeast!

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