Real Estate Properties in Gangtok

Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Located within the higher peaks of the Himalayas, Gangtok is a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site and is a center of the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Therefore, the region has several monasteries and religious educational institutions in this region.

Gangtok is also the headquarters of the East Sikkim district. The North district in the north, the Darjeeling district of West Bengal in the south, China and Bhutan in the east, and the South district in the west surround the district.

The city’s economy does not have a large industrial base, but has a flourishing cottage industry in handicrafts, watch-making, and country-made alcohol. The largest industry in Gangtok is that of hospitality, as the city is the key base for Sikkim tourism.

Stats and Facts

• The population of Gangtok, as per the provisional reports of the 2011 census, is 98,658.
• As per the census 2011 reports, Gangtok has a sex ratio of 889 per 1000 males. The child sex ratio, however, is better standing at 944 per 1000 boys.
• The same reports indicate an average literacy rate in the city of 82.20%.
• The city of Gangtok is also referred to as the Land of Monasteries.
• The most widely spoken language in Gangtok is Nepali. Other commonly spoken languages include Hindi and English.
• The third tallest peak in the world, Kanchenjunga, can be seen from the east side of Gangtok.
• Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (NIT), established in 1958, is the most prestigious research institute of its kind in the world.
• The city of Gangtok experiences a subtropical highland climate. It enjoys a mild, temperate climate throughout the year thanks its elevation and environment.

Tourism and Agriculture

• The city of Gangtok thrives on tourism. For this reason, the hospitality industry is the largest industry in Gangtok. Eco-tourism has grown as an important economic activity in this region with activities like mountaineering, trekking, and river rafting dominating the scene.
• The cottage industry is another major industry in the region. Distilleries and tanning are other prominent industries in and around the city.
• The economic status of most inhabitants is good in Gangtok with the government being the single largest employer.
• Agriculture is the major economic activity in this region and is practiced on the terraced field that has been painstakingly created from hillsides.
• Floriculture is also an industry that has been flourishing. This is because some of the most exotic floral species thrive in the region.

Connectivity

• The nearest airport to Gangtok, the Bagdogra Airport, is located in the state of West Bengal. Almost all domestic airlines such as the Indian Airlines, Jet Airways etc. run regular flights from Bagdogra to the important cities of India such as Kolkata and Delhi. Gangtok is also connected with Bagdogra by a daily helicopter service operated by Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation.
• National Highway 31A, an all-weather metaled highway, connects Gangtok to Siliguri and also the rest of India. The city also has several arterial roads.
• Located in West Bengal, Siliguri New and Jalpaiguri are the two rail stations closest to Sikkim. These stations are well connected to all the major cities in India.

Gangtok Civic Administration

• Gangtok is the headquarters of the East Sikkim district.
• The Gangtok Municipal Corporation along with various departments of Government of Sikkim such as the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) and the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) administers the city. Gangtok has 4 administrative zones namely North, South, East and West, and 15 wards.
• The corporation is responsible for the provision of services like construction and maintenance of civic infrastructure, water supply and tax collection among others.
• Gangtok houses the office of the district collector appointed by the Union Government of India.
• Sikkim Police is responsible for the law and order situation in the state of Sikkim, including Gangtok. There are 12 Police stations in the city and the Director General of Police heads the Police force.

Gangtok Infrastructure

Infrastructural development in Gangtok has been gaining speed due to increased economic opportunities. The main growth axis for the city is towards the south and the south-west direction, along NH 31A.

The presence of steep slopes, large forest cover, vulnerability to landslides and inadequate access to most areas has been an obstacle to the growth of the city. Having said this, Gangtok is a town booming with construction activity across the city and nearby.

Infrastructure Projects

Gangtok Real Estate Market

• The Gangtok real estate market has been slowly looking upwards. A part of the capital for building the physical infrastructure will come from the state and the center. Nonetheless, a large portion of investment will depend on the private sector.
• Industries such as IT, education, healthcare, and adventure tourism are expected to expand soon in the region. This will undoubtedly improve the real estate market by increasing the demand for residential properties Gangtok.
• Earthquake is a common phenomenon in this region and to counter this, the Government of Sikkim has initiated the construction of nearly 8,000 earthquake-resistant houses.

Key Localities in Gangtok

Charges by Different Government Bodies

Property Registration

Stamp Duty: 1% on the consideration value of land

Registration Fee: 5% on the consideration value of land

Energy & Power Department of Sikkim

The Energy & Power Department of Sikkim is responsible for power generation, distribution, and transmission in the state of Sikkim, including in Gangtok.

Electricity Tariff

Domestic Supply

Commercial Supply

Water Security & Public Health Engineering Department

The Water Security & Public Health Engineering Department (WS & PHED) is responsible for maintaining the distribution of water supply. Lake Tamzey is the main source of water supply in the city of Gangtok.

Water Tariff