Lal Bazar

Lal Bazaar is a local street market in Gangtok city, in the north-east Indian state of Sikkim. It is a popular market in the city, with farmers and local vendors selling products.

Lal Bazaar is a vibrant market in the city centre, where local farmers from around Gangtok bring in their produce and sell them here, alongside stalls and shops selling local spices, ingredients, handicrafts, clothes and other accessories as well.

It is currently the biggest shopping Complex in Sikkim, and is also known as Khangchendzonga Shopping Plaza. The goods sold here include –

• Vegetables and fruits (including organically grown ones)
• Cheese (esp. Alpine cheese and Churpi, a cheese made out of yak’s milk)
• Incense sticksand perfumes
• Local handicraft items (knives and baskets made out of bamboo and cane)
• Electronic gadgets

On Sundays, the market experiences a diversity of out-of-town vendors and shoppers consisting of people of different ethnic groups from various surrounding villages gather here and shop, haggle or sell their own products.

Lal Bazaar is open to the public between 8 AM to 9 PM on all days of the week, except on Thursdays when it is closed.

It is located just below the M.G Marg in Gangtok. People can reach the place by road (through private vehicle or public modes of transport in the city like bus, or cab or rickshaws). The market is also at a walking distance from most of the hotels in the city.

Sunday is a great time to visit the market, especially for people visiting the first time – to experience its colourful vibe and diversity.

Lal Bazar was originally established in the year 1956 as an open market for the people living in Gangtok. It was named after J. Lal, who was a Dewan of the Chogyal (a person of a high rank in the region in mid-20th century).

In the years following its establishment, it slowly expanded and evolved into a large shopping complex.