culture · Ranka, Gangtok
Banjhakri Falls and the shaman story
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park lies about 7 km from Gangtok on the way towards Ranka. It was planned after Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling visited the falls in September 2004, returning from Ranka Monastery. Today it is a landscaped park with paved footpaths and viewing spots around a waterfall of roughly 30 m. Paths are paved and gentle, so it suits families with small children and older travellers. Allow an hour for a relaxed visit.
The name comes from Nepali folk belief. Ban means forest and jhakri means healer, so the Ban Jhakri is a forest shaman, said in tradition to live among caves and trees and to teach healing to those he chooses. Statues around the park depict the Ban Jhakri and shaman rituals. Treat them as folklore, told in a public park, not as a full account of living shaman practice in Sikkim.
There is also a museum hall on renewable energy, with displays on solar water heaters and other equipment, and the park is lit by solar-powered lamps. Entry is a small fee, roughly ₹20–100, indicative for 2026, with extra charges possible for cameras or parking. Weekends and school holidays get crowded. The fall is fullest from July to September, but September and October give a good flow with safer roads. Carry a light rain jacket for the spray.
Good for
Questions people ask
Good to know
How much is the entry fee at Banjhakri Falls
Entry to Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park is a small fee, reported at roughly ₹20–100 per person, indicative for 2026, and there may be extra charges for cameras or parking. Fees change, so check current status before you travel and carry small notes. Many Gangtok sightseeing packages include the stop but not the ticket.
What is a Ban Jhakri
In Nepali folk belief, the Ban Jhakri is a forest shaman. Ban means forest and jhakri means healer. Tradition holds that he lives among caves and trees and may take a chosen person away to teach them healing. The park near Gangtok uses statues to tell these stories. It is folklore, so treat the details as tradition, not history.
Is Banjhakri Falls worth visiting
It is worth an hour if you are travelling with children or older relatives, or if you want an easy stop on the way to Ranka. The park is tidy, paths are gentle and the waterfall is pleasant after rain. If you prefer wild places, skip it and spend the time at Lingdum Monastery or on a village walk instead.
