Rachna Books

Rachna Books is an award winning, independent bookshop in Gangtok, Sikkim. Founded in 1979, we are best known for our collection of books that is most frequently described as “carefully curated”. But a small hill-town bookstore is not all that we are.

Over the years, we have emerged as a vibrant cultural landmark in the Himalaya. We curate, organise & host events through various collaborations with the aim of discovering new ideas, stories and worlds. We use our space to encourage the exchange of knowledge and sharing cultures of our times. Through talks, performances, readings, workshops and screenings we try to bring the world at large to the Himalayas and in turn we share our slice of life with the rest of the world. Many of these event videos are freely available online.

Any small, fiercely independent bookshop with a certain worldview like ours would perhaps dream of becoming a publisher someday. We nurtured this dream for a long time. Celebrating our 40 years of being on the frontline of the publishing industry, we made a foray into publishing in 2019 under Rachna Books and Publications banner.

Rachna Books also houses the popular Café Fiction and top-rated Bookman’s Bed and Breakfast in the same premises. Collectively, we have evolved as a third space and a destination in itself for our regular patrons as well as for many a discerning travellers coming to Sikkim looking for an enriching personal experience.