Credentials

Capital of the state of Sikkim, Gangtok or ‘High hill’ is beautifully located amidst paddy fields, overlooking valleys and snow capped mountains. It is not a quite little hill station yet serves very well as a base for your trip to Sikkim. It does have places that are worth a visit.

Places of interest: Tashi point (offering great view of Kanchenjunga), Directorate of Handicraft and Handloom, Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology, Dro Dul Chorten (one of the largest stupas in Sikkim) and visit to Rumtek Monastery situated 25 kms away from Gangtok. The adventurous ones could take a helicopter ride of the town.

Nathu La (4400M) and Changu Lake (3693M)

Nathu la is one of the highest motorable roads in Sikkim and situated on Indo- China border. The route to china was recently opened amid much fanfare. On the way back, we stop at the tranquil Changu Lake. Lake is much revered by locals. In winter it freezes completely whereas in spring, a variety of flowers bloom upon its banks. It is also an ideal habitat for red panda. En route, you could visit Kyongnosla Alpine sanctuary where the blood pheasant and red Panda can be spotted.

Yuksom (1760M) and Kecheolpari lake

Drive to Yuksom- the ancient capital of Sikkim via Samdoupche; the holy spot where the tallest statue of Guru Rinpoche has been built. Reach Yuksom and check into the guesthouse.

Visit the Khecheopalri Lake after lunch. The lake is located in a valley surrounded by lush green forest. The lake is revered by the locals and is considered to be a wish- fulfilling lake. The legend has it that the birds around do not let a single leaf fall into the lake.

Pemayangtse Monastery

Pemayangtse is the principal monastery in Sikkim and seat of Nyingmapa order. It was established by Lama Lhatsun Chenpo, one of the revered lamas who performed the consecration of the first Chogyal (Monarch). During the Chogyal reign, he had been entrusted with the task of performing all religious rituals associated with the royalty.

Darjeeling (2064M)

Watch the sunrise early in the morning from tiger Hill followed by breakfast and full day sightseeing of Ghoom monastery, Batasia loop, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, snow leopard breeding centre, Tibetan handicraft and Lloyd’s botanical garden.

Kalimpong (1212M)

Kalimpong is a small and quiet Himalayan bazaar. It used to belong to Sikkim kingdom, but was captured by Bhutanese and remained with them until 1865 when it was taken back. One could visit Durpin Dara hill offering breathtaking views of Teesta and Rangit Rivers in the valley below. The town is famous for its ‘glass noodles’, Gouda goat’s cheese and lollipops (originally made by Swiss missionaries).

Gurudongmar Lake (5200M)

The drive to this lake is one of the most picturesque in Sikkim where the landscape changes from lush green till Thangu to barren landscape as you climb higher and tree line disappears. The legend of Gurudongmar Lake is attributed to both Guru Nanak and Guru Rinpoche who are said to have visited this region. The lake is frozen for most part of the year. Guru Nanak/ Rinpoche is said to have helped the locals with sourcing water from this lake. While the whole lake freezes, the place where the guru took bath is never frozen and is considered ‘amrit’. Beyond the lake we have the armed forces stationed and some of these bunkers are at 22000 ft. higher than even Siachen glacier. Truly amazing is the site of small tanks stationed here. The area being a plateau, this is probably the only place where tanks can be used at such high altitude.

Lachen and Lachung valleys (2750M)

Lachung is a very small town with scattered settlements, dominated mostly by lachungpas and Bhutias. A Bhutia village has a unique local self-governing body called the Zumsa, which substitutes the Panchayat. You can visit monastery, handicraft center, go around for village. If you are interested then you can do trout fishing. Lachung is the last habitation on the road to Yumthang monastery; hidden high on the hillside overlooking a settlement of Lachungpas and barracks of the Indian army. There is an army cantonment for the border protection. In the distance, one can see the impressions of a track that was once used by traders to cross over from Tibet with their mules laden with Chinese silk.

Lachung's sister village, Lachen is only a recent host to tourists. Situated at an altitude of 8,838 ft. and a good six hours drive from Gangtok along the North Sikkim Highway, Lachen stands on a grass and bush flat area from the periphery of which rises the pine clad mountains. The village comprises of barely 150 houses.

Chungthang (1710M)

Chungthang is a small town surrounded by high mountains that seem to touch the sky. Chungthang lies on the confluence of two hilly rivers Lachen and Lachung Chu and the starting point of river Teesta has emerged as a major subdivision settlement in North Sikkim. From here, the road bifurcates for the Lachen and Lachung valleys. The spot worth visiting at Chungthang is the rock on which legend has it Guru Padmasambhava rested and the imprint on it is said to be his footmark. There is a small opening in the rock which remains filled with spring water Adjacent to the rock there is a small stretch of land where paddy grows, defying the conditions which are not conducive to the growth of this crop here. It is said that while here, Guru Padmasambhava had sprinkled a handful of grain on this spot and paddy has grown here ever since. Chungthang is also a good place to halt for sometime for a cup of tea before proceeding onwards to Yumthang. It is predominantly a Lepcha region.