A tour of North Sikkim

This review would cover North Sikkim particularly Lachen / Lachung and Gangtok. 

Gangtok - This is your first pit stop typically if you're arriving either by Rail / Flight to Bagdogra / Siliguri. The city is bustling and a hub for many other towns and villages across Sikkim. You will find a few shops at MG Marg a crowded and bustling street. Do try a few restaurants for some Tibetan / Nepali food here. (It's difficult to get it at other villages or towns you would visit up north). Also shopping for any souvenirs like Tea / Handicrafts / etc. can be done here. Gangtok is a hill town and at various levels along the mountain slope. The altitude varies between 1600 to 2000 mts or so. Do visit Hanuman Tok (you can get a clear view of Mt Kanchejunga mastiff rising above from across sikkim nr the Indo Nepal border from here). Also of course, a visit to Sikkim isn't complete without a visit to a buddhist monastery so do visit Rumtek Monastry and The institute of Tibetology when here. Carry light clothing if going between July to Oct as the temperature is very temperate and heavier clothing in other months as it gets much colder. (We visited in October). 

Nathu La - The drive to Nathu is only 50 kms from Gangtok. It takes 4 - 5 hours though as road conditions are not good plus its a winding road up the mountains as you meander towards 4000 mts or so altitude. The trip is worth a visit totally though. Nathu la is where India meets the chinese border (particularly Tibet autonomous region of China). You can gaze into the mountains of Tibet from here. The area is highly secure with army personnel on both sides of the border, Tibet and India.

Lachung and Lachen

Driving northward from Gangtok , you move towards the higher Himalayas. You first reach Chungthang, a small town that straddles the confluence of the Lachen and Lachung rivers. Further north , it gets more rural and supplies are in short. So purchase your supplies from this town, as it’s the last town before getting to higher altitudes and more remote areas. Northeast from Chungthang , you reach the town of Lachung. Perched as if on a ledge overlooking the Thankar La range and the valley on the other, this quaint town is truly the swisskim of India. Around La Chung , you see snow capped mountains, streams flowing down from waterfalls on mountain slopes. The town is located at an altitude of around 2624 mtrs above sea level and has a pretty cold climate across the year. Further north from Lachung , you climb higher and eventually reach Yumthang, also known as valley of flowers. The journey from Lachung to Yumthang is most picturesque with conifer trees lining the road sides and beautiful flowers of the valleys below. The rhoddendoron flower , known as the state flower grows in full bloom in the valleys of Yumthang. Yumthang is also home to a hot spring, which is known for its medicinal properties. Further north from the valley of flowers, you head onward to Yumasemdong, also known as Zero Point much so , since due to the high altitiude (close to 5000 mtrs above sea level) , its almost always covered in snow and ice. The mountains of Tibet are just a shy away, while you inhale the sweet fragrance of the azalea flowers that permeates the air. From here, you can go onward to Lachen , which is a small hamlet with just 150-200 houses. The village gets very cold during winters and residents often shut their homes and move to lower alititudes only to be back in the summer. Typically its most known as being base camp for trips to the famed Gurudongmar lake and Chopta Valley. The roads wind through the higher Himalayas located between 4000-5000 mtrs above sea level till you reach the Gurudongmar lake. The lake is typically frozen during winters as temperatures here are mostly sub zero. At this altitude , all you see are barren plains of the high Himalayas . No vegetation and you might see the ocassional yak herd. Of course, being very close to the Indo Sino border, there are many army camps and outposts on the way. We stopped for a chai on the way, at a small roadside stall. It was fun having a steaming hot chai which hardly felt hot in the near zero temperature. Also, we warmed ourselves against a bonfire for some time and melted a bit. The Teesta river source is very close to the mountains around Chopta valley, and at this point the river is actually a small stream, frozen for the most part.

A few travel tips for Sikkim;

Carry warm clothes at all times and seasons. North Sikkim is cold for most part of the year , due to the high altitudes. 

Don’t expect too much in terms of local cuisine. Most parts are remote , and getting ingredients and food items to such remote places is difficult. Hotels may be modestly stocked in terms of food and supplies,  and also in terms of amenities. Its mostly homestays and there are no big brand hotels in these parts

Keep Sikkim clean. Avoid littering and dumping. It was sad to see garbage in the Yumthang valley thrown by tourists , irresponsibly. It isn’t the work of the army to clean these areas, it is the work of each one of us

Roads aren’t good in these parts (Except Gangtok). So carry some sickness medicines if you aren’t a very good traveler especially in high altitudes and with winding roads

Cooperate with Army staff if stopped for checks etc. They are doing this to protect us and our borders. Keep your ID proof in handy in case requested anywhere for it