North Sikkim | Visitors to Lachung | Visitors to Lachen

Common Places to visit Enroute North Sikkim Lachung & Lachen

Tashi View Point | Phensang Monastery | Phodung Monastery | Labrang Monastery | Mangan | Singhik View Point | Chungthang

North Sikkim : The Sikkimese often contend that North Sikkim is as beautiful as Switzerland. You may hear it when you get there, or see it repeatedly mentioned in various brochures and guide books. Why? Several decades earlier, a European guest of our late king had passed a remark to that order, and now the legend lives. True to this erstwhile visitor’s remark, many others after him have also reiterated the fact that North Sikkim is indeed truly beautiful.

Tashi View Point : Sunrise Point from here you could have a view of Khangchendzonga and other peaks of the Himalaya. One can have an experience of the changes of colour of snow of mountain there.

Phodung Monastery : Phodong Monastry belonging to Kargyupa Sect(karmapa), is situated about a kilometer uphill by a jeep able road that bifurcates from the North Sikkim highway a little bit ahead of Phodong towards Mangan. The monastery was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal somewhere in the first quarter of the eighteenth century.

Labrang Monastery : Another Kilometer uphill from the Phodong Monastry on the same jeeepable road is the Labrang Monastry which was built about one hundred years later then Phodong Monastry but belongs to the Nyingmapa sect.

Mangan : A district headquarters of the unexplored North, can be considered as a gateway for the tourists. The Northern most edges of this district merge into the Tibetan Plateau which ends its uniqueness to this sparsely populated region. In this area one can spot the Tibetan Wild Ass, locally known as Kyang.

Singhik View Point : Singhik is situated four kilometers away from Mangan towards the north. The view point lies just on the road side from where is seen a very picturesque view of Mount Sinolchu .Right downwards from the viewpoint is seen the confluence of River Teesta and River Kanaka. Other sorrounding places too look very beautiful from the viewpoint. A nice and clean guesthouse, suitable for a night halt is also available near by.

Chungthang : The North Sikkim highway bifurcates here to take different routes for Lachen and Lachung.. Chunghthang is 30 kilometers away from Mangan further north. It is around 95 kilometers away from Gangtok & 23 kms from Lachung 29 kms from Lachen and it is predominately a Lepcha region. It is a small town surrounded by high mountains that seem to be almost touching the sky.

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 VISITORS TO LACHUNG

Lachung : It is a Bhutia village with a unique local self-governing body called the Zumsa has emerged as a tourist destination with the soaring popularity of Yumthang Valley which has just 24kms from Lachung. The village spread out on either side of Lachung Chu, has managed to retain its unique culture and tradition. The Lachung Monastery on the slope opposite to the highway is the focal point of all religious function of the local inhabitants.

Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary : The sanctuary is bounded on its southern periphery by the Yakchey La and on the northern periphery by the Yumthang Valley known for its alpine meadow and hot springs.
The picturesque Yumthang Chhu (river) flows through the sanctuary, which is known for its unique abundance of Rhododendron trees and shrubs, 40 species/varieties of which are recorded from Sikkim alone.

Hot Spring : The natural Hot Springs known as Tsa-Chu in the local language on the left bank of Lachung Chu is a popular spot for its curative properties and healing power in Yumthang.

Yumthang : The rightfully called the Valley of Flowers as in Flowering season there blossoms vivid colours of variety of Rhododendrons, chimals and blue poppies. Yumthang is located on a flat valley and is near the tree line, the surrounding mountains seems to kiss the heavens. The journey from Lachung to Yumthang has a very picturesque landscape and is lined with Rhododendrons.
Yumthang valley is a mesmerizing scene with yaks grazing on flower - carpeted meadows against a backdrop of towering peaks. It has breathtaking views where one can become a part of a timeless scene without any kind of intrusion.

Yumeysamdong : 23 kms ahead of Yumthang at an altitude of 15300 ft where the sweet fragrance of Ezilia (used as incense) permeates the air.

Katau : Katau is a very beautiful place with the panoromic view of snow capped peaks of Himalaya. This place is very close to China border.

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 VISITORS TO LACHEN

Lachen | Chopta Valley & Thangu Valley | Gurudongmar Lake | Tsho Lhamu Lake

Lachen : Lachung's sister village, Lachen is only a recent host to tourists. Situated at an altitude of 9000 ft. and a good six hours drive from Gangtok along the North Sikkim Highway, Lachen stand on a grassy and bush flat from the periphery of which rise the pine clad mountains with there snowy peaks and black cliffs.

Chopta Valley & Thangu Valley : The route continues from Lachen to gradual ascend of 28 kms through the mountain ridge leads to Thangu. Its alpine meadows are dotted with wooden houses and army camps. The calm water of Teesta flowing through the valley presents a fantastic contrast. It is situated at an altitude of 8000 to 14000 ft.

Gurudongmar Lake : Close to the Tibet border lays Gurudongmar - one of the most sacred and pristine lakes in Sikkim. Vast plateau that crosses the Indo-Tibet border, green grassy field criss-crossed by thousands of snaky glacier fed streams with perennial snow covered slops that rises from it mark the landscape of the region. It is considered as one of the sacred lakes both by the Hindus and the Buddhist.

Tsho Lhamu Lake : Further ahead 9 kms of Gurudongmar Lake is Tso Lhamu Lake at an altitude of 16730 ft is on the plateau that project into Sikkim. The Teesta River takes birth from this moderately sized lake. The water in this lake flirts with ice before getting frozen in winter. The beauty of the Tso Lhamu Lake doubles by the reflection of the surrounding mountains.

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