Please note that you need to take the inner line permit from the Army authorities before visiting the Zero Point. Katao — Blessed with panoramic beauty, Katao valley lies at a distance of around 28 km. Again, the area lies under a restricted zone and one needs to obtain Army permissions before visiting this place. Lachen Another picturesque hamlet in North of Sikkim, Lachen lies at a distance of km.
Gurudongmar Lake — One of the highest alpine lakes in the world, Gurudongmar Lake is not only known for its spectacular beauty, but is also revered as a sacred lake by Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. The lake can be reached via a rugged terrain with little vegetation and human population. Occasional views of high alpine pastures covered with rhododendrons and yaks and sheep grazing can be seen from a distance. As you reach the lake, you are welcomed by mesmerizing views of the emerald blue lake surrounded with snow covered peaks of the Eastern Himalayas.
Located in close proximity to the China Border, visit to lake is not allowed for foreign tourists and even Indian nationals require special permissions from the Indian Army. The trek to Cholamu Lake is really challenging with its rough terrain and extreme cold weather conditions. But, as you reach the lake, the surreal experience just cannot be described in words; crystal clear azure blue waters, exquisite surroundings and an amazing panorama of the majestic mountains is enough to make your jaws drop.
Chopta Valley — Enroute to Gurudongmar Lake, lies the Chopta Valley which is a picturesque valley known for its alpine orchards, enthralling lakes and snow-capped Himalayan peaks. A stay at the valley for an hour or so is sure to make you feel the nature at its best.
Pemayangtse Monastery — One of the oldest and most important monasteries of Sikkim, the Pemayangtse Monastery lies at a distance of 2 km. Perched at a hill top above the Rangit River, the monastery is surrounded with thick woods and mesmerizing views of the snow clad mountains.
Statue of Padmasambhava main lord of Tibetan Buddhism , ancient sculptures, scriptures and paintings, beautiful Thangkas and murals in the monastery are worth taking a look. Khecheopalri Lake — Highly revered lake by the Sikkimese Buddhists, the Khecheopalri Lake is located at a distance of 28 km.
The miraculous part of the lake is that it remains perfectly clean in spite of being surrounded by thick forest. Not even a single leaf can be seen floating on the surface of the lake.
It is believed that before a leaf falls, it is captured by a bird thereby preventing it to fall on the surface of the lake. The local Sikkimese people often visit the lake to pray and get their wishes fulfilled. The nearby Khechepalri Gompa and a holy cave is worth visiting by tourists. Rabadantse Ruins — Former capital of Sikkim, Rabdentse was destroyed by the Nepalese invaders during 18 th The town and its royal palace now lies in ruins, close to the Pemayangtse Monastery.
Surrounded with thick forest cover, spectacular views of the Kanchenjunga range and extensive scenic beauty, a visit to the Rabdentse Ruins is a must when you are in Pelling. Singshore Bridge — Located at 5 km. Feel of the swing across the bridge as you walk along combined with some mind boggling sights around; make your visit to this bridge a memorable experience.
Dentam Valley — Located at a distance of 20 km. Kanchenjunga and other Eastern Himalayan peaks seem to be just a feet away from this place. For trekkers, nature enthusiasts and bird watchers, Dentam Valley makes for a perfect spot near Pelling to enjoy nature at its best. Yuksom Photo: bit. Dubdi Monastery — Located at a distance of 3 km. Statues of three lamas who established Yuksom, old prayer wheels, Thangkas paintings and rare manuscripts and religious texts are main attractions of this monastery.
Tashiding Monastery — Another of the holiest monasteries of Sikkim, the Tashiding Monastery lies at a distance of around 15 km. Scenic beauty and serenity offered in the vicinity of the monastery makes it a pleasant place to be visited by tourists. With everything seeming to be same as that of other Buddhist monasteries, it still has that magic and an aura that cannot be described in words.
Kanchenjunga National Park — The park is a must visit for the nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Home to numerous glaciers, huge variety of flora and fauna, rare varieties of birds and many wild animals like snow leopards, musk deer, red panda and Himalayan black bear; a visit to the Kanchenjunga National Park requires special permissions from the State Tourism Department or the Wildlife Education and Interpretation Centre in Yuksom.
Norbugang Park — Holding a great religious significance for Buddhists, the park is visited by many Buddhist pilgrims and devotees. Norbugang is considered to be the birthplace of Sikkim where it is believed that three lamas met and spread Buddhism. Norbugang Stupa, a large prayer wheel and Kathok Lake are some of the additional attractions of this park. Known for its tallest statue of Guru Padmasambhava in the world, the place is visited by many tourists and pilgrims.
Besides seeing and appreciating the skills of the craftsmen and artisans of this tall statue, tourists can also visit the prayer hall and a beautiful garden in the vicinity. Solophok Chardham — Solophok Chardham is one of the most unique places one can see in its lifetime.
With an 87 ft. Located at a distance of 5 km. Temi Tea Estate — This is the one and only tea estate in Sikkim and is known for its variety of organic tea plantations. Panoramic views of the Tendong Hills, Sikkimese women plucking the tea leaves with baskets at their backs and a fresh breeze spreading the aroma of tea in the air makes your visit to the Temi Tea Estate an unforgettable experience.
Ravangla Another most popular destination in South of Sikkim, Ravangla is known for its laid back atmosphere and magical beauty. Ralang Monastery — Located at 6 km. Kanchenjunga which is revered as guardian deity of Sikkim. One can also see an extensive collection of Thangkas and paintings in this monastery. Buddha Park — The Park is famous for its ft.
Buddha Park now forms the part of the Buddhist pilgrim circuit and is visited by many tourists and pilgrims throughout the year.
The temple inside the park displays paintings and murals depicting the life of Lord Buddha. Definitely a must visit place during your trip to Ravangla. Ralong Hot Springs — A very popular site amongst visitors, the Ralong Hot Water Springs are natural hot springs believed to hold curative properties. Not very far off from the city centre of Ravangla, these springs are located on the banks of the Rangit River.
Many tourists and locals can be seen taking a dip in these springs. Activities to Do in Sikkim Apart from a peaceful stay and normal sightseeing, Sikkim is an ideal place to indulge yourself in some adventure fun, thrill and excitement. Have a Thrilling Experience of River Rafting at the Teesta River Experience of river rafting in River Teesta is something which will leave you spellbound and exhilarated for many hours after you are done with this adventure of your lifetime.
Experience the Fun of Hang Gliding and Paragliding Hand gliding and paragliding are another two adventure sports which you would like to indulge into during your trip to Sikkim. Take a Yak Safari Your trip to Sikkim is incomplete without experiencing a Yak Safari which is a unique experience in itself. What to Eat Food is an important aspect and an integral part of any trip to any part of the world. Momos — These are steamed dumplings made of wheat flour stuffed with minced meat, cheese and vegetables.
Served with a spicy sauce and piping hot soup, momos have made their mark in menus of roadside shacks to expensive restaurants not only in Sikkim but in different parts of the country. Thupka — It is a soup comprising of noodles, vegetables and meat, made in traditional Tibetan style.
Kinema Curry — A curry made of fermented soybean served with rice. Gundruk and Sinki Soup — A special soup made of fermented vegetables radish, cauliflower and mustard leaves which are then sundried and used in soups and curries.
Sel Roti — A special kind of round spiralled shaped Nepalese bread made of fermented rice batter and deep fried. If you are lucky, you can get a surprise snowfall at the higher reaches in late December. From late December to mid-February, roads to the endpoints of North Sikkim tour like Gurudongmar Lake and Yumesemadong often blocked due to snow.
However, you can enjoy the snow-covered villages of Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim. In monsoon, Sikkim encounter frequent landslides and roads to different parts of the state often get closed. As you are travelling on a package tour to North Sikkim for visiting places like Gurudongmar Lake, Chopta Valley, Yumthang Valley, Zero Point and Katao, usually the accommodation is included in the package. You have to stay either in Lachen or Lachung as per your itinerary.
Both in Lachung and Lachen, you will get a budget and mid-range hotels and resorts as per your budget. Bikers also like to stay in Thangu, which is 35 kilometres ahead of Lachen. The staying options in Thangu are basic homestays. The food is also included in your package. The subsequent meals are provided by your hotels in Lachen or Lachung and include an egg thali in lunch and a chicken thali at night for non-vegetarians.
For vegetarians, the choices are small and usually consists of dal and a curry made of local vegetables. But do not expect a multicuisine restaurant anywhere on your route. I did not find any souvenir shop in North Sikkim. You can buy woollens caps or gloves made by locals. Usually, they sell it in their grocery shops or food stalls at Lachen, Lachung or Yumthang Valley at a reasonable price. You can also buy cottage cheese in Lachung.
The weather in north Sikkim is cold throughout the year; during summer, the temperature during the day can rise around 20 0 C in Lachen or Lachung, but it falls to sub-zero at night in winter. You need light woollens in summer, while in winter, multiple layers of heavy woollens are a must. As travelling to north Sikkim means visiting very high altitude places like Gurudongmar Lake and Zero Point, it is necessary to abide by precautionary measures that will help you to complete your trip safely.
Gaurudongmar Lake is above feet, whereas ZeroPont and Katao are above feet. Anyone can suffer from high altitude sickness in these places. High altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness AMS occurs due to a lack of oxygen pressure in the air at high altitudes. It can be mild, moderate or severe.
Most travellers have a mild form of illness like mild headache or fatigue. Usually, they resolve with time, in hours. If symptom increases or showing symptoms of moderate illness, shifting to a lower altitude is needed. Children can suffer similarly from Acute Mountain Sickness. The incidence of high altitude sickness in children is at par with adults.
There is no clear guideline after which age group it is safe to travel to high altitude for a child. But remember, treatment facilities for a child may not be available in a nearby Army Camp, and Acetazolamide is not recommended to use in children as a preventive medication for high altitude sickness.
So, it is always better not to travel at the altitude of Gurudongmar Lake or Zero Point with a young child. You should consult your paediatrician before planning a trip to North Sikkim with your child. You need at least 4 nights 5 days for a tour to North Sikkim. On the first night, you have to stay at Gangtok and get your permit on next morning. The next 2 nights you will spend in Lachung and Lachen and complete your trip in North Sikkim.
While you have to spend the fourth night at Gangtok again as it will be night already when you return from North Sikkim. The best time to visit North Sikkim is during summer and autumn, while those are the peak season as well.
You can visit in spring when the higher altitude valleys like Yumthang Valley and Chopta Valley gets covered with flowers. In winter, roads often blocked in snowfall, and you might not reach Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang Valley during this time. Yes, you can go to Gurudongmar Lake throughout the year except for the month of December and January when the roads get blocked by snowfall. Do not forget to carry heavy woollens if you are visiting Gurudongmar Lake between November to March.
Well, if you only consider the scenic beauty of the place as the prime consideration for your romantic gateway, then nothing can beat North Sikkim. The only place that can be a perfect place for couples is Lachung during the winter months. The whole village of Lachung gets covered with fresh snowfall. But of course, you could not visit Gurudongmar Lake or Yumthang Valley during this time. Yes, foreign nationals will get a permit to visit all the above places in North Sikkim except Gurudongmar Lake.
Book your trip : Resources. Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to book your flight. If you want to stay in a hostel, then Hostelworld would be of great help in finding one at your convenience. World Nomads is perfect for travel insurance. You can get comprehensive protection with them. Let them take care of unexpected situations while you concentrate on your trip. You can book a package tour from G-Adventures and Viator. They are a reputed company in arranging small group tours and customise them as per your requirements.
You can also use Get Your Guide or Klook to book your private transport, city tours, heritage walks, food walks and other experiences like a cooking lesson or a Yoga session. Affiliate Disclosure: Some external links in this post are affiliate links.
If you click on one of those links and buy a thing from a third party website, My Travel Frames will earn a referral bonus without any extra cost to you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to content. Table of Contents. View this post on Instagram. How many days are enough for a North Sikkim Tour? What is the best time to visit North Sikkim? At the outset I on behalf of all my team mates would like to thank you for the "yeoman's service" you are doing for the visitors.
I could draw an itinerary suitable to we Sr. Citizens with the help of your e-book and also the itinerary shared by other travelers published in your website. I once again heartily thank you for all the assistance provided, may God bless you HS Shastry.
Dear Raj Mike Ogier. Thanks a lot for penning such a wonderful ebook which itself is a guide for a tourist Jaffna Ray. Hi Raj, I just invested in your e-book, it is fabulous, Great work Hemant Krishnani. I got the ebook and it's really fantastic Neha Mathur. It is an amazing and an unputdownable read and should be an essential part of the Library of any Travel Freak!!!!
Rohit Sharma. Recently bought the etravel book, it is so great and covers all the areas in detailed manner with very nice pictures!
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