North Sikkim: Truly Natural

It is a true delight for nature lovers, photographers and peace seekers to visit North Sikkim. The journey from Gangtok (capital of Sikkim) to North Sikkim is a mesmerizing one where you frequently encounter beautiful waterfalls and the winding Teesta River always gives you company. Without much delay let’s look at the places to visit here.

Places to Visit:

Kabi: A small town 18km from Gangtok is of historic significance, it stands as a witness to the swearing of blood brotherhood between the Lepchas (the original inhabitants of Sikkim) and the Bhutias. Stones markers that were erected as a symbol of the promise stands even today as a testimony to the oath.

Phodong: About 36 km on the road an enchanted monastery built on 1740. It is a travel back in time.

Singhik: 65km from Gangtok takes you to yet another enchanting small hill town that offers some up-close view of Mt. Khangchendzonga the 3rd highest mountain in the world. 30 minutes of hike would give you a refreshing break from the drive and an opportunity to visit an ancient monastery suspended in time.

Chungthang: A pleasant 95km drive from Gangtok takes you through winding roads and beautiful scenic views to this small town. Time stands still here, the hustle bustle of the busy city life seems a distant dream. This is the place where rivers flowing through Lachen and Lachung converge; it is a magical place with many legends. Here the road divides, one goes towards Lachen- Thanggu- Gurudongmar and the other goes to Lachung – Yumthang – Yumesamdong.

Lachen: A drive of about 35Km from Chungthang takes you to Lachen “Chen” meaning small and rightly it is a small valley and kind of a winter home for the local people. It is very famous for baby potatoes apart from the gorgeous views. From this small village you can trek into the Kanchenzonga National park which provides some amazing experience. Gurudongmar Lake is definitely on the cards once you are here.

Lachung: “Chung” means big hence it is a bigger valley as compared to Lachen and is situated about 25 Km from Chungthang or 120 Km from Gangtok. A beautiful town for all nature lovers. Famous for its apple orchid a one point in time it is currently in the process of reviving them again. It is a tourist town acting as a base for those visiting Yumthang valley.

Yumthang: It is widely known as the valley of flowers and sits at an altitude of 11800ft above sea level. Surrounded by towering snow covered mountains it is truly a beautiful and overwhelming experience to be there. Different season brings a unique beauty to this valley. The best time to visit Yumthang is April – June when the wild flowers are on full bloom.

Yumesamdong: 15km from Yumthang takes you to Yumesamdong at 15300ft above sea level. Through winding roads it’s a place filled with the fragrance of nature (literally). The area is famous for the hot water springs.

Thangu: 30kms beyond Lachen is Thangu at an altitude of 13000ft. Months of May and June see this valley carpeted with alpine flowers which are replaced by snow from October up to March. Situated on the high alpine plateau, Thangu can be an ideal place for the real nature lovers as it provides a base for fabulous trek routes to Chopta valley. One needs to stay at Thangu for acclimatization before proceeding further.

Chopta Valley: A twenty minutes drive or a short walk takes you to this wonderful valley. During spring the valley is filled with the colors of the blooming flowers. A trek from here takes you to the high alpine valley of Muguthang which is occasionally visited by nomadic tribes from Tibet.

Gurudongmar Lake: At an altitude of 18000ft Gurudongmar Lake is a sacred place. Crystal clear and serine are the thoughts that often come to our mind when you are here. Its one of the largest and the highest lakes in Sikkim, definitely should not miss the opportunity of visiting this lake when you are in North Sikkim.

Tso-Lhamu: Not too far off from Gurudongmar Lake is yet another Lake that is the starting point of River Teesta. Special permit is needed to visit this place but it is definitely worth it.

Tips:

• For a true North Sikkim experience spending 7-10 days is recommended. However if you are strapped for time a 3 day trip would cover all the major locations.
• Keep your camera very close to you and take deep breaths, the air can not get fresher than this.
• Go for walks, it is the best way to soak in the surrounding.
• Special permits are required for foreigners so make sure the paper works are in place before you leave Gangtok. Even for people of Indian origin special permits are required to visit some of the places.
• Always spend a night to acclimatize before you proceed higher up in the mountains. It can be pretty fatal for those who don’t take it seriously.
• If you are making your bookings from Gangtok make it a point to consult two or three travel agents before you narrow down to one.
• Always travel on a vehicle with 4WD.
• Always inform the hotel before venturing out on your own and take proper direction.
• Lastly please take care of your own litter; it’s a sin to litter on these parts.

Feel free to post any query, we would be happy to address it.

Coming Soon:

West Sikkim
Treks in Sikkim

Picnic in Manali

Me and my husband decided to spend 2006 Christmas in Manali and hence started our road trip. The total trip was about 1300 Km but it was one of the most amazing trip that I have ever taken. When we entered Manali at around 7.30am after driving for 14hrs we were welcomed with snow clad mountains. It had snowed there a week back and the weather was just perfect. Clear blue sky, chilled snow filled breeze and the view was a treat to the eyes.

I have a theory; in places as such never spend more than 10% of your time in places where everyone frequents. It is always a zoo. Take a detour and take a road where other cars are not going. But always carry a map with you, incase you get lost. We did the same. The best part of the trip apart from the view and the tranquility was the picnic that we went for. A picnic by the riverside.

We got up one morning and decided to feel the nature of Manali, what better way than a picnic. Some sandwiches, a bottle of wine and we set out to find that perfect location for us to unwind and enjoy the surrounding. After driving around for a while we decided to park our car and venture out to the river. Not to far away a perfect setting awaited us. Peaceful is what I would call that place. The sound of the gushing river, the birds flying around us and the rustling of the leaves were like music in its own rights. We settled our belongings on top of a rock and took a deep breath to soak in the surrounding.

We spent the next 3 hours in bliss, the traffic and the commotion of the city seemed so far away…. It seemed that nothing in the world could bother us. Well no picnic is complete without a bonfire, hence we scrambled around to gather some twigs and Walla!! We had fire. Wine, good food, the best company, good conversation, the best location and above all a peaceful mind … it was indeed a perfect picnic.

This was my first trip to Manali and I fell in love with the place. Not the commercial aspect of it but the natural beauty of the place. It felt magical. The pine forest, its village and the people in the village and their lifestyle was something special. It reminded me a lot about back home (Sikkim). It felt like being in touch with your childhood, a feeling of nostalgia swept over me. Not many places can do that you (I’ am sure you’ll agree). Over all Manali was an amazing experience in every sense.

A few must do in Manali:

1. Definitely try the local trout (fish)
2. Plan a picnic
3. Go for a trek to a nearby village. You don’t need a guide, just walk.
4. Spend sometime knowing the local people and their culture it will definitely spice up your experience.
5. Don’t spend more than 10% of your time visiting commercial places, instead explore the surrounding on your own.