NORTH EAST 6 DAY TRIP | GANGTOK - LACHUNG

At a distance of 22 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Rumtek Monastery is a beautiful Buddhist gompa situated near Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim. Also called as Dharma Chakra Centre, it is one of the largest monasteries in Sikkim and among the best places to visit in Gangtok.

The Monastery was originally built in mid-17th century under the supervision of Changchub Dorje, the 12th Karmapa Lama. Perched on a hill overlooking Gangtok, Rumtek Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa Lama, the third highest monk in Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhism originated during the 12th century CE in Tibet. With the generosity and help of the Sikkim royal family and the local folks of Sikkim, the monastery was rebuilt by the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje and named as Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center in 1966.

The shrine was established with a reason to spread the teachings of the Buddha throughout the world. The architecture of the monastery is one of the .....

At a distance of 500 m from Rumtek Monastery and 21 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden is a public garden located in Gangtok. Situated close to Rumtek Monastery, it is one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Gangtok.

Established in the year 1987, Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden is a well maintained lush green expanse of land with astounding beauty. The garden is maintained and managed by the Parks and Garden Units of the Forest Department of the Government of Sikkim. The garden houses rare flowers, plants and trees including Orchids of Himalayan region. It also has dense temperate forests of Oak and a beautiful lake.

There are more than 50 different varieties of tree species located inside this garden. Owing to the variance in altitude ranging between 1,800 m and 2,200 m, the park has a wide assortment of plants and animals. The garden also has a greenhouse, where different types of orchids are grown. With the intention of merriment .....

At a distance of 8 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Tashi View Point is located at Tashi in Gangtok. Situated near Ganesh Tok, it is one of the stunning viewpoints in Gangtok and among the top places to visit in Gangtok.

Tashi View Point was built by the King of Sikkim, Tashi Namgyal, who ruled Sikkim between 1914 and 1963. The circular shaped platform with railings has been built so that the visitor could view 360-degree perspective of the entire region. It is now developed and maintained by the tourism department. This point is mostly known for offering some of the best sunrise and sunset views.

This is an ideal place for nature lovers as it offers great views of the imposing Himalayan Mountains, specifically Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Siniolchu. The Phodong Monastery and the Labrang Monastery are also easily visible from here. Most of tourist visits the place during early morning to witness the beautiful sunrise and the dramatic play of lights over the mountains and hills. .....

At a distance of 4 km from Tashi Viewpoint and 6 km from the Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Ganesh Tok is Hindu temple located in Gangtok. Situated close to Tashi View Point, it is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Gangtok and among the charming places to visit in Gangtok.

Located at an altitude of 6500 feet, Ganesh Tok temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. The temple is so small that it can accommodate only one person at a time. One needs to climb a steep staircase to reach the temple. Adorned with colorful flags hoisted and tied across the roads, the path to Ganesh Tok almost resembles a rainbow. People visit the temple to offer prayers and also to enjoy the beautiful view. There is a circular balcony around the temple and a viewing lounge to soak in the view.

Ganesh Tok Viewpoint offers a bird-eye's view of the entire Gangtok town, rolling hills and the snowcapped mountains including Kanchenjunga. There is small place located close to this temple, which is known as Smriti .....

At a distance of 9 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Hanuman Tok is a Hindu temple located atop a hill in Gangtok, the capital of the Indian state of Sikkim. Situated off from the Gangtok-Nathula Highway, it is one of the religious places to visit in Gangtok and among the top places of Pilgrimage in Sikkim.

Situated at an altitude of 7200 feet, the temple is dedicated to lord Hanuman, god of good health and strength. According to the legend, Lord Hanuman rested at this place while carrying Sanjeevani Parvat from the Himalayas to save Rama's brother Lakshmana. The idol of Lord Hanuman was erected here in 1950 when an officer named Appaji Pant had a divine dream at this location. Now, the temple was maintained and preserved by the Units of 17 Mountain Division of the Army.

The temple is divided into three sections- the main temple, old temple and the circular temple. A hint of Tibetan style of architecture is witnessed here. The main temple has a long hall which is painted in .....

At a distance of 3 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Enchey Monastery is an ancient Buddhist Monastery situated in Gangtok, Sikkim. Located on Gangtok - Nathula road, it is one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Sikkim and among the best places to visit in Gangtok.

The literal meaning of Enchey Monastery is the 'Solitary Monastery'. The monastery is also an important seat of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. More than 200 years ago, this was the site of Lama Dhrupthob Karpo, a tantric master who was known for his flying powers. Initially, a small Gompa was established by him after he flew from Maenam Hill in South Sikkim to this site in 1840 CE. Later, it was rebuilt in 1908 CE by the 10th King of Sikkim, Sikyong Tulku.

The monastery is considered sacred as it is believed that the protecting deities, Khangchendzonga and Yabdean reside in this monastery. According to a legend, the spirits of the Khangchendzonga, Yabdean and Mahakala are subdued by Guru Padmasambhava .....

At a distance of 3 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a Tibetan institute & museum located in Deorali area of Gangtok. Situated near Do Drul Chorten Stupa, it is one of the must visit places in Gangtok.

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is an important Tibetan institute that promotes and carries on researches in the field of Tibetan language, art, religion and its culture. The foundation stone was laid by 14th Dalai Lama in 1957 and inaugurated by Late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1958. The land of the institute was donated by the late King of Sikkim Tashi Namgyal and hence the name Namgyal Institute of Tibetology.

The institute building boasts of traditional Tibetan architecture and remains as one of the finest traditional Tibetan designs in the world. It rises majestically with its tall golden towers, attractive murals and colourful frescos amidst the breathtaking natural scenery. It also has a museum, a library with rich collections .....

At a distance of 3 km from Gangtok SNT Bus Station, Do Drul Chorten is a Buddhist stupa situated in Gangtok, Sikkim. Situated adjacent to Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, it is one of the most magnificent and the biggest stupas in Gangtok and among the top places to experience Gangtok Tourism.

Do Drul Chorten Stupa was built by Trulshik Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1945 CE. According to legend, it is believed that this entire place was once haunted by evil spirits and many people who wandered around this place became victims and died. Later, Trulshik Rinpoche came to this place for hermitage and built this popular stupa to drive away the spirits.

Popularly known as Phurba, the white Chorten Stupa is marked by a golden top dome and can be seen from various places in Gangtok. The deity enshrined on top of the stupa is known as Dorjee Phurpa or Vajra Kilaya. The Chorten is surrounded by Chorten Lakhang, where there are two huge statues of Guru Rinpoche .....

At a distance of 31 km of Gangtok, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary situated around the area adjoining the Tsomgo Lake in Gangtok. Along the Nathula Road, it is one of the best places to experience Gangtok Tourism.

Established in 1977, the sanctuary covers an area of 31 sq. km. The sanctuary extends from the 15 mile police check post up to the ridges bordering the famous Rong Chu and Tsomgo Lakes. Situated at an altitude ranging from 3,292 m to 4,116 m, the sanctuary boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna. The sanctuary is also the perfect place for trekking tours. The views of Khangchendzonga peak are awesome from the sanctuary. Since it is situated close to India-China border at Nathu La, the place is well conserved by the Indian Army.

The sanctuary is very rich in natural vegetation which comprises of various rare species of plants and trees that are hard to find somewhere else. Some of the common species of vegetation seen here are tall juniper, rhododendron, .....

At a distance of 17 km from Nathula Pass and 38 km from Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake or Tsongmo Lake is a glacial lake located in the East Sikkim district of Sikkim. Also known as Changu Lake, it is one of the top places to visit in Gangtok and among the beautiful lakes in Himalayas.

Located at an altitude of 3,753 m, Tsongmo Lake is one of the few and awesome high altitude lakes in India. In Bhutia language Tsomgo means 'Source of the Lake'. The lake gets its water from the melting snow on the surrounding mountains. The lake is formed in an oval shape and has a surface area of 60 acres. The maximum length of the lake is 1 km and an average depth of the lake is 15 m. The River Lungtze Chu originates from this lake and further falls into Rangpo-chu.

Highly revered by the Buddhists and Hindus, the lake surface reflects different colors with change of seasons. According to the history, the colour of water of this lake was studied by Lamas so as to forecast about the future. They believed, .....

At a distance of 17 km from Tsomgo Lake and 54 km from Gangtok, Nathula is a snow-shrouded mountain pass located in the northeastern state of Sikkim along the Indo-China border. Situated at an altitude of 14450 feet in the Himalayas, it is one of the most exotic places to visit in Gangtok and among the top places to experience Sikkim Tourism.

Located on the Old Silk Route, Nathula is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China. The other two are Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh at the trisection point of Uttarakhand, Nepal and China. Also, it is one of the five officially agreed Border Personnel Meeting points between the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army of China.

Deriving its name from two Tibetan words - Nathu meaning listening ears and La meaning pass,
Nathula Pass was the place through which the famous Silk Route between India and Tibet used to operate until 1962. Lines of mules used to carry silk, gold and many other items .....

At a distance of 16 km from Tsongmo Lake and 54 km from Gangtok, Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple is a holy shrine located in Gangtok, Sikkim. Situated on the way to Nathula Pass, it is one of the old shrines in Sikkim and among the best places to visit in Gangtok.

At an altitude of 13,123 feet, the temple is dedicated to Harbhajan Singh, a hard-working soldier in the Indian Army. Popularly called as Baba Mandir, the temple is situated between Nathula Pass and Jelepla Pass. Visitors usually cover this temple along with a visit to Tsongmo Lake or Nathula Pass.

There is a touching story associated with this temple. Harbhajan Singh was a soldier with the Indian army who slipped and fell into a nullah and was washed away while transporting mules. His body could not be found for so many days and later, he appeared in the dream of his colleague and informed about the spot where his body could be found and further asked for his Samadhi to be built there. His body was found exactly where .....

At a distance of 32 km from Gangtok, Seven Sister Waterfall is a scenic waterfall located on Gangtok- Lachung Highway of Sikkim. It is one of the famous waterfalls in Sikkim and also one of the top Gangtok Tourist Places.

The Seven Sisters Waterfall is an extremely captivating waterfall, which got its name because it is said to fall in seven stages. However, visitors can see only 4 stages from the bottom. The rest are way higher and hidden between the rocks. The magnificent view of refreshing water with a background of lush mountains casts a spell on the visitors with its charm and make it one of the most visited and photographed waterfalls in this region.

The picture perfect beauty of Seven Sister Waterfalls is much loved by picnickers, photographers, nature lovers as well as the local people. A small footbridge crosses over the stream to give the clients a better view and photographic break. To facilitate the tourists to savor the pristine beauty and to be with nature, Tourism .....

At a distance of 34 km from Lachung and 82 km from Gangtok, Naga Falls is another beautiful waterfall situated near Lachung in North Sikkim. Situated on Gangtok-Chungthang road, it is one of the waterfalls in Sikkim and among the must visit places in Lachung.

Naga falls is one of the longest and the scenic waterfalls with very clean and ice-cold water. It is a multi-tiered waterfall. The main fall is quite far from the main road so one needs to trek on a rocky path to get the view. The place offer panoramic view of snow-caped mountains all around. During monsoons the flow of water becomes extremely heavy and even dangerous.

At a distance of 13 km from Lachung, Bhim Nala Falls is a gorgeous waterfalls situated at Khedum village near Lachung in North Sikkim. This is one of the tallest waterfalls in Sikkim and among the popular places to visit in Lachung.

Located on Chungthang - Lachung road, Bhim Nala Waterfalls is also called Amitabh Bachchan falls due to its height. The water is falling from very high mountain and it looks like a three stage waterfall. The sound of water dropping can hear from far off. There is a tea shop and a small view point just opposite the falls which offers a beautiful view of the falls.

Entry Fee: Rs.10 per person

At a distance of 25 km from Yumthung Valley and 51 km from Lachung, Zero point is a valley on Lachung River near Lachung in North Sikkim. Situated above Yumthang Valley, it is one of the picturesque places to visit in Lachung and among the best places to experience Sikkim Tourism.

Situated at an altitude of 15,300 feet, Zero point is the land of perennial snow and also the starting point of Teesta river. The place is also known as Yumesamdong and it will take around 1.5 hour drive to reach here from Yumthang. The name of this place is Zero Point because this is the last motorable road and civilians are not allowed to drive any further from this point. The landscape completely covered with snow offering a majestic view contrasting with the patchy blue sky in between the fresh icy breeze.

The place Zero Point remains under the cover of snow most of the year so it is a delight for snow lovers. One can spot Yak and Blue Sheep which is extremely rare grazing on the pasture. Apart .....

At a distance of 26 km from Lachung, Yumthang Valley is a picturesque valley situated near Lachung, Sikkim. Popularly known as 'Valley of Flowers', it is one of the top places to experience Sikkim Tourism and among the most popular places to visit in Lachung.

Situated at an altitude of 3,500 meters, Yumthang is a distinct place where the tree line ends. Yumthang Valley is extremely picturesque with green slopes covered with trees, hot spring, yaks grazing in the flower-spangled grassy plains below and a river flowing right through the valley. The Yumthang Valley is a paradise for nature lovers with a spectacular blend of flora and fauna and splendid picturesque beauty. The Yumthang Chu River flows through the Yumthang Valley and the entire valley witness long winters as it is close to Tibetan Plateau. Unique wildflowers such as primulas and Rhododendrons cover the entire valley in rich colours every spring, making it a great tourist attraction.

The Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary .....

At a distance of 500 m from Lachung Town Center, Lachung Monastery is a Buddhist monastery situated on the banks of Lachung River in Lachung, Sikkim. It is one of the old monasteries in North Sikkim and among the must visit Lachung Tourist Places.

Also known as Samten Cheoling Monastery, Lachung Monastery was built in the year 1850 AD. Earlier, the monastery belonging to Bon worshippers and was converted into Buddhist Monastery by the locals to strengthen the Buddhist faith in the region. It follows the Nyingmapa Sect of Buddhism. In 1930 a statue of Buddha, a statue of a Guru, a statue of Chenrezig made of Copper along with Kangyur and Tengyur Texts were brought from Tibet as basic religious treasure for this Gompa. It was renovated and remodeled by the Lamas in 1983 AD.

Lachung Gompa is small but colourful monastery. It is a two-storey affair with twin metal dragons above the porch, which contains a pair of extra-heavy prayer wheels. The monastery functions all major ceremonies .....