Enroute Lachen: The Best of North Sikkim

Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller This summer, I, along with my friends, had a pleasant, refreshing and hassle-free trip to Sikkim. After visiting Gangtok, we drove for Lachen crossing certain villages like Phodong, Mangan, Tong, etc. where we had our lunch. En route, we saw a stream of the river Teesta flowing side by side all the way up to Chungthang, after which it actually took the form of a river. There is ‘n’ number of scenic spots and quiet places in Sikkim, one of them is Lachen. Lachen is an untouched and lesser known yet an astounding place to visit. I feel high as a kite just by thinking about that place. The word ‘Lachen’ literally means ‘Big Pass’, and there are actually smashing mountain passes and valleys near Lachen. If you don’t have acrophobia, love adventure and want some thrill and break from the old city life, then this is a must in your bucket list. Lachen The beauty of this village left us spell-bound and equally enraptured as we were gifted here with adventure, spiritualism, culture, nature and above all, peace of mind. Despite being just a small village, we felt as if we were on a journey of fairytale land and where landscape and terrains, and ambience were such that we didn’t want to return to the hustle and bustle of the city life.  This quaint village, surrounded with indefinable Himalayan flora and fauna is ideal to spend unimaginable holidays. Not just natural beauty, this city is quite rich in handicraft items as well. People here are indulged in weaving carpets, shawls, blankets, bags, etc. since ages, and we were stirred to see the neatness with which they were, and that was utterly spellbinding. These are made of yak and sheep wool. There are wood crafted items as well. We were bright-eyed to see that the heart-warming residents here were quite pleasant and straightforward, always carrying a smile on their innocent faces, residing in old wooden houses built on stone bases and decorated with bright, multi-hued window frames constructed in the Tibetan style. Then we went back to our hotel and had our dinner, completed our first day of the journey. The next day early morning we walked down towards Nyudrup Choeling Gompa – the well-renowned monastery aka Lachen Gompa. Lachen Monastery The monastery enjoys a stunning location, with panoramic views of surrounding hills and countryside. This is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim built in the 19th century. It is home to Lachen Monastic School as well. Offering a quiet backdrop and unforeseen views, Lachen Monastery is a unique attraction here. This spot is rich in alpine vegetation, including stunning orchids and rhododendrons. The premise of this sacred place is decorated with colourful prayer flags and prayer wheels. It was our dreamy and heavenly pilgrimage experience that has housed in our memories forever. The best time to visit Lachen is April-May since nature is at its best during this period and you can witness the blooming natural beauty of the place. Around 30 km from Lachen and at an altitude of 4000 m above sea-level, there lays tranquil and serene Thangu Valley, an ideal place for adventure seekers and trekkers. The road conditions were pathetic, but the view around made us fall in love with that place. After having lunch at Thangu Valley, our craving for trekking tickled us to trek to another picturesque valley nearby, Chopta Valley.  Meandering river in between, surrounded by pine forests, tinted with waterfalls, gives this virgin valley an ultimate beauty. During summer, this valley turns out into a valley of flowers. The delightful view made us forget the ordinary life from which we escaped ourselves. Then we moved back to Thangu village for night stay. Just a few kilometers away, after the last Army check post, there is this Gurudongmar lake, one of the highest lakes not only in India but in the world. We left for it next day early morning. Named after Guru Padmasambhava (founder of Tibetan Buddhism), this lake is considered sacred by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus. While Indian tourists are allowed to visit the lake, foreigners are denied to enter this area as this lies near Indo-China border. Snowy mountains, curvy roads, valley of flowers, lush green valley with countless waterfalls made our whole journey staggering. Almost half of the area covered by forests, this place offers a surreal escape into the wilderness, much like a dream than to reality. This extraordinary beauty of the lake is beyond any description. Crystal clear blue water surrounded by snow-laden mountains at one side and barren mountains hugging the lake from another side is one of the experiences one must have. Just 5 km away is Tso Lhamo Lake, a must-visit spot. One of the highest lakes in the world (at an altitude of 5,330 m) is fed by waters from glaciers and is the source of river Teesta, with which we already encountered earlier. Thangu Valley On our way back to Thangu, we had some dry food items because of which we were able to survive by the time we reached there, had a night stay at Thangu and left for Gangtok the very next morning. We were enlivened to be a part of adrenaline filled adventure by setting off to a trek to Yumthang Valley apart from the places mentioned above. The breathtaking landscapes left us intoxicated. Bird lovers, nature lovers, adventure buffs and crazy shutterbugs have a lot to explore in this lesser-explored place. Whether solo or in a group, Lachen is a destination for all. Far from the madding crowd, this place sits in the lap of nature and calls us to do the same. The beauty of this place is such that it can melt hearts. Situated far above the sea level, the mesmerizing beauty of this place made us bask for hours. This makes all the wishes of an avid traveler like me, come true. It was no lesser than a visual treat to our eyes. To know more about Indian destinations, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Download our magazine Spunky Indian for exclusive stories.