A Pocket Guide to Traveling Sikkim at Minimal Spending

Itinerary and respective Budget:  Day 1: Visit Gangtok (INR 300 in sharing);  Day 2: Local Sightseeing (INR 1800);  Day 3: Gangtok- Tsomgo Lake- Nathu La- Gangtok (INR 2500);  Day 4: Gangtok- Lachung (First day of North Sikkim touring) (INR 5000 pp);  Day 5: Lachung- Yumthang Valley- Yumsamdeong- Lachung;  Day 6: Lachung- Katao- Lachen;  Day 7: Lachen- Gurudongmar- Kala Patthar- Gangtok;  Day 8: Gangtok- Temi- Namchi- Ravangla (INR 3000);  Day 9: Ravangla- Tashiding- Pelling- Yuksom- Ravangla (INR 3000);  Day10: Ravangla- Siliguri (INR 170 in bus);  

(Note: The North Sikkim was on a sharing basis of 7 person in a Bolero, fooding and lodging included. Day 2, 3, 8 and 9 charges are as total on small vehicle. Foreigners can avail the permits here. Indians are requested to carry identity proofs and passport photos for the Inner Line Permits (ILP)/ Protected Area Permits PAP/ Restricted Area Permits (RAP) which can be availed through local operators, but independent travelers/bikers will be needing this. Nationals from Bangladesh, Myanmar, China and Nigeria has to apply for the permits through Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.)

On the Way to Gurudongmar

Day 1: Visit Gangtok

Gangtok being the capital city of Sikkim is the most populated area of the State. And if one wants a budgeted itinerary, one should opt visiting Gangtok on their first day.

Visit Gangtok on the first day and try to avail a hotel in the M. G. Marg market area as the taxi stands are located there and all four districts are easily connected to Gangtok. Availing hotels near the market has an extra advantage of shopping- you can visit the market whenever you want. The traffic there is one way so taking a hotel someplace else would increase your to and fro journey fare. If you are bored in your hotel room you can go for a stroll too.Also on the first day itself connect to the local tour operators at M. G. Marg or at Vajra Taxi stand to visit the districts. The altogether hiring cost is much high compared to the local touring. The talking is to be done on the day one itself as you would need permits to visit the border areas, namely North and East Sikkim.

Reaching Gangtok by noon will provide you much time for the first day local sightseeing. Avail a taxi from the local taxi stand and visit Enchey Monastery at a fare of INR30 per person.

Enchey Monastery

Coming back head to Deorali Bazar, where you can visit Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and Do Drul Chorten (closing time- 4:00pm). It’s a little uphill and needs little walking. Coming down towards the main road you could get the ropeway, hop in and go to M. G. Marg (ticket at INR 117pp). Although it’s a to and fro journey, however it is better to get down after one trail as that would save the taxi fare or the toil if you choose to walk. And then spend your whole evening at CCD or Baker’s café or walk around the marketplace. Do visit Café Sass and Guff to have a bird’s eye view of the night lit city.

Gangtok Nightscape

Day 2: Local Sightseeing

The local sightseeing is categorised as 5 points, 7 points and 10 points with the charges as Rs 1200, INR 1500 and INR 1800 respectively. The notable points include the Rumtek Monastery, Ranka or Lingdum Monastery, Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok, Banjhakri waterfalls, Bakthang waterfalls and Sikkim Himalayan zoo. Try out the Sikkim attire for a few minutes for a rent of INR 50 for a photographic memoir.

Local fares for Luxury Tourist Vehicle

Normal Taxi fares

Try to finish off by 5:00pm as the places get closed by then. Get hold of a driver on the day before as that would save you time on Day 2. Start off as early as possible in the morning to cover all the places. And yes try to memorize few words in Nepali. Trust me it helps a lot.

Day 3: Gangtok- Tsomgo Lake- Nathu La- Gangtok

On the way to Nathu La, you would come across two lakes, namely Nathu La Lake and Tsomgo/ Changu Lake. The physical state of the lake varies depending on the season of your visit. You would be mesmerized by a frozen lake during November to Mid-April and a watery clean lake for the rest of the year. And yes, all through the way the snow covered terrain would keep on fascinating you. Nathu La marks the border with China; the terrain is windy and one might have a bit of breathing difficulty here. Walking at a light pace and avoiding any rigorous activity would minimize that. Visit the memorial Harbhajan Singh Baba Mandir and return to Gangtok by evening.

Check Point for Nathu La

Get up early as vehicles are not allowed after 10:00 am to cross the checkpoint to Nathu La.

Day 4: Gangtok- Lachung (First day of North Sikkim touring)

This is one long and tedious journey through trees, waterfalls and tunnels. On the way you would come across Butterfly waterfall where it is said that in autumn it is a dwelling of colourful butterflies. The road bifurcates at Chungthang, one towards Lachung and the other towards Lachen. Lachung valley is situated on the banks of Lachung Chu River and is the gateway to Yumthang Valley.

Chungthang Valley

Day 5: Lachung- Yumthang Valley- Yumsamdeong- Lachung

The destination is the Zero Point or Yumsamdeong where it is numb cold, you can feel your fingers getting frozen even inside the gloves but the view is breathtakingly beautiful. Play in the snow, make a bunch of Olafs, well you will not run short of snow here. And yet again a word of caution, since it is a high altitude place, some excited jumping would easily drain you out. So whatever you do, do it in a slow pace.

Greeneries along the Lachung Chu

Lachung Valley

The journey is through the Yumthang Valley Natural Reserve which is known for rhododendron blooms, though that has to be in the month of April-May. The varied coloured blooms are a delight to the eyes. In between you can have your favourite momo and cup of tea.

Through the Yumthang Valley Natural Reserve

Yumthang Valley

Ice flakes on pine cones

Yumsamdeong Snowing

Get the boots at Yumthang for INR 50, you will need it in Zero Point. And also bring a flask so that you can carry tea along with you. And preserve nature, do not litter the grounds with plastic disposal.

Day 6: Lachung- Katao- Lachen

Katao is towards east of Lachung while Yumthang and Yumsamdeong on the northern side. It is a military area and the peak i.e. Mt. Katao is not literally visited. However one can view the Lachung valley from the top. The road detour includes few waterfalls, streams and of course snow. From thereon straight right ahead to Lachen.

Since you are staying an extra day at Lachung, get up early in the morning and trek down to the Lachung Chu river side on the first day and visit the Lachung Monastery on the second. You will have your morning walk and could make the most out of your visit.

Day 7: Lachen- Gurudongmar- Kala Patthar- Gangtok

Well save the best for the last. Get up early around 4:00 am in the morning. You are supposed to reach Gurudongmar before 10:00 am after which it is not allowed as it gets too gusty out there. The lake is situated at 17.300ft; a glacial lake and if you visit during February-mid April you would find a frozen lake. The road to Military base camp is too jerky, however beyond that the road runs through rugged terrain surrounded by white snow-capped mountains and the journey itself becomes beautiful.

Gurudongmar Lake, the Holy Lake, offer your heartfelt prayers here

On a slightly unofficial note, try visiting Tso Lhamo Lake which is beyond the Gurudongmar road. The permits are not available, hopefully someday it will be. To be honest I have not visited myself but someday I hope too.

A slight detour would take you to Kala Patthar, as the name suggest that it is a black rocky mountain all covered with snow. The view from there-on is seriously spectacular. It is snow, snow, snow everywhere, you can even slide in the snow here.

Way to Kala Patthar

Cherishing Memories

The return journey to Gangtok from Lachen is tiresome. Pre-book a hotel at Gangtok because all you need is a good sleep for the next day’s journey.

Day 8: Gangtok- Temi- Namchi- Ravangla

From Gangtok, head out for Temi tea Garden, Sikkim’s internationally famous organic tea garden where the road looped through stretches of the tea garden. If you are visiting in October-November you will find cherry blossoms along the roadside adding to the hues of green. From there-on head for Namchi and be prepared to be awestruck by the majestic view of the mighty Kanchendzonga all through the road. The notable point are Chardham and Smadruptse and come all the way back towards Ravangla. The journey ends by visiting Buddha Park or Tathagatha Tsal at Ravangla. All three places showcases large statues of Hindu-Buddhist Gods. This is a spiritual trail amidst the greeneries and clouds.

Buddha Park all lighted up

Day 9: Ravangla- Tashiding- Pelling- Yuksom- Ravangla

From Ravangla travel to Tashiding and on the way you would come across Bon Monastery. Then head for the Rabdentse Ruins which was the first capital city of Sikkim. The ruins are at the end of a trail which you need to trek. On the way there is a bird sanctuary which is structured like a Jurassic Park like structure. Therefrom visit Peymangste Monastery and Khecheoperi Lake. On the way to Pelling you will come across Kanchedzonga waterfall which is again the main attraction of Pelling. Yuksom is another small village on the hills, it is the base of most of the treks at Sikkim. If you are up for Goechala, this should be your destination. The day would end by your visit to the Phamrong Falls and returning to Ravangla.

Beside the Phamrong falls, take the stairs and trail all to the top to enjoy an all-yours time in the fading light of the sun. Trust me, you will enjoy the effort.

Day10: Ravangla- Siliguri

Take the bus at 7:00 am from Ravangla market. That would give you time to replenish your vacation even at the way-back-to-usual-blues journey.

So are you up for backpacking Sikkim and worried about the essentials to carry? Here are the helpful tips on how to backpack northeast India!