Wake up facing Kangchenjunga.

East Sikkim · Capital27°20′N 88°37′E

Gangtok

Where every KHYA trip begins

Sikkim’s capital climbs a ridge at about 1,650 m. On clear mornings Kangchenjunga fills the western sky. Walk MG Marg in the evening, ride the ropeway, and visit Enchey and Rumtek monasteries.

Altitude

1,650 m

Kangchenjunga

~60 kmas the crow flies

Rumtek

~24 km

Permit

Indians: noForeigners: RAP

East Sikkim27°22′N 88°46′E~38 km from GangtokShown in early winter

Tsomgo Lake

With Baba Mandir and Nathu La on the old Silk Route

A glacial lake in a bowl of snow peaks, sacred to Sikkimese Buddhists and frozen white in the deepest winter months. The road climbs on to Nathu La, a high pass on the border with Tibet. Find it on the map, just east of the lake.

Lake

3,753 m

Nathu La

4,310 m

By road

~2 hrseach way

Permit

NeededProtected Area

Good to know: Nathu La is open to Indian nationals only and usually runs Wednesday to Sunday. Foreign nationals can usually visit Tsomgo Lake with a permit.

North Sikkim27°50′N 88°42′E~25 km beyond LachungShown in spring

Yumthang Valley

The Valley of Flowers, with Zero Point above it

In April and May the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary turns the valley floor red, pink and white, with the Lachung Chu running through the meadows. Follow the river north on the map and the road ends at Zero Point, at the edge of the snow.

Valley

3,564 m

Zero Point

~4,600 m

Base

Lachung~2,900 m

Permit

NeededProtected Area

Good to know: Rhododendrons usually peak from mid-April to May. Foreign nationals can usually visit with a permit, travelling in a group of two or more.

North Sikkim28°02′N 88°43′EPre-dawn drive from LachenShown in autumn

Gurudongmar Lake

One of the highest lakes in the world

A turquoise lake on a high, bare plateau near the Tibetan border, sacred to Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus and linked to Guru Padmasambhava. Look at the altitude readout: the air here is about half as dense as at sea level.

Altitude

5,183 m

Base

Lachen~2,750 m

Air

~54%of sea level

Permit

NeededIndians only

Good to know: Sleep a night in Lachen first, leave before dawn and keep your time at the lake short. The lake is closed to foreign nationals.

West Sikkim27°18′N 88°14′E~130 km from Gangtok by road

Pelling

Monasteries, ruins and the closest view of Kangchenjunga

A ridge town facing the full Kangchenjunga range, shown here at dusk. Pemayangtse Monastery, founded in 1705, sits above the town. Nearby are the ruins of Rabdentse, once Sikkim’s royal capital, and the Chenrezig statue with its glass skywalk.

Altitude

~2,150 m

Pemayangtse

1705

By road

~5 hrsfrom Gangtok

Permit

Indians: noForeigners: RAP