Mangan

Distance- 65 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 3950 ft.

Mangan is the district headquarters of North Sikkim, a  little hamlet with flower patches, and the water wheels strung with bells set in exquisite miniature gardens more than compensate for the primitiveness of the region.

The Mangan Bazaar (market place) is situated on the North Sikkim highway with around fifty odd shops. The district collectorate where the district collector and other government department function is situated around two kilometers uphill from market at a place called Pentok and is approached by a link road. On the sides of this link road while traveling towards Pentok lies a public ground and Mangan Senior Secondary School. Just opposite to Mangan, separated by river Teesta, is seen a sloppy villages namely Lingdong, Barfok, Hee-Gyathang falling under Dzongu area. From the Pentok area, the picturesque view of mount Siniolchu (a range of mount Khangchendzonga) is also seen.

The region is famous for the Phensong and Phodong Monastery, the latter being considered one of the six main monasteries of Sikkim.

Kabi Longtsok

Distance - 24 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 4800 ft

The 134 km drive from Gangtok to Yumthang takes you through Kabi Longtsok, where Sikkimese history began in the 13^th century. It was here that the treaty of blood brotherhood  between the Lepcha chieftain, Tetong Tek and the Tibetan chief Khye Burnsa was sworn and signed. Amidst the shadows of tall trees and cardamom fields, a memorial stone and a place of worship mark the historical spot for those who pass by. Slightly ahead is a small monastery.

Chungthang

Distance - 95 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  5,600 ft.
Chungthang is situated on the way to Yumthang. It is a small town surrounded by high mountains that seem to touch the sky. Chungthang lies on the confluence of two hilly rivers Lachen and Lachung Chu and the starting point of river Teesta has emerged as a major subdivision settlement in North Sikkim. From here the road bifurcates for the Lachen and Lachung valleys. The spot worth visiting at Chungthang is the rock on which legend has it Guru Padmasambhava rested and the imprint on it is said to be his footmark. There is a small opening in the rock which remains filled with spring water Adjacent to the rock there is a small stretch of land where paddy grows, defying the conditions which are not conducive to the growth of this crop here, It is said that while here Guru Padmasambhava had sprinkled a handful of grain on this spot and paddy has grown here ever since. Chungthang is also a good place to halt for sometime for a cup of tea before proceeding onwards to Yumthang. It  is predominantly a Lepcha region.

Lachung (small pass)

Distance - 116 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude - 8800 ft.

Lachung is a very small town with scattered settlements, dominated mostly by Bhutias. There is also an army cantonment for the border protection. You can visit monastery, handicraft centre, go around for village. If you are interested then you can do trout fishing. 

A Bhutia village has a unique local self-governing body called the Zumsa which substitutes the Panchayat. It is located about 25 kms from Yumthang Valley. To get a glimpse of Lachung Monastery you have to come to the opposite slope of the highway.

Phodong Monastery

Distance -  39 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  4500 ft.

this is one of the major monasteries of Sikkim belonging to the Karmapa sub-sect of Kagyupa monastery. Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal built the monastery sometime in the first quarter of the 18^th century. Beautiful moral paintings adorn the walls of this monastery.

Singhik

Distance -  km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  ft.
Note:  The area also has a number of interesting short nature trails for 1 to 3 days along the higher ridges of the surrounding hills.

a destination 4 km from Mangan, from where one can take a glorious view of Mt. Khangchendzonga, and its neighboring peaks. Half an hour uphill walk takes you to an ancient monastery. Chungthang It is a small town situated at the confluence of Lachen & Lachung River. According to legend Chungthang was the meeting place of Guru Rimpoche & Lepcha Chieftain Thekung Tek. It was here from where the word Demazong originated according to the prophecy of Guru Rimpoche.

Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary

Distance -  km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  ft.

the Lachen valley has forty species/varieties of rhododendron trees and shrubs; the sanctuary is rich in collection of ground flora and other vegetation. 

Yumthang Valley

Distance -  145 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  12000 ft.
Note :  It is a restricted area and special permits are required.

At 24 kms from Lachung lies Yumthang, the rightfully called the Valley of Flowers as in Flowering season there blossoms vivid colours of variety of Rhododendrons, chimals and blue poppies. Yumthang is located on a flat valley and is near the tree line, the surrounding mountains seems to kiss the heavens. The journey from Lachung to Yumthang has a very picturesque landscape and is lined with Rhododendrons & 108 other types of Orchids which bloom in different colours from April to May. "Come as a visitor for a life-time experience." April and May promises colourful flowers, where as November end to March usually sees snows. Simple village folks spread scarcely admit the virgin landscapes is a food forever. Another peculiar feature of the valley is that, the valley totally covered with snow during the winter. Hence, while you see the flower bed in summer, you see snow bed in the winter.

A natural hotspring is another attraction of the tourist who are said to have had relief of their skin ailment after having bath there. The visit is on the passing of Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.

Yumthang valley is a mesmerizing scene with yaks grazing on flower - carpeted meadows against a backdrop of towering peaks.  It has breathtaking views where one can become a part of a timeless scene without any kind of intrusion.

Hot springs, crystal clear streams, water falls, soaring mountains and natures bounty, you name it, you will find it here.

Lachen

Distance -  122 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  9800 ft.

(big pass) this small town is located at an alt of 2735m, which is 123 kms from the capital. The journey takes almost 6-hrs drive and it is also a base for the Green Lake trek most of the mountaineering activities. 

This new destination of the millennium, only opened on the 20^th of December 2000, for domestic and foreign tourists. It's a natures gifted wonderland- infact words will fall short to describe the glory of this place. The people, culture, monasteries ,valleys flowers zone. The famous Yak race is Thangu, Chopta Valley and Domestic Tourists can also visit Gurudongmar Lake and Cholamu Lake, the source of river Teesta. Since this is a new destination ,the infrastructure is bare minimum and there could be some difficulties but all troubles are compensated by the beauty of the place. Its just too good.held annually at Muguthang, visitors can visit

Thangu

Altitude -  ft.

the route continues from Lachen to gradual ascend of 28 kms through the mountain ridge leads to Thangu. Its alpine meadows are dotted with wooden houses and army camps. The calm water of Teesta flowing through the valley presents a fantastic contrast.

 

 

 

 

Gurudongmar

Distance - 150 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  13,500 ft.

The Calm and crystal clear water of the Gurudongmar Lake is largest and probably the highest in Sikkim. This is also one of the sacred lake and many pilgrims visit this place once in a year. 

Tso Lhamu

Distance - 192 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  18000 ft.

Yumeysamdong

Distance -  km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  18400 ft.

Phodong Monastery, Labrang Monastery and Tumlong Palace ruins

Distance -  km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  ft.

All these three are located within an area of one square kilometre and about 40 kilometres from Gangtok on the North Sikkim Highway. Phodong Monastery which belongs to the Kargyupa Sect (Karmapa), is situated about a kilometre uphill by a jeepable road that bifurcates from the North Sikkim Highway. Phodong monastery was built by the Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal somewhere in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The main annual puja is performed on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar when the religious Chaams or dances are also demonstrated. Another kilometre uphill from Phodong Monastery on the same jeepable road is the Labrang Monastery which was built about one hundred years later but belongs to the Nyingmapa sect. Just below the road between Phodong Monastery and Labrang Monastery are the ruins of the third capital of Sikkim, Tumlong. In the beginning of the nineteenth century, the capital of Sikkim was shifted from Rabdanste to Tumlong which then remained the capital for almost ninety years, The Raja's house is now in complete ruins covered with a thick canopy of bushes but we can conjure up an image of what it looked like from Dr. Hooker's account during his visit and imprisonment here in 1849. He wrote in the Himalayan Journal It was an irregular low stone building Of Tibetan architecture, with slanting walls and small window high up under the broad thatched roof, above which, in the middle, was a Chinese looking square copper gilt canopy, with projecting eaves and bells at the corners, surmounted by a ball and a square spire. On either gable of the roof was a round topped cylinder of gilded copper, something like a closed umbrella. The chortens surrounding the Palace have however withstood the vagaries of 'nature and many of them can be seen. There are many buses plying on the route on which Phodong lies. Taxis are also readily available for Phodong from Gangtok. Cheap accommodation is also available at Phodong Bazar which also has a few shops.

Yumthang Hot Springs

Distance -  km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  ft.

Photographs of the natural scenes of Switzerland and Yumthang valley look so similar that it is difficult to distinguish between them. Yumthang which is at an altitude of 12,000 ft is situated about 135 kms from Gangtok in North Sikkim. But going there is like travelling 135 years back in time - it is so remote and almost untouched by the vagaries of civilisation. It is well known for its hot springs to reach which one has to walk a few hundred yards from the road and across a pedestrian bridge on the River Lachung. For the convenience of bathers a hut with two pools in which the hot spring water collects has been constructed. Hot water rich in sulphur, emanates from a spring just behind the hut and is diverted to the pools. It is difficult to imagine that water so hot in its natural form could be found in a place so cold. Yumthang is now open to foreigners and has also caught the fancy of filmmakers and a part of some movies have been shot here. Although Yumthang itself is located on a flat valley and is near the tree-line, the surrounding mountains seem to touch the heavens. The route to Yumthang from Lachung - adjoining the Singba Forest Reserve -has a very picturesque landscape and is lined with rhododendrons which bloom at their best in May. What is particularly interesting about the rhododendrons of the Yumthang valley is that they bloom in different colours unlike those in other parts of Sikkim which are usually red. Tourists require an Inner Line permit which can be obtained with the help of the travel agent to visit this place. During the tourist season, the Tourism Department organizes package tours to Yumthang. Tours to Yumthang are also organized by some local travel agents. Visitors are not permitted to take their private vehicles to Yumthang. Yumthang has a Forest Department Rest House but tourists are normally accommodated at the Tourist Lodge named Yaksey 6 kms from Lachung towards Yumthang. Yumthang itself has no population and the few yak herders around are nomadic. Another 23 kms ahead of Yumthang are the hot springs of Yumey- Sarndong on the river Sebu-chu at the foot of the mountain on which lies the Donkiala pass that connects the Lachung valley to the Lachen valley.

Phurchachu Reshi Hot Springs

These hot springs are located about 25 kms from Gyalshing near Reshi on the River Rangit. One has to walk about ten minutes from the highway across the River Rangit by a pedestrian bridge to reach the hot springs. The water of these springs has medicinal value as it contains sulphur and can cure some skin diseases. People from all over the state and neighboring Darjeeling come here during the winter months and spend days together lying submerged in the soothing water of the hot spring. There are a couple of trekkers' huts for the convenience of the tourists. These springs also considered very holy as one of the four holy caves is located here. This holy cave is called the Kadosang phu or cave of the occult fairies and lies on the south of the four cardinal points.

Kechopari Lake

Kechopari Lake at an altitude of about 6,000 ft is located on a bifurcation on the road between Gyalshing and Yoksum. Kechopari means the Wishing Lake. The water in this lake is placid and crystal clear. Not even a leaf can be seen floating on the water surface although there is a beautiful dense forest above the lake. It is said that if a leaf drops on the surface of the water it is picked by a bird. A trekkers' hut has been built near the lake for the convenience of the tourists.

Lachung

Distance -  116 km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  8800 ft.

At almost 9000 ft in North Sikkim this quaint Sikkimese village is a perfect destination and is around 110 kms from Gangtok, the capital town of Sikkim, passing through villages memorable as time, picturesque spots for stoppage, waterfalls, great views. This place is an ideal nature spot of Sikkim and has been recently opened to foreign travellers in an organised manner. This visit gives a rare chance to the visitor to understand Sikkim at its best and the traditions of the local people and culture. If one is looking for Shangrila-then its here. If one is looking for Shangrila-then its here.

Chopta Valley

Distance -   km ( from Gangtok )
Altitude -  13,200 ft

It has breathtaking alpine scenery with lofty snow capped peaks, meandering rivers and alpine flowers that bloom in June-July. It is about 20 minutes drive from Thangu. Gurudongmar Lake is a holy lake at an altitude of over 17,000 ft, it is beyond Chopta and armed with a special permit it is possible to reach the same during a day's excursion ex-Lachen.