Gurudongmar Lake - A Slice of Heaven

Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim and one of the most happening, lively and bustling tourist hill stations. The spirit for football among the local people is quite high and this is clearly visible in every nook and corner of the town. We stayed in a small guest house 2 km away from the mall road which is the major tourist attraction of the town. Our trip started and ended at Gangtok so we were able to spend around 3 days in the town and explore. Rumtek Monastery is a must visit where we spent quality time observing daily Buddhist rituals and learning about the their teachings. You can find plethora of eating joints at bar at the mall road where you can spend quality time with your friends and family. You probably will get one of the best momos of your lifetime in some of the authentic shops. A local beer called Hit is also a must try. I was really impressed with the taste and smoothness of this beer which was better than many other local beers being sold in liquor shops everywhere.

We started at around 10:30 am in the morning after completing all our permit formalities. It took us around 7 hours to reach Lachen. We stopped at a local house in Magan (capital of north Sikkim) to have a tempting and delicious lunch which was recommended and arranged by our driver. Experience like this truly adds a special flavor to your trip. The journey may be tedious for travelers who are not used to traveling in hills but the scenic beauty and mesmerizing landscapes on the way will definitely help you to cope well.

The distance between Lachen and Gurudogmar is around 82 km (including Kala Patthar). Although the distance is less but due to miserable road conditions it takes a significant time to cover the route. On your way you will pass through the beautiful and captivating Chopta Valley which will constantly remind you of the true beauty of nature. The Valley changes its colour in every few Kilometres. Meandering river in between, surrounded by pine forests, and tinted with waterfalls gives this virgin valley an undefined beauty. The colorful fluttering flags fringed across the valley share their spiritual message metaphorically with the mountain breeze. After crossing this valley you reach a small village called Thangu which is the last village on this route. After this village, you will not find any human settlement except the army bases

Thangu Village is a remote high altitude village of Tibetan Nomads. Since Gurudongmar Lake is closer to China Border, the army presence is evident from here onward. Here, another permit is required which your driver will guide you. We had our short tea moment while going and lunch while returning at this village. Our driver recommended and took us to a small village house where a lady invited us for tea and lunch. We had some very interesting conversation with the lady regarding the livability quotient in such remote and cold environment. Through her stories, it was truly incredible to imagine how a small village along with the army’s help bonds together to live in peace and harmony. The lady offered an amazing Yak and spinach soup along with rice for lunch which was a specialty of this region.

From Thangu you have an option to take a detour for Kala Pathar which is 12 km away from Thangu Village. This is an intricate drive but since my friend had never seen snow and we had some extra time with us we thought of visiting this place. The road condition was not good but the place is fully covered with snow and the drive to this place is can be scenic and captivating. Owing to the time restriction after witnessing the snow point we immediately made our way back to Gurudongmar lake.

Gurudongmar Lake situated at 17.5k feet, making it India's highest lake. This lake is sacred to the Buddhists, Hindus and the Sikhs. It is believed that Guru Nanak, the spiritual leader of Sikhism, blessed this lake upon his visit to North Sikkim in the 15th century.

The last checkpoint of the drive lies a few km ahead of Thangu village where vehicles leading to the lake are supposed to submit a copy of their permit. For those who feel short of breath, the army provide assistance for first aid and oxygen masks here. There are toilets and a small shack that provides water. While the entire journey has tough and strenuous terrain there is a surreal transformation in the landscape and topography during the last 15 km stretch.

The panoramic awe inspiring views and the pristine beauty of the landscapes will make you feel lost and liberated. Once you approach the lake the rejuvenating vibes will make you feel a sense of solitude. The sheer tranquillity and breath-taking vista of this place will make u forget all the hardships you have faced on your journey. However, due to low temperature and nerve chilling constant breeze you also need to be mindful and cautious. The few moments we spent at Gurudongmar lake will be etched to our hearts and mind forever.

The distance between Gurudogmar and Lachung is around 114 km and it takes around 5 hrs to cover the journey. Lachung is another picture perfect village of North Sikkim. The village is home to the 19th-century Buddhist Lachung Monastery, surrounded by apple orchards. We reached Lachung late evening and had our dinner at the hotel. You will be able find better hotels and restaurants at Lachung. There was also a small gurudwara near to our hotel which we visited early in the morning and made our way to Yungtham Valley.

Yungtham Valley is an hour’s drive from Lachung. On the way, we had to pass through the famous Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary which is also referred as the valley of flowers. You can witness around forty species of rhododendron trees and plants here and treat the nature admirer within you. However, if you are looking for the best time to visit Yumthang for witnessing the blooming beauties, then make sure you plan your trip between late February to mid-June. Driving through the fog and mist and soaking in the sights and sound of mountain was a splendid experience.

Yungtham valley is like a paradise on earth which is home to a zillion flowers, spectacular mountains & a serene river. Needless to say, its breath taking and magical surroundings will leave you awe struck and spell bound. You will also find small shops on the roadside that offer magi, bread omelette and tea. They also rent fur coats, gumboots and overcoats. You can buy souvenirs too. We spent about 2 hours at Yumthang and then headed back to Gangtok at around 11:30. The drive from yungtham to Gangtok is around 5 hours. We did witness another landslide on the way and had to stop for an hour due to the road block.