NATHULA PASS - WHAT IT IS?
Located at an altitude of 14140 ft and 58kms from Gangtok, the Nathula Pass is not only a popular tourist spot because of its dreamlike natural beauty, but also because it is enriched in history. The Pass is a source of the Old Silk Route, connecting Sikkim to the China Tibet Sovereign Region.
HOW I VISIT NATHULA PASS ?
Well I planned my trip to Sikkim with my super cool travel buddies, My Parents. The first place to visit which comes to my mind was the Nathula pass (kyunki China ko laat marni thi 😈😀😂😂). I told my parents about it and they also got excited which doubles my excitment. The biggest mistake done by me was that I didn't applied for the permit before 24 hours. But as we all know India m jugaad chalta h soo I asked my cab driver to arrange the permit for us and than he called his fellow friends who has applied for the permit so that we can go with him. And luckily he found the one person and talked to him and told him that we will be meeting him at the Baba Mandir. As we are crossing the army area we heard 'BOOM' and got scared than our driver told that army training is going on and it's the noise of the Army Tank. As we are going on high altitude the oxygen level and temperature is decreasing. The valley roads become foggy and we can't se anything and I asked to my driver- Bhaiya kya dekh ke gaadi chala rahe ho.... fir vo bole roz ka kaam h hume sb dikhta h😀😂😑😆. Well KUDOS to INDIAN ARMY for maintaining the roads even in such typical weather conditions.
As we reach Baba Mandir we are trying to connect to the person who is going to take us Nathula Pass. And none of us are getting networks. Than our driver asked other drivers if they have the permit for today some of them are having the permit but they are asking too much money soo my father denied and I was like firse aana padega 😂. But I was lucky and the person came who is going to take us to Nathula. It was around 10kms only but that foggy drive was a thrilling experience for us. As we reach on top there were stairs to reach on the top to see the gates and the border. We started climbing the stairs but the winds are too chilly and it was around -20 °c.
My mom started feeling low with the oxygen soo one of the army officer told my mom to stay in the army canteen because it can be risky if she has the breathing problem. Then me and Papa decided to go on kyunki extra pese diye hai aane k lie toh ab toh dekhna banta h. It was too foggy that we cannot see anything clearly than our driver came and ask if we are having problem or not. Than I told him that I am fine you can go with my father as he has weak eyesight so he might be facing some problem and hurriedly he climbed the stairs and reached to papa and hold his hand and going with him. He was a very nice and helping person, he arranged camphor also so that we can breathe properly. And finally we are at the top 14140ft.
KUCH ALAG HI FEELING THI !!!! NA HATH KO FEEL KAR PAA RAHE THE NA PER KO SB JAM GAE THE.BUT JO VIEW THA USE DEKH K SB DARD BHUL GAYI THI.
Hardly we spent 10mins on the top and came back and every body part was FREEZED. And thanks to that army soldier who told my mom not go up.
We got a certificate from Indian Army for visiting Nathula pass (well they charged 100rs for it but it was worth for our memory).
HOW TO GET PERMIT?
Only citizens of India can visit the pass, and then only after obtaining a permit by Sikkim Tourism Department in Gangtok. But the best hastle free way to get the permit is to ask your cab driver ( India ke log jugaad ke lie famous hai). All you need to do is to submit a photo ID proof (aadhar card is not valid due to safety reasons so you have to take your passport or voter id) along with two passport-sized photographs and the rest work is done by the driver. The total cost for the permit for one vehicle is around 1500Rs but driver would be taking commission so it can be around 3000 to 4000Rs and a minimum of 24 hours is required to get the permit.
SIGHTSEEING ON THE WAY -
1. TSOMGO LAKE
2. BABA HARBHAJAN SINGH MANDIR
3. SNOW CAPPED BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS
4. KYONGNOSLA ALPINE SANCTUARY
5. BEAUTIFUL CURVY ROADS
TIPS TO REMEMBER -
Make sure you apply for the permit before 24 hours. Otherwise you will not get the permit.
If you have motion sickness than take the medicine so that you can enjoy it.
You have to manage the timings so that you can reach on time and come back to Gangtok by the evening. Night stay is not allowed in Nathula pass.
Aadhar card is not valid so carry your passport or voter id card for the permit.
Don't forget to take your passport size photographs.
Take some camphor so it helps in breathing as oxygen level is low at the top.
You can rent the jackets and shoes at tsomgo lake at very reasonable price.
FUN FACTS ABOUT NATHULA PASS DURING MY TRIP -
The winds are soo chilled that my hairs and my cap got freezed😆. It was around -20 degree on the top and I can't feel my hands and legs. When I reached on the top one of the soldier told me that beyond this border China starts and I put my leg beyond the border and a thought came in my mind - Aakhir China ko laat maar hi di 😂😁😜😜
From Nathula pass gate only the Kailash Mansarovar journey begins....