SINGHIK
: The place offers one of the most spectacular and
nearest view points to Mount Kangchendzonga and its ranges.
You can also have solo view of Mount Janu which perhaps can
be viewed only from this place and from part of Nepal. A well-known
tourist wayside accommodation for visitors is also available.
The area also has a number of interesting short nature trails
for 1 to 3 days along the higher ridges of the surrounding hills.
CHUNGTHANG : 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. It is the nodal junction for the two passes
Lachen and Lachung. The valley is believed to have been blessed by
Guru Rimpoche and one can visit the Holy Guru Ihedu to see the foot
and palm left behind by the patron saint. The place, rich in Bio-Diversity
with a large variety of orchids, plants & wild life, is 95 kms from
Gangtok, 23 kms from Lachung, 29 kms from Lachen, and is predominantly
a Lepcha region.
Phoodong
Monastery : This monastery is located about a kilometre
above the North Sikkim Highway about 40-km away from Gangtok.
Chogyal Gyurmed Namgyal built the monastery sometime in the
first quarter of the 18th century.
Lachung : A Bhutia village
with 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.
Lachen : A tourist interesting place in North Sikkim where
lies not only the Buddhist monestry, but also the remains of Finish
machineries where they came hundreds of years ago to spread Chistianity.
Their remains are still found in Lachung. It is also said that the
apple plantation has been brought by them in this area.
Yumthang
Valley : Some photographs of the natural scenes of
Switzerland and Yumthang valley are very hard to distinguish.
Yumthang which is at an altitude of 12,000 ft. is situated about
135 km from Gangtok. But the journey there is like travelling
in the Garden of Eden. Yumthang is located on a flat valley
and is near the tree line, the surrounding mountains seems to
kiss the heavens. The route Yumthang from Lachung has a very
picturesque landscape and is lined with Rhododendrons and 108
other types of Orchids which bloom in different colours from
April to May. "Come as a visitor for a life-time experience."
The safari is Ex-Gangtok in the restricted area and hence special
permits are required. April and May promise 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 is totally covered with snow during the winter. Hence,
while you see the flower bed in summer and 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.
Chopta
Valley : The Chopta Valley is at an altitude of 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.
Alpine
Package Tour :
It ( distance : 148 km approx ) will exclusively take you to
the carpeted Valley of Flower - Yumthang , at an elevation of
11,800ft , besides covering other parts - Lachung,Lachen , Guru
Dogmar Lake , etc .
The Valley is also the home for Shingbha Rhododendron Sanctuary
with all species of Rhododendrons. Yumthang's "Tsa-Chu" or the
hot spring is immensely popular for its curative properties
and healing powers.
Day
01
Gangtok
to Lachung (Visit Chungthang Monastery , Water falls,
Lachung typical village)
Day
02
Lachung
to Yumthang and return to Lachung (Including Hot Spring,
Lachung Monastery, Singba Rhododendron forest , Yumthang
valley)
Day
03
Lachung to Lachen (Including Lachen monastery, Lachen
typical village)
Day
04
Lachen
to Thangu and return to Lachen (Including Thangu valley)
