Want to know the Best Places to Visit in Lachung? Well, you have landed on the right article.
Lachung is a small town in the mountains of Sikkim, one of the northeast states of India.
This place is a major tourist attraction in Sikkim. It is very close to the Tibetan border. It is surrounded by the Lachung River and Apple orchards, too.
Nearby Yumthang Valley and its Shingba Rhododendron sanctuary are there. This valley is famous for its waterfall and hot spring. Pine forests in this valley add extra beauty to it.
This village is home to the Buddhist Lachung Monastery of the 19th century. The market of this city is filled with handicrafts such as exquisitely woven rugs and blankets that make this town ideal for shopping sprees.
There are a few beautiful places in lachung that you must visit during your trip to Lachung.
Gompa is the famous sightseeing spot in this city and Mount Katao is a suitable destination near Lachung that is at a distance of 30 kilometres.
Here are some of the famous places in lachung:-
Best Places to Visit in Lachung (Updated 2023)
Table of content
Lachung is a beautiful city for sightseeing. Lachung Chu is one river which flows between the city.
The river melts the snow above which also provides you with a beautiful sight. Below are the 5 popular places in lachung you should visit today:-
1. Lachung Monastery
Nestled in the picturesque apple orchards of Lachen Valley, Lachung Monastery stands as a reminder of ancient Buddhist architecture.
This magnificent monastery is situated atop 2,750 meters, close to the mouth of Lachen and Lachung – two of numerous tributaries of Teesta river. It has been carefully built with outstanding architecture.
The magnificent gompa, established in 1806 by Nyingmapa Buddhists, serves as the starting point of the Green Lake trek. Inside it lies an enchanting statue of Guru Padmasambhava that is worth seeing.
A prayer wheel stands guard near the entrance of the monastery, leading visitors to the resident Handloom and Handicraft Centre.
The Lachung Monastery is one of the most tranquil places to visit in Lachung.
2. Yumesamdong
Yumesamdong, otherwise called Zero Point, is a popular tourist attraction in Lachung. Situated 15 km away from Yumthang, it stands at an awe-inspiring altitude of 4,724 meters.
Situated at the edge of the known world, Zero Point marks the end of the road. Beyond this point lies the Chinese-Vicuna border, an area most people can’t access due to restrictions.
Exploring Yumesamdong is definitely worth the effort as you’ll be rewarded with some gorgeous sights.
Here, you can witness three rivers flowing together in perfect harmony and marvel at the majestic snow-capped mountains that stand tall on both sides of the valley.
Despite the nearly barren landscape and powdery snow, yaks continue to graze in the area.
The frigid weather is tempered by a nearby hot spring on the banks of Sebu Chhu, providing some relief from biting cold temperatures.
3. Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary
Nestled within Yumthang Valley is the Shinga Rhododendron Sanctuary, surrounded by the Chuba-Sagochen ranges to one side and Chomzomei on the other.
This incredible sanctuary is richly adorned with a stunning array of rhododendron species. It stretches across an expansive 43 sq.km., presenting an absolutely mesmerizing spectacle of rioting colors!
Yumthang Chu is an amazing sight to behold, as it winds all around the valley. This spot is a favorite of trekking & adventure lovers, who get to enjoy an incredible view along with it.
Nature enthusiasts should consider camping in the area during April to July, when rhododendrons are in full bloom.
However, make sure to leave no trace of your stay behind for a truly sustainable experience.
4. Naga falls
It is at Gangtok-chungthang road and at a distance of 34 km from Lachung and takes about an hour to reach there.
It is one of the best waterfalls in the north of sikkim and Naga falls is one of the longest and the scenic waterfalls with spotless and ice-cold water. It is a multi-tiered waterfall.
The major fall is quite far from the main road so one needs to trek on a rocky path to get the view.
The place offers a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains all around. During monsoons the flow of water becomes extremely heavy and even dangerous.
5. Bhim Nala Falls
Bhim nala waterfall is on the Chungthang – Lachung road. Exact location is at Khedum village and you can only visit here through a cab.
Here at Bhim nala you find that the water is falling from a very high mountain and it looks like a three-stage waterfall. The sound of water dropping is heard from far off.
There is a tea shop and a small view point just opposite the falls which offers a beautiful view of the falls. Entry Fee for this waterfall is just Rs.10 per person.
Best time to visit in Lachung
The time from October to February is the best time to visit in Lachung because the weather is pleasant.
Lachung experiences mild summers with winters being freezing and the monsoon receiving heavy rainfalls. Monsoon season in Lachung is not so good because of heavy rainfalls.
Location and weather
Lachung is elevated at 2700m or 8610 feet above sea level. Basically, it is on the snow covered beautiful mountains. The minimum or average temperature here is 0°c.
The wind speed in Lachung is about 3 km/hr and that’s why humidity in the air is very much around 60-71%. The humidity depends on the weather, so it keeps changing.
Mostly the weather in Lachung is cold as temperature varies between 12-20° C in Summer and below freezing levels in winter.
How to Reach Lachung
- Air: Gangtok airport is the nearest airports Lachung. From their regular flights are available to different places. Take a taxi or bus from here to reach Lachung.
- Rail: Lachung railway station is near to the city and is easily reached by road. You can take any of the public transport to reach there. Rail network is also very well connected and makes your journey comfortable.
- Road: Lachung is a hill station and tourists usually prefer to travel through road. So you can take a taxi, jeeps, buses or personal vehicles to reach this place.
Someone well connected Gangtok to Lachung with road transport facility. It is about 113-115 km from Lachung.
Permissions needed to travel in Lachung as for the rest of North Sikkim, Lachung can be visited only by booking a package tour through a recognised travel agent.
This is because you are visiting a special restricted area and a special permit from authorities is required for all to travel here and it is given only to tourists travelling on a package tour.
The package includes everything you need to visit like your travel, accommodation, food, and sightseeing.
Where to Stay in Lachung
Accommodation in Lachung is not a problem as it is a tourist hotspot and has many hotels. The city is filled with several hotels and lodges for the comfort of tourists.
Some of them are Yarlam Resort, Modern Residency, Le Cozy Resort, Fortuna Resort, Cliff View Residency, Season House and Golden Valley are best accommodation in Lachung which can choose to accord to their choice of the tourists.
Shopping in Lachung
There are really few shopping choices in Lachung. You can only buy some ethnic and hand-crafted items from the nearby markets.
Things to buy: Tea, Masks, prayer flags, wall hangings, Thangkas, woolen carpets, Chosees, the traditional dress of Sikkim, pickles, and Sikkim liquor.
Experience in Lachung
Bhutias and Lepchas stay in majority at this place. And the major spoken languages here are Nepali, Lepcha and Bhutia. Several festivals are celebrated in Lachung.
Lossong is one of the most popular festivals in Lachung which is also called as the New Year of the Bhutia people.
It is celebrated in January, when pooja is performed. Saga Dawa is another festival which is celebrated by the Buddhist people. It is the day of Gautam Buddha.
Cuisines and Restaurant in Lachung
Being at a very high altitude, Lachung does not provide a variety of food. The most available dishes are different fish,dal and rice.
You can also try the famous cuisine of Sikkim while visiting this place. Most hotels and lodges in the area have their own dining facilities and restaurants that are more convenient for tourists.
Itinerary
After reaching Lachung check into a hotel. Hire a taxi or if you have a personal car, take a tour of the whole of Lachung.
Visit Lachung Chu river and the famous Lachung Monastery there. After that, have lunch at some nearby restaurant.
In the evening, you see the magnificent Zero Point and then return to your hotel and have dinner there at the hotel. On the next day, you can visit Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.
And then you can check out of your hotel and you can also take a trip to Gangtok, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Siliguri which is nearby all in approx. 110-180 kms from Lachung.
Some other important Tips
It is advisable to keep a travel guide before going there. It is customary to leave a donation at a monastery and to revolve around shrines in a clockwise direction.
And it is requested not to disturb the wildlife or its habitat there and also not to smoke, drink alcohol or talk loudly at the monasteries.
Lachung is a very Peaceful Place, and it reflects Buddhist Culture and tribal heritage.
We would highly recommend you to visit Lachung once in your lifetime as the beautiful mountains of Sikkim has pleasant views and are mesmerizing.
I hope you liked our article on Best Places to Visit in Lachung, if you have any comments or suggestions do share them in the comments below
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why is Lachung famous?
Also known as the ‘Small Pass’, Lachung is embraced by snow capped mountain peaks, breathtaking waterfalls, sparkling streams and apple orchards, also peaches and apricots.
The market of this city is filled with handicrafts such as exquisitely woven rugs and blankets that make this town ideal for shopping sprees.
Q2. Is Lachung worth a visit?
Lachung is a serene hamlet in Sikkim which is certainly worth visiting. One can visit the monastery and can also go for a sightseeing excursion to Yumthang Valley, Gurudongmar Lake, Thangu Valley, Chungthang Valley, and more.
Q3. What is the best time to visit in Lachung?
Best Season to visit Lachung is October to June as the temperature is about 10°c to 16°c. Winter is chilly which sets during October till February.
Temperature is 10°C and -5°C in winters. Heavy snowfall and continuous fog can be seen during these days.
Here are the Tourist Places to Visit in Lachung:-