Day 117 - Lachung

Lachung is a town located in the state of Sikkim. It falls under the north Sikkim district and is not very far from the China border. At an altitude of about 3,000 m above sea level, Lachung is located at the confluence of River Lachen and River Lachung, which are tributaries of the Teesta River. A forward base has been set up in this town by the Indian Army to guard and protect the borders.The term Lachung means ‘small mountain’.In the book ‘The Himalayan Journal’, British explorer and writer, Joseph Dalton Hooker, has defined this place as the ‘most picturesque village of Sikkim’.Before 1950, when Tibet was not taken over, Lachung was a major trading post between Tibet and Sikkim. After it was closed down, the town continued to remain intact. The Indian Government opened it again and since then it has emerged as a major tourist hub in Sikkim.


How to reach here:

By Air: Nearest airport is Bagdogra in West Bengal.

By Rail: Trains can be taken directly to the railway station in New Jalpaiguri, which is located near Siliguri. This is a major railway station that is located at a distance of around 139 kilometers from Lachung.


Best time to visit: October to June.


Languages spoken: Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia.


Must eat: Phagshapa


Famous Restaurants: Yarlam.


Places you must see:

Chungthang is situated in the North Sikkim District at the confluence of Lachen and Lachung Chu rivers. There is a forward base and a medical center of the Indian army in this town.





The Lachung Monastery, at a height of 12,000 ft, was constructed in 1880. This monastery provides views of the countryside and the entire Lachung Valley. It is mainly a Nyingma Buddhist Gompa which lies at the confluence of the Lachung River and the Lachen River, which are tributaries of the Teesta River. The monastery is also famous for an annual mask dance festival.










The Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary is situated on the northern Lachung Valley, at an altitude ranging between 3,048 m and 4,575 m.There are about 40 different species of rhododendron shrubs amidst the snow-covered mountains.Some of the important trees in the sanctuary are primulas, poppies, gentians, potentillas, saxifrages and aconites. There are a few endangered animals inhabiting the sanctuary like the spotted lingsang or the tiger-civet.








Mt. Katao, near Lachung, is visited by many tourists, especially those interested in recreational activities like snowboarding, skiing, snow tubing and stone grinding.