Lachen - North Sikkim Tour Guide

Lachen Sightseeing Places

Lachen, even though a tiny hilly settlement in the North Sikkim, offers some of the finest sightseeing places to explore in and around it. The following are worth noting sightseeing places in and around the village.

Lachen Monastery

This Buddhist monastery in this hamlet is quite a promising tourist site. It was built during the year 1858 by Lama Karchen Dorje Drak. Also known as Launching Gompa or Ngodub Choling, the monastery is known for its scenic architecture and a beautiful statue of Guru Padmasambhava. The surrounding lush greenery makes the place completely serene making it a perfect destination for peace-seeking tourists as well as pilgrims. The decorated prayer flags and the prayer wheels offer a fascinating pilgrimage experience to its visitors.

Gurudongmar Lake

Undoubtedly, one of the pristine lakes in Sikkim, Gurudongmar Lake is the major sightseeing attraction near Lachen. The approximate distance between them is 66 km. At an elevation of 5183 meters above sea level, the lake looks completely unearthly because of its cerulean water and the surrounding snow-covered mountains. The lake is named after the great Buddhist saint Guru Padmasambhava who is believed to have visited this sacred lake during his excursion to Tibet. Visitors of the lake usually get amazed by witnessing the incredible Kanchenjunga range in the backdrop. In winter, it gets completely frozen whereas, in the other seasons, the deep blue water of the lake looks completely astonishing with its surrounding blooming flowers.

Yumthang Valley

Yumthang Valley is another best place to visit near Lachen, Sikkim. Due to its large amount of blooming flowers, the place is often tagged as the "Valley of flowers". Nestled at a breathtaking height of 3,564 meters above sea level, this valley of flowers is full of floral species on the surface covered with green meadows. Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary is inside the valley which holds more than 24 species of rhododendrons. Every season makes the valley looks different. Starting from Mid-February to Mid-June, the entire valley gets carpeted by the blooming flowers of rhododendrons, primulas, poppies, iris, etc.

Lachung Monastery

One of the oldest Buddhist Monasteries in India, Lachung Monastery is truly a beautiful architecture one must visit from Lachen. This religious site was established in the year 1880 making it one of the ancient Buddhist religious sites in Sikkim. Among the locals, the monastery is known as Samten Cheoling Monastery. Since its inception, the monastery has gone through several processes of renovation. In 1930, statues of Buddha, Guru, and Chenrezig were brought from Tibet. Along with the statues, many other major religious Buddhist items were also brought. The annual mask dance festival is held here which can be enjoyed by the travelers visiting the monastery.

Chopta Valley

Chopta Valley is another attraction of Lachen Sikkim. It is merely a 13 km distance away from the village. For a calm and beautiful Holiday, visiting Chopta Valley should not be missed. Just more than 4000 meters above sea level, Chopta Valley helps in soothing the minds and spirits of the visitors by letting them view its fascinating lush greenery, daunting surrounding mountain peaks, and the melodious chirping of the birds flying in the sky.

Thangu Valley

One of the most popular trekking places near Lachen is Thangu Valley. Several trekking routes around the valley attract thousands of trekking enthusiasts to try the most thrilling trek of their life while watching colorful flowers, Himalayan birds, and snow-peaked mountain range. Visitors who seek a secluded site to refresh their soul while accompanied by none other than nature's orchids, Himalaya, and the winding stream, should surely visit Thangu Valley.

Things to do in Lachen

There are lots of outdoor activities one can do in and around Lachen in Sikkim. To be precise, you will not get bored at all while exploring the town. Some of the promising outdoor activities one can do are as written below:

Visit Kanchenjunga National Park

Crowned as one of Unesco's World Heritage Sites, travelers should visit the beautiful Kanchenjunga National Park from Lachen. Kanchenjunga National Park is truly a heaven on earth equipped with many glaciers, luxuriant forests, and diverse species of wildlife. Stretching over an area of 849.5 km2, it houses animals like red panda, Tibetan wild ass, Himalayan blue sheep, serow, musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, dhole, sloth bear, viverrids, Himalayan black bear, goral, and takin, as well as reptiles including rat snake and Russell's viper. The known floras in the forest are Oak, Birch, Fir, Maple, Willow, and many medicinal plants and herbs are also seen.

Visit Religious Sites

One of the must-do activities in Lachen Sikkim is to explore all the religious sites in and around it. Lachen Gompa or Lachen Monastery will be great to visit first. Spinning the prayer wheels of the monastery and praying something in front of Buddha will bring a lot of joys for sure. Travelers will also get a chance to witness the Tibetan-style architecture based on which the beautiful monastery is built.

Go for Birding

Lachen Sikkim offers a great opportunity for bird enthusiasts. For the bird watchers, being able to spot some exotic Himalayan Birds is always fun. The forested areas, as well as the valleys near Lachen, are full of colorful Himalayan Birds such as black eagles, Indian Cuckoo, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers, and more. However, if spotting them is not enough, bird lovers can even capture some stunning photos of this avifauna.

Go for Trekking

North Sikkim is usually quite popular among trekkers. The trekking usually takes place surrounding the valleys and the lakes. Trekkers can enjoy trekking through the sharp-edged mountains while witnessing the rich biodiversity and the tantalizing view of the Himalayas. Trekking is quite challenging in the region as the trekkers face unpredictable weather in the region.

Accommodation in Lachen Sikkim

Being a favored place to visit in Sikkim, there are also decent numbers of homestays in Lachen, so visitors need not worry about the accommodation in Lachen. Along with homestays, there are few lodges and resorts in Lachen. With the North Bengal Tourism hotel booking service, you can stay in the hotels according to your convenience and budget. Save your time and money by choosing North Bengal Tourism to book your hotels in Lachen.

How to Reach Lachen

By Flight: The nearest airport of Lachen is in Bagdogra. From Bagdogra, it is an approx 7 ½ hrs to reach Lachen. Visitors can cover this distance by hiring a car from Bagdogra to Lachen. Distance: The distance between Bagdogra to Lachen is 199 kilometers.

By Train: The nearest airport of Lachen is NJP (New Jalpaiguri Railway Station). From NJP it takes approx 7½hrs to reach Lachen. The most convenient way to reach Lachen is by renting a car from NJP. Distance: The distance between NJP to Lachen is 196 kilometers.

By Road: The car rental service of North Bengal Tourism offers a rental car from Bagdogra to Lachen and NJP to Lachen at a reasonable fare. Visitors can also halt in Gangtok for a night and make their way to Lachen the next day. Distance: The distance between Gangtok to Lachen is 108 kilometers.

Best Time to Visit Lachen

March to June: During this season, the weather in Lachen remains pleasant and visitors can relish the mesmerizing view of blooming rhododendron in the valley enclosing Lachen.

July to September: During this season, the road leading to Lachen becomes more to landslides. So, it is best, if tourists avoid traveling during this season.

October to February: During this season, the weather in Lachen due to its high altitude becomes relatively cold, and sometimes the temperature drops below the freezing point. But, this season is ideal to witness the amazing view of snowcapped Khangchendzonga range from Lachen.