Nathang Valley
Nathang Valley is a stunning and high-altitude place to visit in Eastern Sikkim. Once home to yak herders, it's now a popular spot for nature lovers who want to experience its beauty. Located at 13,500 feet, Nathang Valley is often called the "Ladakh of East Sikkim." Also spelt as Gnathang Valley, it sits on a high plateau surrounded by snow-covered mountains and has a winding brook running through it.
This magnificent Valley can be explored with the help of a Sikkim Tour Package that includes every kind of service required for a comfortable and hassle-free trip at quite a pocket-friendly price.
Attractions and Things to Do
Watching the sunrise at Ganek in Nathang Valley is truly breathtaking. As the sun slowly rises above the horizon, it reveals the entire Bhutan Valley and part of China, casting a golden and orange glow on Mt. Kanchenjunga, making it sparkle like it's covered in diamonds. From January to April, thick snow blankets the valley, turning Nathang into a winter wonderland. With just a 10-minute uphill trek from it, visitors can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan, China, the hills of Bengal (like Darjeeling), the entire Mt. Kanchenjunga range, and even the Brahmaputra River winding through China and into India.
Nathang Valley is one of the hidden gems in eastern Sikkim. Due to its extremely cold weather, many travellers are still unaware of the incredible beauty it offers. The valley still holds the memories of the old Silk Route, which can be felt while travelling to this "Ladakh of East India." Surrounded by mountains on all sides and visited by migratory birds just before winter, this Valley is a perfect escape from the busy city life. The sight of clouds enveloping the snow-covered mountains and the Chinese watchtowers on Jelep La is a view that has attracted travellers from all over the world.
Places to visit near Nathang Valley
Lungthung
Lungthung, also known as Dhupidhara, is 12,500 feet above sea level. It's famous for its breathtaking view of the snow-covered Mt. Kanchenjunga and the amazing sight of the winding roads in the area.
Gyamochen
Gyamochen is a nearby viewpoint, only 5 km from Nathang Valley. It offers an amazing view of the snow-covered mountain ranges, including Mt. Kanchenjunga.
Eagle's Nest Bunker
For a great view of the entire Kanchenjunga peaks and the nearby areas, it's worth visiting the Eagle's Nest Bunker near the Gnathang Valley. The sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Eagle's Nest looks amazing.
Nathula Pass
Another popular spot near this Valley is Nathula Pass. It's the gateway between India and China and is open only to Indian nationals. You can visit it on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Foreigners are not allowed here.
Kupup Lake
Kupup Lake, located about 13,066 feet above sea level, is often called Elephant Lake because it looks like an elephant. Locals call it Bitan Choo, and it's also considered a sacred water body.
Old Baba Mandir
Old Baba Mandir is a popular spot to visit near Gnathang Valley. It was built to honour Sepoy Harbhajan Singh, and the Indian Army takes good care of it. At the top of the temple, you can see the bunker where Sepoy Harbhajan Singh stayed.
Tukla Valley
The valley of Tukla is another popular spot near this Valley. It's dedicated to honouring the British soldiers who won the Battle of Tukla.
With the Sikkim Tour Package of North Bengal Tourism, travellers can beckon the ethereal beauty of Nathang and its surrounding hamlet of West Sikkim at a reasonable price.
Accommodation Options Nathang Valley
Being a famous offbeat destination of West Sikkim there are many options of accommodations in Nathang Valley. Visitors can find cosy homestays, bungalows, resorts and budget hotels here.
With the hotel booking service of North Bengal Tourism travellers can save the hassle of searching for a hotel in Nathang Valley, as North Bengal Tourism will book a hotel according to visitors liking and budget.
How To Reach Nathang Valley
By Air: The nearest airport of Nathang Valley is in Bagdogra. It is an approx 5½hrs journey to reach this place from Bagdogra Airport.
Distance: The distance between Bagdogra and Nathang Valley is 170 kilometres.
By Road: Travelers can hire shared or reserved taxis from the railway station or airport to get to Gangtok. From there, you'll need to change vehicles to reach Nathang Valley. This Valley is 68 km from Gangtok, and the journey takes about 3 hours. In short, this valley is easily accessible by road.
By Rail: The nearest railway station of Nathang Valley is New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP). From NJP it takes approx 5½hrs to reach Nathang Valley.
Distance: The distance between NJP and Nathang Valley is 169 kilometers.
Travellers can cover this distance to reach the Valley by directly hiring a car from NJP or Bagdogra. With the Car Rental Service of North Bengal Tourism, travellers can easily hire a taxi from NJP to Nathang Valley or rent a car from Bagdogra to Nathang Valley at a reasonable price.
Some travellers also overnight halt in Gangtok to break down the journey time to reach the Valley. It takes an overall 3 hours to reach Katao from Gangtok.
Distance: The distance between Gangtok and Nathang Valley is 68 kilometres.
Best Time To Visit Nathang Valley
April to June: During this time of the year, along with the pleasant weather of Nathang Valley, visitors can beckon the surreal vista of blooming flowers.
July to September: During this time of the year, the valley enclosing Nathang is thriving with emerald green forest. As it is the monsoon season, visitors need to be careful while travelling to this Valley since the road becomes more prone to landslides.
October to March: During this time of the year, the visitor gets to experience snowfall in Nathang Valley while witnessing the panoramic vista of the snow-capped Himalayan range looming above the Tibetan Plateau. Travellers are advised to wear warm clothes as the weather of the Valley drops below freezing temperature.
FAQ about Nathang Valley
Nathang is the second-highest location in Sikkim where visitors are permitted to stay. It is located at a height of more than 4000 meters above sea level.
For the Indian nationals, Nathang Valley is open to visitors on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
In the month of October, Nathang Valley’s temperature starts to decline. However, snowfall does not begin throughout this month.
In mid-November, the temperature of Nathang Valley remains on the lower side. However, the snow can be seen during the month of November.
January to April is the time when Nathang Valley stays fully covered with snow. In May, you can also expect snow here in Nathang Valley.
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