Phadamchen or Padamchen
Phadamchen or Padamchen is situated on a hill slope at 8,230 ft. and covered in dense forests; it is a small village on the Silk Route circuit just 15 kilometres away from Rongli and 5 kilometres away from Zuluk. Phadamchen has very pleasant weather throughout the year and this is one of the main reasons for its popularity. If you are not used to bone-chilling winter and snowfall but want to experience the mesmerizing sunrise, panoramic views, and good old country roads then Phadamchen could be the best choice. Phadamchen is the only place where you can get the best views of the valleys and forests in the part of Sikkim and the Himalayan foothills. Phadamchen has gained popularity due to the wide variety of bird populations and this place is the must-visit place for bird watchers. There is a devise Forest Rest house at Phadamchen too. This rest house is considered to be one of the tourists spot as you can see the wooden floors, fireplace, verandah and wooden furniture from the ancient era of forest officers and sahibs who used to visit this part.
Places to see at Phadamchen
Phadamchen is surrounded with thick virgin temperate forest; the village is an ideal place for the passionate bird watchers. Phadamchen offers shelters to a wide range of birds like Fulvettas, Laughing thrushes, Steppe Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Wrens, Tits, Pheasant and many more. The forests also include wild animals who are though occasional visitors like Leopards and Himalayan Black Bear. You can also take an early-morning sunrise walk to watch the panoramic sunrise over the majestic Mt. Kanchenjungha from Thambi View Point at 11,200 feet.
Nearby attractions
Phadamchen is considered to be an excellent base for sightseeing of the other notable places in the Silk Route circuit. The three-level zigzag roads of Zuluk, the placid Kupup Lake, Nathang Valley and other destinations can be covered in a day trip of your Old Silkroute Tour from Padamchen. One of the primary tourist spot is Thambi View Point which is located at 11,200 feet, and offers a hypnotic view of Mt. Kanchenjunga and Lungtung Dhupidara is around one hour drive away after crossing the zigzag roads.
You have to drive for another 30 minute and you will reach the placid Kalpokhri Lake, Kupup Lake and Adi Baba Mandir. The silhouette of the Kupup Lake has striking similarity with elephant and that's why it's is also popularly called Elephant Lake. The highest gulf course in the world is located near Kupup Lake and so is the Jelepla Pass and those who have a desire to explore further they can afield and experience the mesmerizing view of the beautiful Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake) and reach Gangtok.
Things to do in Phadamchen
Normally tourists take the early morning sunrise-trip to Thambi View Point to witness the mesmerizing view of sunrise over the mighty Mt. Kanchenjungha range. The zigzag road which leads to Thambi View Point crosses some of the unplumbed parts of the region and offers some panoramic views of the Eastern Himalayas.
How to reach Phadamchen
To reach Phadamchen one can hire a vehicle from Siliguri/NJP/Bagdogra. The distance from Siliguri/ NJP to Phadamchen is about 115K.M and from Bagdogra it is around 118K.M. To visit Phadamchen or the other places of Silk route, you have to get the Inner Line Permits done from Rongli (applicable for Indian citizens too) as it is heavily guarded by the Indian Army. Phadamchen is around 15 kilometres drive from Rongli.
Best time to visit Phadamchen
The weather of Phadamchen remains favourable all through the year. Though the place does not experience snowfall like the other high-altitude places of the Silk Route i.e. Nathang and Dzuluk but the winter months from January-March are quite chilling. Phadamchen also experiences good sunshine and great shower.
Lodging and Dining facilities at Padamchen
Apart from providing breathtaking views of snowcapped mountains, Phadamchen also provides the finest lodging and dining facilities to its visitors. The homestays are well built providing modern facilities like geysers, and western-style attached washrooms. Some of them offer beautiful views of mountains and forests from the rooms. Cuisine is essentially Indian and based on fixed menus but the food served here is organic and locally sourced. Phadamchen also has a Government Forest Guesthouse.
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