Lachen North Sikkim

At an altitude of 8500 ft Lachen retains a freshness which is very appealing. The village comprises of less than 200 houses, earlier inhabited only during winters by their owners who spend their summers on the alpine pastures bordering Tibet tending to their yaks. Lachung's sister village, Lachen is only a recent host to tourists. Situated at an altitude of 8,838 ft. and a good six hours drive from Gangtok along the North Sikkim Highway, Lachen stand on a grassy and bush flat from the periphery of which rise the pine clad mountains with their snowy peaks and black cliffs. The name Lachen means "big pass". The village has magnificient surroundings with grassy mountain slopes on one side and imposing snow capped peaks, glaciers and rock cliffs on the other side. The village is located in a picturesque valley surrounded by conifer and Rhododendron forests. Despite a recent invasion of concrete, the traditional mountain village of Lachen retains its quaintness in the form of old wooden homes on sturdy stone bases, log sheds stacked with timber for winter fuel, and plenty of colour in the form of ornate Tibetan-style window frames and prayer flags. The village commands a panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountains and is abundant in wildlife. The town forms the base to the Chopta Valley and Gurudongmar Lake. One can visit the Gurudongmar Lake from Lachen.

Nature has numerous beautiful aspects and one of these facets comes alive at Lachen. This small hamlet rests on a verdant plain land that is segregated by cavernous ravines of Lachen. The multi-hued mountains, along with snowy peaks and black cliffs, appear to rise from Lachen. Lachen is inhabited by very less number of people. However, there are basic arrangements to make the accommodation for the tourists comfortable. Lachen has only recently been made available by the Sikkim government to tourists, and thus retains most of its unexploited, serene and pristine landscapes. This little hamlet will mesmerise you with its green and verdant surroundings, white snowy peaks and lofty, black cliffs. Lachen Sikkim is the starting point for some of the most interesting treks in North Sikkim as well as the gateway to the holy Gurudongmar Lake and Tso Lhamu Lakes. Gurudongmar Lake can be reached from Lachen Sikkim and is considered a sacred lake in the Great Himalayas Region. You can visit the Lachen Gompa here and get a feel of the simple village life of the "Lachenpas". The area is restricted for foreigners, but special passes can be procured in advance. A few lodges are available here for stay as well as Forest Department and a PWD Bungalows. Lachen Sikkim is located at about 129 km from Gangtok and can be reached via road through a six-hour adventurous journey from Gangtok.

You can also stay overnight at Thangu and enjoy a visit to Chopta Valley which offers the wonders of river meandering and its here where you can actually walk over the frozen river during winter. It is the summer residence of the nomadic Lachenpas , till a few years back the entire village would migrate from Lachen to Thangu during the summer months but now due to a more settled life few herders come to Thangu. The best time to visit lichen is between October and December. In this period of time the sky remains clear with a perfect view of the mountains and scenic beauty all around. The snow capped peaks of the high mountains in northern Sikkim remain clear and the sight of the nature is an awesome experience which is remembered all through life.