Must do trip from Gangtok – Nathu La & Tsongmo Lake
Gangtok is located in the north eastern part of India, in the state of Sikkim. It is a pretty mountain town which is a popular tourist destination. While there are a lot of sights and attractions in and around Gangtok itself, a trip to Nathula Pass and Tsongmo Lake is a do-not-miss, must-do day trip.
The border at Nathu La
Nathu La is literally called “The Pass of the Listening Ears”; “Nathu” means listening ears and “La” means pass. Situated on the Indo-Tibetan border, it is one of the highest passes in the Himalayas at 14,450 ft. It is one of the three open trade routes between India and China (China occupied Tibet region) and also serves as an official Border Personnel Meeting Point.
While its history is interesting and it has a deep political and economic significance, the main reason why this is a must visit attraction in Sikkim is because of its eye-catching beauty. Covered in dazzling white snow (in winter), ensconced between the mighty Himalayan mountains, the Nathu La is enthralling.
When I visited in 2011 with my family, the snow held me utterly spellbound. My sister and myself had fun romping in the snow, making snowballs to simply enjoy the feel of it on our palms. In the month of October the cold was pretty sharp, but it was an invigorating feeling.
Tip: The weather is cool all year round but in winters the roads are generally blocked due to heavy snowfall which will make the pass inaccessible. So the best time to visit is during the post summer months in my opinion of September to November when you can still enjoy the snow. Be sure to bundle up in your woolens and keep your ears and hands covered.
Tip: It is inadvisable for elderly people to visit since the altitude may cause breathing trouble.
That Patriotic Feel
The fact that it is an international border was of course not lost on us – the Indian and Chinese flags on either side of the fence, the military huts, and the brave Indian Soldiers safeguarding our country from external threats despite the cold and isolation.
We talked to a few soldiers, took photos with them and thanked them for their service to our motherland. Please do show respect for the border and its guardians when you visit.
How to arrange a trip
Due to the sensitive nature of this pass, one is required to obtain a permit to visit the border, via a travel agency. The hotel in Gangtok arranged it for us. The permit is only given to Indian nationals and each day only a certain number of people are allowed to visit. Once we received the permit, we traveled on a shared jeep from Gangtok to Nathu La and back. The road is bumpy at places and it’s a long drive but it is worth the wondrous beauty of Nathu La.
Tip: Read more about permits here.
Tsongmo Lake
On the way back from Nathu La to Gangtok, is another must-visit attraction – the Tsongmo Lake. Also known colloquially as Chhangu Lake, it is situated at the height of 12,500 ft. This is an alluringly beautiful and mammoth lake nestled between the formidable mountains. The calm lake and its foggy cover gave it an ethereal look and feel and I simply stood there and took its essence in.
The weather was a chilly cold with a sharp bite in the air as it rippled the surface of the water. In winter though, the lake is frozen. The lake changes colours with seasons and is greatly respected by the local people.
One of the things to do here is to take a Yak ride on the edges of the lake. I however did not venture to take one since it was just too cold! My suggestion would be to not miss out on this opportunity to take a yak ride – something not easily found elsewhere.
Fortune favors the brave
The rough journey, the super cold, the exhaustion from the long day is all worth it when one encounters these 2 absolute jewels outside of Gangtok, Sikkim. If in Sikkim, do not miss this trip!
Some sceneries of the ride to and from Gangtok…
This post was written as part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.