Lachung Tourism

The aesthetic beauty of Lachung is still well maintained and one of the best in the world. This is a favorite haunt for mountaineers and nature lovers from all over the globe for the same reason. The numerous orchards of fruits and Rhododendron essence that flows with the light breeze across the valleys make it a nature lovers’ paradise.

This monastery is one of the most ancient structures around these parts and a popular tourist spot. It is situated on top of a small hill a little distant from the main town across the valley. It is one of the most beautiful Gompas around Sikkim. To visit this Buddhist temple one needs to take a short 30 minute stroll up the hill to reach the Gompa. But the beautiful mountain in the background with their snow capped peaks makes the trek worthwhile.

The traditional Bhutia and Tibetan dishes that are a must try here are Momos (also known as Wantons), Thupka (Tibetan clear soup with chicken, veggies and noodles) and the local Sikkimese favorites here are Raksi, Gya Thuk, etc.

Yarlam is another popular restaurant in Lachung which mainly serves formal dinner menus and lunches. One can splurge and eat here at this posh restaurant in Lachung which serves really tasty multi- cuisine dishes.

Hotel Season House is also one that has a restaurant adjoining it in Lachung.

Hotel Tashi Yangtel is a hotel which also has a restaurant that serves hearty Sikkimese and Bhutia meals at a good price.

The fortuna is a b&b that also serves food to the visitors.

Kesang resort at Gurudongmar in Lachung is quite a popular spot for meals in the town. One can find good quality home-cooked meals in Bhutia style at this joint. The restaurant is run by Ms. Dongmu Lachungpa who is a very warm lady that caters and cooks the food by herself. Mackerel fish cooked in Bhutia way with rice and Chang is a recommended dish by many who visited the eatery and was pleasantly surprised.

Nightlife in Lachung is only limited to a few bars in the region. Tashi Yankhel, is a popular drinking place in the town of Lachung which also offers good quality rooms for accommodation and vegetarian menus.

There a few shops located around the town where one can hope to find bare necessities and toiletries. There are also several Chai shops en route to Lachung from Gangtok or from Lachung to Yumthang which sells traditional Chai tea, biscuits, magi noodles, packaged drinking water and chocolates for the tourists.

Lachung has few small departmental stores and shops where you can find your daily required products. You can contact the locals staying around for the best place to shop.

Although Lachung does not have any prominent major flea markets, yet there are a few places where tourists can shop for certain products.

As for adventurous activities, Lachung offers plenty of choices. It is a major spot for mountaineering, rock-climbing, trekking, mountain biking etc. The town itself is pretty small and can be explored easily on foot. One can go on beautiful trekking tours from Lachung up to Yumuthang valley or Yume Samdong but it is advised to research about the weather conditions and roads before planning such trips as the roads are often obstructed by landslides that are frequent around these parts. Also one needs to acquire special permits from the authorities to explore the neighboring parts of Lanchung due to its close proximity to the international border and the presence of army all around the valley.

You can relax at your hotel or at a park, garden or a water body near by. After all, being close to nature gives you utmost relaxation and rejuvenates your mind, body and soul.

Lachung is a pretty small town on top of the hills. Although it has a growing tourism industry, there are no theme parks or amusement parks around the small town. But the visit to the various fruit orchards can be a memorable experience for kids as well as adults.

The only religious place in the town is the Lachung monastery or Gompa as most of the locals here are of Buddhist descent. The monks within the monastery are simple folk who are very warm and welcoming to the visitors. The local boys may also offer a guided tour without any charge of the places around the town.

There are no prominent parks or gardens in Lachung. But this does not stop your children from enjoying. There are a number of activities in this region which can keep your kids engaged.

This spectacular valley lies very close to Lachung and often the town of Lachung acts as a one dau halt for visiting the Yumesamdong valley. This place is located in the Northern part of Sikkim and lies at an elevation of 3000 feet above mean sea level. One can also come to Yumesamdong from Yumthang that is located 26 kms away. It takes about two hours drive to come to Yumesamdong from Yumthang by road. This drive is definitely one to look forward to as it is located in the most picturesque part of the Himalayas.

The journey through the rugged hill roads amidst the majestic snow capped peaks of the Himalayas can only be described as a “once in a lifetime experience”. But as this place is located close to the international border between China and India one needs to arrange for a permission from the local authorities to visit this place.

The most breathtaking feature of Yume Samdong is the characteristic fragrance of the Rhododendron flowers that fill the valleys. It can be described as a large natural depression among the rugged peaks which are dotted with untested grazing pastures.

Major attractions for tourists in Yume Samdong are its numerous hot springs present around the valley. It is believed that there are more than 14 hot springs located within the Yume Samdong valley. The main occupation of the locals here is manufacturing a specialised incense stick that is made with the locally grown Rhododendron flowers. 

This place is almost around the same region as Yume Samdong. This point is located almost at an altitude of a steeping 15300 feet above mean sea level. Also located at a distance of 26 kms away from the popular tourist spot in North Sikkim called the Yumethang Valley of flowers, this place also requires permission to be visited by tourists as it is loacted close to Indian International border with China. This is a picturesque spot where the roads end and tourists can hope experience snowfall.

Early morning proceeds on a half-day excursion to Yumthang Valley (11800 Ft / 3598 Mts / 25 Km / 1 ½ hour one way). Visit Yumthang Valley is a day excursion from Lachung, which is an attraction for tourist visiting this region. The colorful Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary bloom between April to June. The soaring snow-capped peaks and herds of wandering yaks make this a Himalayan paradise. The valley is also known for its Hot spring. Although the water is quite dirty, many locals from the area visit to get themselves soaked & cured as believed. Overnight at Hotel.

A major tourist attraction, the Shingba Shrub Sanctuary, lies en route from Lachung to Yumthang valley depression. The specialty of this place is the numerous species of the state flower Rhododendron that grow here during early April. It is claimed that more than 24 species of the flower can be found here. Thus, this spot attracts nature lovers and photography enthusiasts from all over the globe and is quite a romantic site en route.

Lachung has friendly locals. The most resident communities of Lachung belong to the Lepcha or the Bhutia community. The Bhutias are of Tibetan descent. The locals here are referred to as Lachungpas and extremely warm and welcoming as tourism is a major industry around these parts. The languages spoken here are mainly Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha. Also, there are a number of festivals celebrated here.

If you visit Lachung during the festival time, tourists will be mesmerised by the colorful treat they will have for their eyes.