Lachen is all about picturesque residences, mountainous grasslands, and breathtaking scenery. Lachen is a charming village in North Sikkim that serves as a portal to some of the state's most popular tourist sites. It is the beginning point for trekking trails further north into the Himalayas, positioned at an elevation of 8838 feet and 109 kilometres from Gangtok. Lachen is one of the most beautiful places in Sikkim, displaying the pristine, untouched countryside of India's hills and evoking an old-world charm. This guide will assist you in locating all the relevant data regarding Lachen.
How to reach Lachen?
Reach Lachen By Air
Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal is about 200 kilometres away from Lachen and is the closest airport. You can take a taxi from the airport to Gangtok and then travel to Lachen the following day. The excellent news is that Sikkim's Pakyong hamlet now has a new airport, called Pakyong Airport (around 35 km from Gangtok). You can fly here from big cities even though it isn't fully functional.
Reach Lachen by Train
The easiest method of transportation to Lachen is via train. New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri, West Bengal, is the railroad station that is closest to Lachen. Some of the major Indian cities, including Delhi and Kolkatta, are easily accessible from this railway station.
Reach Lachen by Road
Any location in Sikkim can easily be reached by road to get to Lachen. To get to Lachen, you must first travel to Gangtok.
Lachen is around 107 kilometres from Gangtok and can be reached from Gangtok in 4.5 hours.
Best time to visit Lachen
As Lachen is a hill station, the weather is cool and calm all year. For your convenience, we have divided the year into seasons and explained it in simple terms.
Summer in Lachen (March to June)
During these months, summer officially begins, so the climate is perfect. The air is refreshing and relaxing. Temperatures in the morning might get as high as 28 degrees. The atmosphere is ideal for outdoor pursuits and city exploration. It is a favourable time for sightseeing as you can easily explore its locales and attractions. Another highlight of the summer season in Lachen is the annual Yak Race, Thangu, full of thrills and adventure.
Monsoon in Lachen (July to September)
Although the monsoon season has its own charm in Lachen, due to heavy rainfall, avoid this season to visit Lachen. The monsoon season is not considered a favourable time to travel to Lachen. Travel can be really difficult and full of hassles. You won’t be able to enjoy outdoor activities and will have to stay inside most of the time. It’s not suitable to travel to Lachen at this time, but as it’s the offseason, price levels of hotels and other things have decreased dramatically.
Winter in Lachen (October to February)
If you are an adventure seeker, winter is a perfect season to visit Lachen. October marks the beginning of winter in Lachen and the season carries on till February. It is a great time to capture stunning views of snow-capped mountains. During this time, you can also visit the frozen Gurudongmar Lake, which is around 63 km from Lachen for an adventurous experience. It also serves as a base for the Chopta Valley.
Best places to visit in Lachen
There are many incredible venues in Lachen where you may have a good time. The key attractions are highlighted here and should not be missed when visiting.
1. Gurudongmar Lake
Gurudongmar Lake, one of the nicest sites to visit in Lachung, must be included when exploring lakes in Sikkim. This lake, which is situated at a height of 5430 metres, is one of the origins of the holy river Teesta. The river fully freezes over in the winter, yet its brilliant appearance will fascinate you like never before in the summertime. If you intend to visit here even in the summer, always bring warm clothing. Don't skip the permit section. Before visiting this location, make sure your documentation is prepared. We, as tour participants, can easily make arrangements for them.
2. Chopta Valley
In North Sikkim, close to Thangu village, is the gorgeous valley known as Chopta Valley, which is approximately 31 kilometres from Gurudongmar Lake. With magnificent snow-capped summits, wandering streams, orchids, rhododendrons, and other high-altitude flora, it provides a beautiful alpine landscape. The valley is criss-crossed by rambling bodies of water. Despite being a famous site, very few visitors visit this valley, leaving it pristine and unspoiled.
3. Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary
North Sikkim's Yumthang valley is home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary. The Chomzomei Tso mountain range, which stretches all the way to the Lava Pass, surrounds the sanctuary on the west and the Chuba-Sagochen mountainous areas on the east. Rhododendrons of several kinds can be seen there. This well-known Yumthang Valley attraction comes to life in the spring with blooms that spread out widely and span an area of about 43 square kilometres.
We are confident that you won't want to cross this magnificent place off your bucket list because there is so much to experience and see. Simply choose a date and use Camphoster to organise your Lachen vacation for a flawless and hassle-free trip. Many travellers are sent by us each year to the beautiful Lachen as well as the entire North Sikkim Tour, so we have expertise in this region. This is precisely why we are prepared to assist you along the journey and promise only special experiences in this magnificent heaven!
