Situated at an altitude of 2744 m (9,000 ft) Lachen is one of the most picturesque spots in Sikkim. It is a small hamlet surrounded by snowcapped mountains on all sides and boasts spectacular scenic beauty. The journey to Lachen takes around 6 hrs from Gangtok. Lachen falls within the high altitude zones and if you visit the place in winter, it would welcome you with snow. Roads, trees, roofs of the houses – everything get covered with snow and it turns this small hamlet into a dreamland. Perhaps, it is the warmth of the heart that stands out and more than anything, helps you fight the cold here. The simplicity of the local people and their smiling face will definitely fill your heart with happiness. Apart from the beautiful scenic beauty Lachen is the stop before you move towards serene Gurudongmar Lake, Chopta Valley and Muguthang. Lachen is also base camp for the trekkers going to divine Green Lake.
Activities
Sightseeing tour: You can go for local sightseeing tour to the various places of interest in nearby areas. The full day tour program can be customized to meet your needs. Some of the places of interest are Gurudongmar Lake*, Chopta Valley.
*Foreign tourists can’t visit Gurudongmar Lake as it’s close to border. But there is nothing to loose as the beauty of Chopta valley will simply amaze you and make you speechless!
Trekking: For the adventure lovers, there are couple of high altitude treks in this region. Green lake trek is definitely the prime attraction amongst them. It’s considered to be India’s one of the most beautiful and less explored treks. This trek is a hidden gem that offers amazing view of the Mt. Kanchenjunga and other magnificent Himalayan peaks. The scenic Muguthang trek also offers stunning view of the Himalayas. It’s also a less explored trekking route in the Indian Himalayas.
Places to Visit: Gurudongmar Lake, Chopta Valley, Green Lake, Muguthang.
Travel Guide
Weather
Lachen falls in high altitude zone. The general temperature of Lachen stays cold throughout the year. During summer the average temperature stays 12°C and in winter it drops down to 7°C. Remember Lachen gets good amount of snowfall during winter.
Local Words
Generals greetings and words: Welcome greetings: Namas-tey, Yes: Hoon-chha, No: Ney-he, Little bit: Ali-kati, Thank you: Dhan-ya-baad, Road: Raas-taa, Shop/Store: Doo-kaan, Market: Baa-zar, Medicine: Daa-wai.
Food and Drinks: Hot water: Taa-to Paa-ni, Cold Water: Chee-so Paa-ni, Rice: Khaa-naa, Lentils:Daal, Vegetables: Sab-jee,
Emotions: Good (Food): Mee-tho, Not Good (food): Mee-tho chha-e-no, Good (Places, things): Daa-me, Not Good: (Place,things): Daa-me Chha-e-no.
Time: Morning/day: Bee-yan, Evening/night: Bel-ka.
Relationships: Elder-brother: Daa-joo, Brother: Bhaa-e, Elder Sister: Dee-Dee, Sister: Ba-hee-nee.
Getting here
The nearest airport name is Bagdogra airport (IXB). It is well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and other metro cities of India.
The nearest railway station name is New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP). It’s well connected with Delhi, Kolkata and other metro cities of India.
Lachen is connected by only one way with Gangtok and rest of the India.
Permit
Indian tourists as well as foreigner tourists need a protected area permit to visit this place and you can get this from Gangtok through a registered travel agency. Indian tourists need to submit two photocopies of their govt. id card along with two copies of his/her passport size photo while applying. Foreign tourists need to submit two photocopies of his/her passport and with valid visa along with 2 copies of his/her passport size photo while applying. For further query please contact us.
Custom
Sikkim is the second smallest state in India with least population. They have deep respect for each other. While visiting in any religious place please remove your footwear before entering into the main temple. Also it is advisable to wear modest clothes while visiting any religious place. People would happily pose for a picture but please ask before taking any picture.
*Note that in a Sikkimese tradition while a guest is leaving they offer Khada (scarf) to their guest as a sign of good luck. If they offer you such then please close your palms together to reply as a thank you gesture.
Safety
Sikkim is India’s one of the few states where the crime rate is very low. Not only towards tourists, people have deep respect towards each other. But for any safety concern, you can share your query with local police station (dial 100 only) or reach to the nearest tourist information center.
Health
Remember Lachen falls within the high altitude zone. Upon arrival you might feel little headache or lightness in your head. To acclimatize in this situation you should take breath and keep drinking water. You won’t find any mosquitoes here in Lachen. If you are allergic to plants and pollen then take precaution. The local hotels and restaurants serve safe drinking water but if you are not sure then you can buy packaged drinking water almost at every settlement.