spiritual · Tsomgo Lake, Gangtok
Guru Purnima and the jhakris at the lake
Jhakri is the Nepali word for a shaman or faith healer. In Sikkim, jhakris are part of village life across Lepcha, Limbu, Rai and other communities, called in for illness, bad luck or rites of passage. Local accounts say they gather at Tsomgo on Guru Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashadha, which usually falls in July, because the lake's water is believed to carry healing power.
We do not sell this as a show, and you should not treat it as one. If you happen to be at the lake that day, you may see small groups in white or with drums and feathered headgear, offering prayers by the water. Watch from a distance, ask before any photograph, and do not offer money unless someone asks you to. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so check the full moon for the year.
July is the heart of the monsoon. The Tsomgo road is usually open, but cloud often sits on the lake and NH10 to Gangtok can be cut by landslides. If you plan around Guru Purnima, build in two spare days and be ready to change plans. Agents in Gangtok can tell you a few days before whether permits are being issued, and a rain jacket matters more than a down coat that week. Check current status before you travel.
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When is Guru Purnima at Tsomgo Lake
Guru Purnima falls on the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashadha, which usually comes in July and sometimes in late June. The date shifts each year with the lunar calendar, so check it before you plan. Local tradition holds that jhakris gather at the lake that day. There is no fixed programme or timetable, and nothing is organised for tourists.
Who are the jhakris of Sikkim
Jhakris are traditional faith healers, often described as shamans, found across Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills. They are consulted for illness, misfortune and rituals, and use drums, chants and offerings. The word is Nepali; Lepcha communities have their own healers called bongthing and mun. At Tsomgo they are said to gather on Guru Purnima because the water is believed to heal.
Is it worth visiting Tsomgo in July
Only if you accept cloud and possible delays. In July the lake is ice-free and the hills are green, but cloud often sits low and views of the peaks are rare. NH10 to Gangtok is prone to landslides in the monsoon. Rates are lower and crowds smaller. Keep two buffer days, and check current status before you travel.
