Photo: Biswas Dibyendu · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

ChungthangHeight above mean sea level 1,790 m

river town · North Sikkim

Where two rivers become the Teesta, and the flood struck

Best Mar – May · Oct – NovTransit nights

Chungthang is the town at about 1,790 m where the Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu join to form the Teesta, and where the roads to Lachen and Lachung split. It holds a rock sacred to Guru Rinpoche, and it was at the centre of the 2023 flood that destroyed the Teesta-III dam. It is a transit stop inside the permit zone.

Chungthang lies about 95 km from Gangtok and 28 km beyond Mangan, on a flat at roughly 1,790 m where two rivers meet. From the north comes the Lachen Chu; from the north-east the Lachung Chu; below their confluence they become the Teesta. The highway forks here too, left for Lachen and right for Lachung, so every North Sikkim traveller passes through, usually stopping for tea and a stretch.

The town has an Indian Army forward base with a medical centre, a few shops and dhabas, a monastery and a gurdwara. It also had, until 4 October 2023, the 1,200 MW Teesta-III dam, the biggest hydropower project in Sikkim. The glacial flood from South Lhonak Lake reached the dam around midnight and destroyed it in minutes, and Chungthang was among the worst-hit places in the state.

Today you will see the scars: widened riverbeds of grey silt and boulders, rebuilt bridges, temporary roads and construction everywhere. Chungthang lies inside the North Sikkim permit zone, so you visit it on your Lachen or Lachung permit. Treat it as a meaningful halt rather than a destination: twenty minutes at the sacred rock and the confluence gives the long drive a centre.

Don't miss

Highlights of Chungthang

The confluence

Below the town, the Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu meet and become the Teesta, which flows on for over 400 km to Bangladesh. Since the flood the riverbed is wide and grey, and you can see how much ground the water took.

Guru Rinpoche's sacred rock

The Lhedo rock with handprints and footprints attributed to Guru Padmasambhava, a small spring and the legendary paddy patch beside it are a short walk from the bazaar. Ask your driver to stop.

Flood scars and rebuilding

Chungthang was among the places worst hit on 4 October 2023. Silt flats, broken concrete and new bridges tell the story better than any museum. Look, but do not wander into construction zones.

The road fork

This is where the Lachen and Lachung roads divide. If you are doing the full loop, you will pass through twice, once on each side of the Gurudongmar and Yumthang days.

Tea and a stretch

Dhabas in Chungthang serve tea, momos and thalis. It is the usual lunch or tea stop on the long drive from Gangtok, and the last real bazaar before Lachen or Lachung.

Told in the hills

Guru Rinpoche's rock and the rice that grows here

Buddhist tradition holds that Guru Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche, stopped at Chungthang on his way back from Tibet in the 8th century. A rock here, called Lhedo or Neydo, is said to bear the prints of his hands and feet, and a small spring flows from an opening in it. Pilgrims touch the rock and collect the water.

Next to it is a small patch of paddy. Rice does not normally grow at this height and latitude, but the legend says Guru Rinpoche, after a meal, scattered his leftover grains on this spot, and rice has grown there ever since. Local accounts say a monastery, Tsunthang Rigzin Choeling, was later built nearby, dated by some sources to 1788. These are traditions of faith, told as such.

Chungthang is also linked by some to the idea of Sikkim as 'Demazong', the hidden valley of rice. The Pilgrim's Guide to the Hidden Land of Sikkim derives the name Tsunthang, its proper pronunciation, from words meaning 'top precious plain'. Stand by the rock, look at the green paddy beside a grey flood plain, and the old stories feel close.

Pinned to the board

Did you know

The Teesta-III dam at Chungthang was a 1,200 MW project; its powerhouse was downstream at Singhik.

Chungthang is about 95 km from Gangtok and sits at roughly 1,790 m, much lower than Lachen or Lachung.

A gurdwara at Chungthang, Gurdwara Nanak Lama, was built by officers of the Assam Rifles in 1970, according to Wikipedia.

Things to do

Four ways to spend a day in Chungthang

20–30 minutes Guru Rinpoche's rock and paddy patch Chungthang · Free; offerings welcome

15 minutes The Teesta begins: the confluence view Chungthang · Free

30 minutes Understanding the 2023 flood at Chungthang Chungthang · Free

45 minutes Lunch at a Chungthang dhaba Chungthang · ₹150–300 per person, indicative, 2026

Getting there

How to reach Chungthang

Group packageEvery Lachen or Lachung group package from Gangtok passes through Chungthang, often with a tea or lunch stop. Ask your driver for 15–20 minutes at the sacred rock; most will agree if you ask early in the day.

Reserved carA private car from Gangtok reaches Chungthang in about 4.5–5.5 hours. Since 2025 some traffic has used the Sanklang–Sapho–Shipgyer road on the Dzongu side of the Teesta when the main highway was damaged; heavy vehicles are directed that way under the September 2026 order.

Rail / AirThe nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB) and the railhead NJP, both in Siliguri. Go to Gangtok first. Chungthang is inside the North Sikkim permit zone beyond the Toong checkpost, so you need your Lachen or Lachung permit.

Costs in Chungthangindicative, 2026

Tea at a dhaba₹20–40 a cup, indicative, 2026
Thali lunch₹150–250, indicative, 2026
Momos, plate₹80–150, indicative, 2026
Sacred rock and monasteryFree; offerings welcome

Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.

Money-saving tip

Eat lunch at a Chungthang dhaba rather than waiting for Lachen or Lachung, where hotel meals outside your package cost more.

Where to stay

Sleeping in Chungthang

Few tourists sleep in Chungthang; most continue to Lachen or Lachung, each about an hour further. Lodges in town mainly serve workers, drivers and army visitors, and many were damaged in 2023. If you are delayed by a landslide, your driver will know which lodges are open. For planned stays, choose Lachung, where Le Coxy Resort and Yarlam Resort are options, or Lachen, where The Apple Orchard Resort is a small comfortable choice.

On the map

Drawn by Darjeeling Tour Plan from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Next stations

Near Chungthang

All of North Sikkim

Lachung2,700 m

Base for Yumthang, run by its own village council

Village · best Mar – May · Oct – Nov · 1–2 nights

Lachen2,750 m

The night stop before Gurudongmar, reopened in 2026

Village · best Apr – May · Oct – Nov · 1–2 nights

Mangan and Singhik1,000 m

District town of cardamom, with Kanchenjunga from Singhik

Hill town · best Oct – Apr · 1 nights

Dzongu1,200 m

The Lepcha reserve across the Teesta from Mangan

Valley · best Oct – Apr · 2–3 nights

Questions people ask

Chungthang: questions answered

Where is Chungthang

Chungthang is a town in Mangan district, North Sikkim, about 95 km from Gangtok and 28 km beyond Mangan, at roughly 1,790 m. It sits at the confluence of the Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu, which form the Teesta, and at the fork of the roads to Lachen and Lachung.

Do I need a permit for Chungthang

Yes. Chungthang lies beyond the Toong checkpost, inside the North Sikkim permit zone. Your Lachen or Lachung permit, arranged through a registered operator, covers passing through. Independent visits to Chungthang alone are not usual for tourists.

How far is Lachung from Chungthang

About 21–23 km, roughly an hour up the Lachung valley. Lachen is about 27–30 km and a little over an hour up the other valley, crossing the new Taram Chu bridge. Road conditions vary with repairs and weather, so allow extra time.

Was Chungthang destroyed in the 2023 flood

Chungthang was among the worst-affected places. The Teesta-III dam was destroyed, and roads, bridges and buildings near the river were swept away or buried in silt. The town has been rebuilt for traffic, but the flood plain and construction works still show the damage clearly.

Can I stay overnight in Chungthang

There are a few lodges, mainly used by workers and drivers, and some may be closed or damaged since 2023. Tourists rarely stay. If a landslide holds you up, your driver will find an open lodge. For planned stays, Lachen and Lachung are about an hour away and have better options.

What is there to see in Chungthang

The Lhedo rock associated with Guru Rinpoche and its spring, the legendary paddy patch, the confluence of the two rivers forming the Teesta, a monastery and a gurdwara. Together they make a 30–45 minute stop on the drive north.

What is the Toong checkpost timing for Chungthang

Under the September 2026 order, all tourist and light vehicles travelling to or from Lachen and Lachung must cross the Toong checkpost, south of Chungthang, by 4 pm in both directions. Heavy vehicles use the Sanklang–Sapho–Shipgyer route. Check current status before you travel.

Is there an ATM in Chungthang

There is a State Bank of India branch in Chungthang, but ATMs in North Sikkim are unreliable and can run out of cash. Carry enough cash from Gangtok for the whole trip, including meals, tips and optional extras like Zero Point.

Why is Chungthang important to Sikkim's history

Buddhist tradition says Guru Padmasambhava blessed the place on his way from Tibet, and some link it to the idea of Sikkim as Demazong, the hidden valley of rice. It is also where the Teesta is formed, and where the 2023 flood destroyed Sikkim's largest dam.