culture · Kabi Lungchok, North Sikkim
Half-day history circuit: Kabi, Phodong, Tumlong
Leave Gangtok at 8 am. Your first stop, under an hour away, is Kabi Lungchok and the blood brotherhood stones. Continue past Phensang to Phodong, about 38 km from Gangtok, one of Sikkim's six most important monasteries, of the Karma Kagyu school, built in the 18th century.
Below Phodong lies Tumlong, a village on the Dik Chu that was the capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim in the 19th century, after the court moved inland from Rabdentse. The Treaty of Tumlong was signed there with the British in 1861. Little remains of the palace, but knowing it was here changes how you see the valley.
Return to Gangtok by about 1 pm, or continue north to Mangan if you are heading to Dzongu. A reserved car costs about ₹2,500–3,500, indicative, 2026. Add the Seven Sisters Waterfall, about 32 km from Gangtok, for a short photo stop on the way.
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Can I visit Kabi Lungchok and Phodong in half a day
Yes. Both are on the North Sikkim Highway, within about 38 km of Gangtok. With a reserved car, a half-day of 4–5 hours covers Kabi Lungchok, Phensang, Phodong and the Seven Sisters Waterfall. No permit is needed for Indian citizens.
What is the Treaty of Tumlong
The Treaty of Tumlong was signed in 1861 between the British and the ruler of Sikkim at Tumlong, then Sikkim's capital, after a British expedition. It brought Sikkim under strong British influence. Tumlong remained the capital until the court moved to Gangtok.
How much does a half-day tour from Gangtok to Phodong cost
A reserved car from Gangtok for a 4–5 hour trip to Kabi Lungchok, Phensang and Phodong costs about ₹2,500–3,500, indicative, 2026. Entry to all sites is free. Shared jeeps to Mangan are cheaper but make it harder to stop at several places.
