Photo: Indrajit Das · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

LachungHeight above mean sea level 2,700 m

village · North Sikkim

Base for Yumthang, run by its own village council

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov1–2 nights

Lachung is a village of about 2,700 m in the Lachung valley, 120–125 km from Gangtok, and the overnight base for Yumthang and Zero Point. It is run by its own council, the Dzumsa. You need a permit through a registered operator, and roads close after landslides, so check current status before you travel.

Lachung sits where the Lachung Chu runs through a steep valley of fir, larch and apple orchards, about 21 km above Chungthang. Wikipedia gives its height as roughly 2,900 m, and local signboards say less; plan for about 2,700 m and cold nights all year. The name is usually translated as 'small pass', and the village was a trading post on the routes to Tibet before 1950. Joseph Hooker, who came here in 1849, called it the most picturesque village in Sikkim.

Most visitors arrive in the late afternoon after a 6–7 hour drive from Gangtok, sleep one night, leave at dawn for Yumthang and are back on the road south by noon. That is a pity. With a second night you can walk the old part of the village, climb to the Lachung Monastery, see how the houses are built on stone plinths against the snow and eat a slow dinner of thukpa and local potatoes.

Lachung is also a lesson in self-government. Its people, the Lachungpas, run village affairs through the Dzumsa, headed by an elected Pipon. The council settles disputes, sets rules for the community forest and, in 2009, voted to ban hydropower projects on its rivers. When you see hotels shut on a festival day, or a fine for littering, that is the Dzumsa at work.

Don't miss

Highlights of Lachung

Dawn run to Yumthang

Leave at 5.30–6 am for the 24 km drive to Yumthang. You reach the valley before the cloud and the crowds, see the yaks out on the meadow and are back for a late breakfast, which leaves time to cross the Toong checkpost before 4 pm.

Lachung Monastery

A short climb across the river from the main bazaar brings you to the Nyingma gompa founded in 1880. It is a working monastery, not a museum, so go in the morning, walk clockwise and ask before photographing inside the prayer hall.

Snow in the village

From December to March Lachung is usually under snow. Families who have never seen snow can play right outside the hotel, and the road to Yumthang often stays open to the snowline. Hire boots and gum-boots locally.

Apple and potato country

Lachung grows apples, potatoes, radish and barley on terraces around the houses. In autumn you may see apples drying on rooftops. Ask your hotel to cook local potato dishes; they taste better at 2,700 m.

Autumn colour

In late October and November the maples and larches on the slopes above Lachung turn yellow and red. It is the quietest good month here, with clear skies after Diwali and lower hotel rates.

Told in the hills

The village that said no to dams

In 2006 a large hydropower project was proposed in the Lachung valley, one of dozens planned on the Teesta and its tributaries in those years. According to a 2024 account by the research group Kalpavriksh, the Dzumsa of Lachung discussed it and in 2009 decided to ban hydropower projects on its rivers outright. It went further and made proposing a dam in public a breach of village rules.

The Dzumsa is old. It took its present form in the first half of the 19th century, and the Sikkim government formally recognised it in 2001 so that it could continue alongside the panchayat system. The Pipon must traditionally be over 45, know village custom and is chosen in December by the Tibetan calendar, assisted by Gyapons who act as constables. Party flags are not allowed inside the valley.

The decision looked different after 4 October 2023, when the glacial flood from South Lhonak destroyed the 1,200 MW Teesta-III dam downstream at Chungthang. The Lachung valley had no dam to lose. Ask your host about the Dzumsa; most families are proud to explain it, and it is the best way to understand why Lachung feels so orderly.

Pinned to the board

Did you know

Joseph Dalton Hooker described Lachung as the most picturesque village of Sikkim in his Himalayan Journals, published in 1854.

The Lachung Monastery, a Nyingma gompa above the village, was established in 1880 and holds an annual masked dance.

The Lachung Chu and the Lachen Chu meet at Chungthang, 21 km downstream, to form the Teesta River.

Things to do

Four ways to spend a day in Lachung

1.5–2 hours Morning walk to Lachung Monastery Lachung · Free; a small offering is welcome

Half day A snow day around Lachung Lachung · ₹150–300 per item of hired gear, indica…

2 hours Village walk with a Lachungpa host Lachung · ₹500–1,000 per group for a local guide,…

2–3 hours Autumn colour on the Lachung valley road Lachung · Included in most packages; extra stops …

Getting there

How to reach Lachung

Group packageThe cheapest way. Registered Gangtok operators run daily shared departures in Bolero, Xylo or Scorpio vehicles that leave Gangtok around 10–11 am and reach Lachung by evening. The price includes your permit, seat, hotel and meals. Expect ₹3,500–5,500 per person for one night, indicative, 2026.

Reserved carA private car with a registered local driver costs about ₹9,000–13,000 for a 1N/2D Lachung round trip from Gangtok, indicative, 2026. Your operator files the permit. You cannot self-drive, and plains taxis are not allowed beyond the checkposts.

Rail / AirFly to Bagdogra (IXB) or take a train to NJP in Siliguri, then go to Gangtok (≈ 115 km, 4–5 h). Spend a night in Gangtok so your permit can be processed. There is no air or rail link nearer to Lachung.

Gangtok to Lachung Lachung to Yumthang Valley

Costs in Lachungindicative, 2026

Group package from Gangtok, 1N/2D₹3,500–5,500 per person, indicative, 2026
Private car Gangtok–Lachung round trip₹9,000–13,000 per car, indicative, 2026
Zero Point add-on₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle, indicative, 2026
Snow boot or jacket hire₹150–300 per item, indicative, 2026
Permit processing via operator₹200–300 per person, indicative, 2026

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

Money-saving tip

Stay two nights on a group package rather than one night in a private car; the second night costs far less than the extra driver day it replaces.

Where to stay

Sleeping in Lachung

Lachung's hotels line the highway and the slopes above the river. Budget travellers on group packages usually get simple family hotels with heaters on request; independent budget travellers can try a family homestay such as Bichu Homestay. In the comfort range, Le Coxy Resort at Fakha Chowk is a large, well-run hotel with heated mattresses. The one premium option is Yarlam Resort, on the hillside with 27 rooms and 3 suites, a spa and wide views. Hotels may change after the closures, so check current status before you travel.

budget

Bichu Homestay Homestay · Lachung ₹2,000–3,500 per room night with breakfast and dinner, indicative comfort

Le Coxy Resort Hotel · Lachung ₹4,500–8,000 per room night, indicative premium

Yarlam Resort Resort · Lachung ₹10,000–18,000 per room night, indicative

Tour packages

Packages that stop in Lachung

Nº 47504 · Gangtok6N / 7D Gangtok with Lachen and Lachung Gangtok → Lachen → Lachung → Gangtok Budget fare from
per person, twin₹21,000

Nº 20410 · Gangtok10N / 11D Darjeeling, Pelling, Gangtok and Lachung Darjeeling → Pelling → Gangtok → Lachung → Gangtok Budget fare from
per person, twin₹28,000

Nº 36296 · North Sikkim3N / 4D Gangtok, Lachung and Yumthang Gangtok → Lachung → Gangtok Budget fare from
per person, twin₹10,500

Nº 79972 · North Sikkim4N / 5D Lachen, Gurudongmar and Lachung Gangtok → Lachen → Lachung → Gangtok Budget fare from
per person, twin₹14,000

Nº 45409 · North Sikkim5N / 6D Lachung winter snow trip in 5 nights Gangtok → Lachung → Gangtok Budget fare from
per person, twin₹13,500

Nº 20770 · North Sikkim7N / 8D Darjeeling, Gangtok and Lachung family trip Darjeeling → Gangtok → Lachung → Gangtok Budget fare from
per person, twin₹21,000

Nº 77569 · North Sikkim2N / 3D North Sikkim Group Tour, Lachen and Lachung Lachen → Lachung Budget fare from
per person, twin₹7,000

Nº 93809 · North Sikkim6N / 7D North Sikkim honeymoon in 6 nights Gangtok → Lachen → Lachung → Gangtok Budget fare from
per person, twin₹19,500

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 Lachung

All of North Sikkim

Yumthang Valley3,564 m

Meadows, hot spring and rhododendrons above Lachung

Valley · best Apr – May · Oct – Nov · Day trip nights

Zero Point (Yume Samdong)4,660 m

The end of the tourist road above Yumthang

Pass · best Apr – May · Oct – Nov · Day trip nights

Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary3,300 m

Forty-odd rhododendron species on the road to Yumthang

Wildlife sanctuary · best Apr – May · Day trip nights

Chungthang1,790 m

Where two rivers become the Teesta, and the flood struck

River town · best Mar – May · Oct – Nov · Transit nights

Festivals here

Losar · Feb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lu…

Questions people ask

Lachung: questions answered

Is Lachung open for tourists in 2026

Yes, as of early October 2026. Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point reopened to tourists on 8 September 2025 after a closure caused by landslides, and current rules require vehicles to cross the Toong checkpost by 4 pm. Landslides can close the road again at short notice, especially from May to September, so check current status before you travel.

How far is Lachung from Gangtok

About 120–125 km by road, through Kabi, Phodong, Mangan and Chungthang. The drive takes 6–7 hours on a good day, more after rain or during road repairs. Group departures usually leave Gangtok between 10 am and noon and reach Lachung around dusk, which is why most itineraries spend the first evening resting.

Do I need a permit for Lachung

Yes. Indian citizens need a Protected Area Permit, and foreign nationals a Restricted Area Permit. Both are applied for only through a registered Sikkim tour operator, with photo ID and passport photographs. The operator collects them in Gangtok before departure. Same-day permits are not issued, so book at least a few days ahead.

Is one night enough in Lachung

One night is enough to see Yumthang: you arrive in the evening, go up at dawn and leave by late morning. Two nights let you add Zero Point without rushing, walk to the monastery and recover from the drive. If you are travelling with older parents or young children, we recommend two nights.

What is the temperature in Lachung in December

In December daytime temperatures are around 5–8 °C in the sun and nights fall to about −5 °C, sometimes lower. The first proper snow usually arrives this month. Rooms can be cold, so ask for a heater. Pack thermal underwear, a down jacket, gloves, woollen socks and a cap.

How much does a Lachung trip cost from Gangtok

A one-night shared group package from Gangtok costs about ₹3,500–5,500 per person, including permit, seat, hotel and meals. A private car for 1N/2D costs about ₹9,000–13,000 per car, plus hotel. Zero Point is extra, about ₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle. These are indicative 2026 figures and rise in peak weeks.

Can I see Zero Point from Lachung

Yes, if the road is open and your permit covers it. Zero Point, at Yume Samdong, is beyond Yumthang, about an hour further up the valley. It is an optional extra paid per vehicle and often closed after mid-December because of snow. Decide on the morning, once the driver confirms the road is open.

Are there ATMs in Lachung

There is a State Bank of India branch in Lachung, but you should not rely on its ATM; it can run out of cash or lose connectivity. Carry enough cash from Gangtok or Mangan for extra meals, gear hire, tips and the Zero Point charge. Card and UPI payments work in some hotels but not reliably.

Is Lachung better than Lachen

They suit different trips. Lachung is lower, warmer and has more hotels, and it is the base for Yumthang and Zero Point, so it works for families, snow trips and flower season. Lachen is the base for Gurudongmar Lake at 5,430 m, a harder altitude day. Most people do both, Lachen first and Lachung second.