Losar
Feb–Mar, Tibetan new year (lunar calendar)
Losar opens the Tibetan lunar year and usually falls in February or early March. Rumtek has a special tie to the day: the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, formally inaugurated the rebuilt monastery as his seat in exile on Losar in 1966, after fleeing Tibet in 1959. Monks clean the halls, renew prayer flags and offerings, and hold prayers in the days around the new year.
In Gangtok, Tibetan and Bhutia families spend the first days at home and in visits to relatives. Kitchens fry khapse, twisted biscuits made for the season, and there is chhang and butter tea for guests. Many shops in Lal Bazaar and on MG Marg run short hours or close for a day or two, so plan meals and shopping around that.
For visitors, Losar is a quiet, domestic festival more than a show. Go to Rumtek in the morning, stay on the edge of the courtyard, and ask before photographing monks at prayer. Late February is also cold and dry in Gangtok, around 4–14 °C, with clear mornings for the Kangchenjunga range and snow likely higher up at Tsomgo.
How to do it well
- Losar dates move each year with the lunar calendar; check the date for your year before you book.
- Dress modestly for monastery visits, remove shoes where asked and walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels.
- Book Gangtok rooms early if Losar falls on a long weekend, and expect some restaurants to close for a day or two.
Questions people ask
Good to know
When is Losar celebrated in Sikkim
Losar falls on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, which lands in February or early March. The exact date changes every year, so check a current calendar or ask your hotel. Celebrations run over several days, with the first two or three days the most important for families and monasteries.
Can tourists attend Losar at Rumtek Monastery
Yes, visitors can usually enter Rumtek during the Losar period, though some halls may be closed during private rituals. Carry photo ID, as there is a security check at the gate. Keep voices low, dress modestly and ask before taking photos. Arrive in the morning, when prayers are under way and the light on the courtyard is soft.
Is Losar the same as Losoong
No. Losar is the Tibetan new year in February or March. Losoong, or Sonam Losoong, is the Sikkimese harvest new year of the Bhutia people, held on the first day of the eleventh lunar month, usually in December. The Lepchas celebrate it as Namsoong. Both involve prayers, food and family visits, but they fall at different times of year.
What is the weather like in Gangtok during Losar
Expect cold, mostly dry weather. Gangtok typically sits around 4–14 °C in February, with clear mornings and chilly nights. Tsomgo Lake may still be frozen and the Nathu La road can close after snowfall, so keep a spare day if those are on your list, and check current status before you travel.
Festival journeys
Routes built around the calendar
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