Tendong Lho Rumfaat
8 August (Sikkim state holiday), celebrations over about three days
The Lepcha, the first people of Sikkim, tell of a time when the Teesta and the Rangeet flooded the whole land of Mayel Lyang after forty days of rain. In that tradition the survivors climbed Tendong, the long forested hill above Damthang in today's Namchi district, and the hill rose with the water to keep them safe. When the flood went down they gave thanks, and Tendong Lho Rumfaat, the 'prayer of the Tendong mountain', has been their offering ever since.
Today 8 August is a Sikkim state holiday. Lepcha families build a small model of the holy hill with nine stones and offer prayers; priests lead rituals; and many people walk up to the top of Tendong, at about 2,600 m, where there is a small monastery and a watchtower. Gangtok and Namchi host cultural programmes, exhibitions of Lepcha food, costume and ornaments, and songs.
August is deep monsoon, so the hill is wet, leechy and often in cloud. Go for the culture rather than the view, and keep a spare day for landslides. Lepcha families welcome respectful visitors to the public programmes, and the food stalls are a rare chance to try Lepcha dishes. Ask before photographing rituals, dress modestly, and follow the lead of local hosts. Hotels in Namchi and Ravangla are cheap at this time of year.
How to do it well
- The Tendong walk is steep and muddy in August; wear proper shoes and carry leech socks and a rain shell.
- Ask a Namchi or Ravangla hotel to connect you with the local organising committee for the year's programme.
- Keep a buffer day: monsoon landslides can close the Melli–Jorethang and Namchi roads for hours.
Questions people ask
Good to know
What is Tendong Lho Rumfaat
It is a festival of the Lepcha people held on 8 August, a public holiday in Sikkim. In Lepcha tradition Tendong hill in Namchi district saved their ancestors from a great flood, and the festival gives thanks to the mountain. People offer prayers, build a nine-stone model of the hill at home, trek to the hilltop and hold cultural programmes.
How do I trek up Tendong hill
The usual walk starts near Damthang on the Namchi–Ravangla side and climbs through forest to the top at about 2,600 m, taking roughly 3–4 hours up for a fit walker. On festival days you will have company. In August expect rain, mud and leeches. A local guide is a good idea, and check current status before you travel.
Where is Tendong Lho Rumfaat celebrated
Lepcha communities mark it across Sikkim and the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills, with prayers at home and in villages. Larger cultural programmes are held in Gangtok and in Namchi district, and pilgrims climb Tendong itself from the Damthang side. For visitors, Namchi or Ravangla make the easiest bases to combine the hill with town events.
Is August a good time to visit Namchi
Only if you want the festival and do not mind rain. August is peak monsoon: views are rare, roads see landslides, and walks are slippery. The upside is low hotel rates, green hills and few tourists. If views matter more than culture, come in October–December or March–April instead.