| Weekend Getaways | Services |
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| Lachen - Sikkim | ||||
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Places to See
Words cannot describe the beauty of Lachen. At a height
Local Culture
Art & Craft The host Bhutia community is primarily migrant/pastoral, combining yak and sheep herding with one short agricultural season, yielding potatoes, vegetables and coarse millet. Local craft consists of some rug and carpet weaving from yak/sheep wool and also wood carving.
How to Reach
BY BUS::The
best way to reach Lachen is by bus or by taxi services available from
Gangtok (state capital).
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110
km from Gangtok, Lachen is a scenic Himalayan village of migrant
Buddhist Bhutia yak herders called Lachenpas, in the North district of
Sikkim. The world's third highest mountain, Kangchendzonga, rises
alongside, lending its name to India's high altitude Kangchendzonga
National Park. The hospitable Lachenpas greet or bid visitors farewell
with the traditional 'khada' scarf. Blankets made from sheep wool or
chuktuk, carved woodwork, furniture, signs, symbols and blankets are the
handicrafts of Lachen. A number of hot springs, lakes and trek routes
dot the vicinity of Lachen. Every season is distinct - from the
flowering of rhododendronds in spring to swirling monsoon mists, the
afterglow of autumn and the severity of winter when the snow settles in.
Local fauna listings show the elusive snow leopard, musk deer and
Himalayan black bear
of about 10000 ft, Lachen lies in a fragile high altitude Himalayan
environment where its Buddhist life cycle is subject to seasonal
extremities, especially during winter and the monsoon. This village is
famous for the spectacular mountain drive to the Tibet border. Other
attractions are Angora farming, the migratory Yak herds and the
diversity of the adjoining Kanchenjunga National Park. Lachen is
ensconced on a slopping grassy landscape with the snowy peaks and black
cliffs forming a spectacular backdrop. Today, the principal attraction
of Lachen is the same-day spectacular mountain drive to Gurudongmar Lake
at 17100 ft, near the Tibet border. The Lachen monastery is also a must
see, as it shelters the community's religious beliefs, with allegiance
to the Nyingmapa sect of Mahayana Buddhism. Lachen is also the base camp
to mountaineering expeditions to many of the mountain peaks in Sikkim.
Excursions beyond Lachen to Chopta valley and Tso Lhamu, the source of
river Teesta, require permits from the government. In Lachen, tourists
enjoy the pristine purity of the Himalayan environment along with a
flavour of the local lifestyle. Some of the best trekking routes in the
Himalayas are found here.
Cuisine:
This region is primarily rice eating. Rice, potato and pork is the
staple food. Rice is also supplemented by noodles, local breads (chapati)
and other local dishes like corn and Sikkimese momo etc. Bhutia
Customs: Lachen as a living Bhutia Culture, with its traditional
aspects such as the unique dresses worn by the people. A mask dance and
Yak race is also performed during festivals. Fairs and Festivals:
Loosong is the traditional New Year, which normally falls in the month
of December.