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Voykit pocket guide · India
Lachen
One overnight stop for Gurudongmar Lake and Chopta Valley. Go as part of a North Sikkim package; you cannot skip the night.
Lachen is a high-altitude village (8,838 ft) in North Sikkim, the mandatory overnight stop for day trips to Gurudongmar Lake (17,000 ft) and Chopta Valley (14,000 ft). The village itself is small — about 150 houses — with a monastery and a military base. Most travellers arrive on a 6-hour drive from Gangtok and leave the next afternoon.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (heavy snow, road closures), Jul–Aug (landslides)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹2,000–3,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹3,500–6,000 excl. bed · High ₹6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Thukpa (noodle soup) | ₹100–200 |
| Momos (10 pieces) | ₹100–150 |
| Tea | ₹20–50 |
| Jeep hire to Gurudongmar Lake (per vehicle) | ₹3,500–5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXB · Bagdogra Airport
- About 160 km (99 mi), 6–7 h drive to Lachen via GangtokAbout 99 mi (160 km), 6–7 h drive to Lachen via Gangtok
Typical fares
- Gangtok → Lachen by shared jeep
- about ₹500–800 per person, 6 h (check)
- Jeep hire Lachen → Gurudongmar Lake (per vehicle)
- ₹3,500–5,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Lachen is walkable. Day trips to Gurudongmar Lake and Chopta Valley are by hired jeep or package tour vehicle; no public transport runs to those sites.
See and do
Known for
- Gurudongmar Lake
- Chopta Valley
- Lachen Monastery
- Yak-wool handicrafts
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gurudongmar Lake | Hired jeep or package tour from Lachen, about 2 h each way | About 5–6 h |
| Chopta Valley | Hired jeep or package tour from Lachen, about 1.5 h each way | About 4–5 h |
| Thangu | Hired jeep from Lachen, about 1 h | About 2–3 h |
Sleep
- Lachen village centre
- Guesthouses and homestays along the main road; most package tours include accommodation here.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavād |
| How much? | कति?kati? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ छ?śaucālay kahā̃ ch? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Altitude sickness is a real risk: Gurudongmar Lake is at 17,000 ft. Acclimatise in Gangtok or Lachen before the day trip.
- Foreigners are not allowed to visit Gurudongmar Lake; they can go to Chopta Valley instead. Check current permit rules.
- Roads can close at short notice in winter and monsoon. Confirm with your driver or tour operator the day before.
- Carry cash: there are no ATMs in Lachen. The nearest ATM is in Mangan or Gangtok.
Altitude sickness is the main risk. Acclimatise properly, stay hydrated, and descend if you feel unwell. Roads are narrow and winding; hire a driver experienced in North Sikkim.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lachen yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gurudongmar Lake
- Chopta Valley
- Lachen Monastery
- Yak-wool handicrafts
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Lachen, revision 5249795 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5249795
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Lachen
यस ठेगानामा, कृपया
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All emergencies112
No foreign embassies in Sikkim. The nearest consulates are in Kolkata (check).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lachen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.