Thangu Valley, North Sikkim| Accommodation, Height, Weather

Thangu Valley, North Sikkim Overview

Thangu, situated at an altitude of around 3900 m, is a beautiful village which is about two hours' drive from Lachen. It is a comfortable village where the tourists usually choose to relax before they proceed to trek to Gurugongmar Lake, Muguthang or Cho Lhamu Lake. In Thangu Valley, one can catch a glimpse of the rows of trees and as one goes more upwards, the beautiful view of Tibetan Plateau begins. For nature lovers, this quaint town is a perfect gateway.

The ideal time to travel to mesmerising Thangu Valley would be between May and June, during which, the entire valley gets decorated with vibrant alpine flowers, and the heavy snow covers up these beautiful beds of flowers in the cold months between October and March. The spectacular hiking trails from Thangu to places like Chopta Valley and Muguthang enhance the beauty of the village. Since Thangu is near the border between India and China, there is also a big military base present here.

Thangu Weather and Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Thangu is between November and June as the weather is quite pleasant at this time of the year. Summers are moderate, and an annual yak race called Thangu takes place here every summer. During winter, Thangu can get quite cold. The famous Gurdongmar Lake nearby freezes completely during the winter months and looks beautiful.

Accommodation in Thangu Valley

Some simple accommodations are available here for the tourists in the small and comfortable beautiful village of Thangu. However, you have to generate permit from the army prior to staying the night and this permit is not easy to get.

Sightseeing around Thangu

Apart from Thangu, you can see the other beautiful sightseeing places in Lachen. Gurudongmar Lake is a must visit here. Apart from this, you can go for trekking as Thangu Valley is the base station for several treks.

How to reach Thangu Valley

Air: The closest airport to Sikkim is the Bagdogra Airport. From here shared jeeps or buses are available to reach Thangu.
Rail: The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri and from there you can take a bus or private cars. The distance between Thangu and New Jalpaiguri is 147 Kms.
Road: You can drive from Lachen to Thangu. The distance between Thangu and Lachen is 27 Kms.