At a distance of 17 km from Nathula Pass and 38 km from Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake or Tsongmo Lake is a glacial lake located in the East Sikkim district of Sikkim. Also known as Changu Lake, it is one of the top places to visit in Gangtok and among the beautiful lakes in Himalayas.

Located at an altitude of 3,753 m, Tsongmo Lake is one of the few and awesome high altitude lakes in India. In Bhutia language Tsomgo means ‘Source of the Lake’. The lake gets its water from the melting snow on the surrounding mountains. The lake is formed in an oval shape and has a surface area of 60 acres. The maximum length of the lake is 1 km and an average depth of the lake is 15 m. The River Lungtze Chu originates from this lake and further falls into Rangpo-chu.

Highly revered by the Buddhists and Hindus, the lake surface reflects different colors with change of seasons. According to the history, the colour of water of this lake was studied by Lamas so as to forecast about the future. They believed, if the water had a dark tinge, it indicated a year full of trouble and unrest in the state. The lake is also of special significance for the Jhakris (faith healers) of Sikkim who congregate here annually on Guru Purnima to offer prayers.

Surrounded by steep mountains covered with snow, this azure blue lake remains completely frozen during winter. In late spring the abundance of flowers in bloom adds colors around the lake. One can see a small Shiva temple and some food stalls near the Lake. Tourists can also enjoy a yak ride and a cable car ride at the lake. It is also a paradise for Ornithologists, as the migratory birds takes a break near the lake while flying long way from Siberia to the Indian plains such as Brahminy Ducks.

The lake has a religious significance for both Sikhs and Buddhists. The lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism who visited the lake in the 8th century. According to the legend, the water of the lake was not possible to use as the lake remains frozen most of the year. When Guru passed by, while returning from Tibet, the local residents were approached him for providing source of water. Then the guru agreed to help them and placed his hands on a small part of the lake area which stopped freezing during winter thus facilitating the source of drinking water to the people. Since then the lake has been considered sacred and devotees carry this sacred water in bottles. The lake also claimed to have been blessed during the 15th century by Guru Nanak.

Fed by surrounding glaciers, Gurudongmar Lake is majestic emerald blue in colour. It is believed that the holy water of the lake miraculously grants the childless couples with children. The splendid and scenic beauty of the place is breathtaking and attracts tourists from all across the world who visit the lake to spend some quality time in the lap of nature. The surrounding of the lake is inhabited by Yaks, blue sheep and other wildlife of high altitude. The Sarva Dharma Sthala is another spiritual attraction close to the lake. One can also visit Tso Lhamu Lake which is about 10 km from Gurudongmar.

The lake can be reached by road from Lachen via Thangu which takes about 2 hours. The approach road from Thangu to Gurudongmar passes through a rugged terrain with stony moraine, which has high alpine pastures covered with many rhododendron trees.

At a distance of 17 km from Tsomgo Lake and 54 km from Gangtok, Nathula is a snow-shrouded mountain pass located in the northeastern state of Sikkim along the Indo-China border. Situated at an altitude of 14450 feet in the Himalayas, it is one of the most exotic places to visit in Gangtok and among the top places to experience Sikkim Tourism.

Located on the Old Silk Route, Nathula is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China. The other two are Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh and Lipulekh at the trisection point of Uttarakhand, Nepal and China. Also, it is one of the five officially agreed Border Personnel Meeting points between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army of China.

Deriving its name from two Tibetan words – Nathu meaning listening ears and La meaning pass,
Nathula Pass was the place through which the famous Silk Route between India and Tibet used to operate until 1962. Lines of mules used to carry silk, gold and many other items from Tibet to India and take daily essentials back to Tibet. It plays a key role in the Sino-Indian trade and also shortens the distance between the important Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage sites, thus strengthening the economy and improving border relations with China. It was closed for almost four decades after the People’s Republic of China suppressed a Tibetan uprising in 1959. However, the Nathula Pass was reopened in 2006 allowing limited trade between India and China.

This Indo-Chinese trade market operates from 1st June to 30th September every year and from Wednesday to Sunday every week during that period. Items like wool, raw silk, yak hair, yak tail, China clay, horses, and sheep are imported while the items like clothes, tea, coffee, rice etc. will be exported to China. This is however limited only to a border trade and participated by 100 odd businessmen.

Flanked by mountains and pristine blue waters, this sight is indeed ravishing and the landscape is dotted with army settlements. The Nathula Pass in itself is a delight, with snow finding its way as far as eyes can see. Situated nearby is the fenced Indo-China border, which can be reached by climbing few stairs. There is a war memorial and an Exhibition Centre of India Army here. It is guarded on both sides by the Chinese and Indian soldiers. One can also visit Tsomgo Lake and Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple along with Nathula Pass.

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Siddheswar Dham is built atop Solophok Hill by Sikkim Government in 2011 to promote Religious, Eco and Village tourism in the state. Spread over an area of 29 hectares, the Sikkim Government has been spent over Rs. 56 crore on this complex. The complex has a 108 feet tall statue of Shiva, replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas, models of sacred Char Dham Hindu Temples of Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameswaram and a 17-feet statue of Kirateshwar a hunter incarnation of Shiva. Solophok Hill has a historical and religious significance, as it is believed that visiting this place washes away one’s sins.

The major attraction here is the 108 feet gigantic statue of Lord Shiva (Hindu God) in sitting posture. It sits at the highest and most commanding position on Solophok hill while facing east. There is a huge Nandi Bull sits facing the main Shiva temple. The Shiva linga enshrines inside the temple.There is large number of wall murals depicting the story of Shiva including his marriage in the hall of the temple. The Shiva Temple is surrounded by the 12 Jyotirlingas – or 12 prominent Shiva temples spread across India. Each Shiva linga here is an exact replica of the one that exists in its original place.

The four most revered Dhams of the Hindus Jagannath, Dwaraka, Rameswaram and Badrinath have been replicated in this fantastic complex. Badrinath, Jagannath Dham, Dwaraka are dedicated to Lord Vishnu while Rameshwar Dham is dedicated to Lord Shiva. As per the Hindu beliefs, everyone must visit these 4 temples in their lifetime. Another important attraction of the complex is the 17 feet tall statue of Kirateshwar who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva, after losing Sati in Agnikund, had gone into seclusion and became a hunter in the forests of Sikkim.

There is a huge car parking area where visitors can park their vehicles. It is a paid car parking. From there one needs to walk 300 m to reach the temple complex. For persons with mobility challenges, the staff can organize battery operated cart and even separate entrance to offer prayers to the deity.

At a distance of 11 km from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Tiger Hill is a sunrise viewpoint in Darjeeling. It is the highest point in Darjeeling and among the most picturesque places to visit in Darjeeling.

Tiger Hill stands at an altitude of 2,590 m overlooking the spur of the snow-capped mountain ranges of the Eastern Himalayas. It is one of the two points in India from where you can capture the entire panorama between Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga on a sunny morning. The first rays of the sun shoot ahead and shed light upon the twin peaks of Kanchenjunga painting it pink, and then bathing it in a beautiful orange colour, which is an amazing thing to experience.

An observation deck is built on top of the Tiger Hill to cater to hundreds of tourists who visit every day. On a clear day the summit of Tiger Hill commands the view of Kurseong Town to its south-west along with plains of North Bengal and number of major rivers like Teesta, Mahanadi, Balasun and Mechi meanders down to the south. While at Tiger Hill, one can also visit Senchal Lake & Sanctuary.

Ghoom Railway Station and 6 km from Darjeeling, Old Ghoom Monastery, also known as Yiga Choeling Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery situated at Ghoom near the beautiful hill town of Darjeeling. It is one of the oldest and most popular Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the region of Darjeeling and also one of the must visit places in Darjeeling.

Yiga Choeling Monastery was established in 1850 CE by the Mongolian astrologer and monk Sokpo Sherab Gyatso, who was the head of the monastery until 1905 CE. The Monastery belongs to Gelugpa or the Yellow Hat sect. This is the first ever Tibetan Buddhist monastery to be built in the Darjeeling region. During the Chinese occupation of 1959 in Tibet many high ranking monks fled to India and took refuge in this monastery.

The monastery is known for its 15 feet high statue of Maitreya Buddha or Gyalwa Shampa, which means the Buddha of the future or the Coming Buddha. This statue was created during the tenure of the second head of the monastery Lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche (1910 – 1952). This is one of the biggest and oldest statues of Buddha in Darjeeling area. This statue was created with clay that was all brought from Tibet. In front of the Buddha’s statue there are two huge oil lamps that keep burning throughout the year.