Snow, Silk Roads & Sky-High Lakes: Srilakshmi’s Unforgettable Sikkim Adventure with Thrillophilia

Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKD36E8SLJW
Rating: ★★★★★
Traveller: Srilakshmi
Trip Duration: 6 Days | 5 Nights
Destination: Sikkim
Date of Travel: 27 April 2022 – 2 May 2022
Package Booked: Mesmerising Meghalaya | Group Tour Package

“It feels good to be lost in the right direction.”

Some journeys begin with a destination in mind and end with a collection of places that feel impossible to forget. Srilakshmi’s six-day Sikkim adventure was exactly that kind of journey.

There was the cheerful bustle of Gangtok, the freezing heights of Nathula Pass, the quiet mountain beauty of Lachen, and the surreal landscape around Gurudongmar Lake. Between them came waterfalls, snowy roads, yak rides, cable cars, rivers, and valleys filled with alpine flowers. Every stretch of the journey seemed to reveal another side of Sikkim.

Looking back, she called it “such a wonderful trip” that gave them “a lifetime of remembrance.” The itinerary had been carefully planned, but it was the experiences along the way that turned six days in the Himalayas into a story worth remembering.

Gangtok Started Quietly Before the Mountains Took Over

After arriving in Gangtok, there was no rush to begin ticking attractions off a list. Srilakshmi took some time to rest before stepping out for an evening around MG Marg.

The famous pedestrian street offered an easy introduction to Gangtok. She spent the evening shopping, walking through the lively streets, and enjoying the cooler mountain weather. After travelling to Sikkim, the relaxed evening gave her the chance to settle into the rhythm of the city before the real adventure began.

The following morning brought an entirely different experience. The route towards Tsomgo Lake climbed steadily into the mountains, eventually reaching the glacial lake at around 12,400 feet. Surrounded by steep Himalayan slopes, Tsomgo looked completely different from the city she had explored the previous evening.

The journey continued towards Baba Mandir and Nathula Pass, where the altitude rose to approximately 14,140 feet. The temperature dropped sharply, and patches of snow appeared along the route. “The weather was very chilly, and I also saw a little bit of snow here and there,” she recalled.

The return journey added some unexpected fun to the day. A yak ride and cable car ride gave the high-altitude excursion a playful twist. After spending hours among snowy mountain landscapes, the day ended with a sense of having experienced something genuinely adventurous.

Then Came Lachen, the Place She Left Her Heart In

The road to Lachen was long, winding, and spectacular. As the journey moved deeper into North Sikkim, the urban landscape disappeared and was replaced by steep mountains, dense greenery, rushing streams, and waterfalls appearing around bends in the road.

Seven Sisters Falls and Naga Falls became memorable stops along the way. The waterfalls cut through the surrounding greenery, adding movement to an already dramatic landscape. Tashi View Point offered another chance to stop and admire the Himalayan panorama, with views towards Kanchenjunga and the surrounding peaks when the skies were clear.

Yet after everything she saw along the route, Lachen was the place that stayed with her most strongly.

The mountain town felt quieter and more remote than Gangtok. The crisp air, peaceful surroundings, towering slopes, and changing colours of the landscape made the long drive feel completely worthwhile. There was something about the place that made her want to slow down and simply look around.

“I left my heart in Lachen after seeing its beauty,” she wrote, adding that she had “fall in love with the beautiful landscape.” It was more than a passing impression. Lachen became one of her favourite memories from the entire journey.

The day also showed how much of Sikkim's beauty lies between the major attractions. The drive itself became part of the experience, with every turn revealing another waterfall, valley, or mountain view.

Snow at Kala Patthar and a Lake at 17,000 Feet

The fourth day took the adventure to an entirely different level. The journey towards Kala Patthar brought Srilakshmi into a world of snow and high-altitude landscapes.

She got the chance to play in the snow before continuing towards Gurudongmar Lake. At approximately 17,000 feet, Gurudongmar is among the highest lakes in the world accessible by road. The landscape around it is stark and magnificent, with glacial waters surrounded by barren mountain slopes.

The altitude was impossible to ignore. “Oxygen is low and extremely chilling too,” she recalled. The cold was intense, and the thin air made the experience physically demanding. Yet that was precisely what made reaching the lake feel like such an achievement.

Standing beside the lake, surrounded by enormous mountains and almost otherworldly silence, offered a completely different experience from the waterfalls and lively streets earlier in the trip. It was one of those moments where the scale of the Himalayas makes everything else feel very small.

The journey continued towards Lachung, with another series of beautiful stops along the way. At Chungthang, she witnessed the confluence of Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu, where the two rivers meet amid the mountains.

Bhim Nala Waterfall brought yet another dramatic change in scenery. Water rushed down the rocky mountainside while the surrounding landscape remained intensely green and peaceful. After a demanding day at extreme altitude, reaching Lachung brought a welcome opportunity to rest.

Why Srilakshmi chose Thrillophilia for her Sikkim Adventure

The final major excursion took Srilakshmi to Yumthang Valley, one of North Sikkim's most famous landscapes.

The experience was made comfortable by Thrillophilia’s North East destination expert Omkesh. Srilakshmi praised the support and on-ground teams for being “very polite, kind and friendly". She also appreciated the accommodation, describing the rooms as “very clean and well maintained". Freshly prepared food throughout the trip added another comforting touch after long days on the road.

She was particularly grateful for the proactive handling of permits, which helped the high-altitude excursions run smoothly. Those arrangements meant she could concentrate on experiencing Sikkim rather than worrying about the logistics.

And even after returning home, the journey did not quite feel finished.

“This is how our trip ended, but still, we are cherishing nature's beauty every day,” she wrote.

That might be the best description of what Sikkim gave her. It was not one spectacular moment, but a succession of them. A bustling evening at MG Marg. Snow at Nathula. A yak ride in the mountains. Lachen stealing her heart. Playing in the snow at Kala Patthar. Gurudongmar at 17,000 feet. Waterfalls along winding roads. And finally, the colourful landscapes of Yumthang.

She arrived looking for a holiday in the Himalayas.

She left with memories that kept bringing the mountains back home.

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