[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by daisyb

Gurudongmar lake is the only place in Sikkim where kids/old people are not allowed.

I didn't know about this. But why? Because of altitude issue? I've seen enough number of children at Khardungla top?

[Rameshdude]

Originally Posted by daisyb

. Gurudongmar lake is the only place in Sikkim where kids/old people are not allowed. .

I had been there last month with my dad who is 79 years old, and with my son who is 12 years. Keep munching pop corn, it does help.

[daisyb]

Originally Posted by Rameshdude

I had been there last month with my dad who is 79 years old, and with my son who is 12 years. Keep munching pop corn, it does help.

kids above 10 years are allowed. My son is 10 years old and is allowed. old people - it totally depends on the fitness. Yes, we also bought pop-corn and muched it as advised by our driver. Dont know if it helped or not, but served as good munch

[daisyb]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

I didn't know about this. But why? Because of altitude issue? I've seen enough number of children at Khardungla top?

Rudra, The amount of oxygen in Gurudongmar lake is less. As kids and old people have delicate health and are succeptible, I believe these precautions are being taken.

Zero point (Another place in North Sikkim) is also around 17,000 ft altitude, but there is no such restriction there.

Pictures of flowers we clicked, some from flower show. Dont know hte names though

[daisyb]

All of the below are Rhododendrons (except for one) in and around Yumthang valley. We could see Rhododendrons only at Yumthang valley. There are various colors of Rhododendrons, could capture only few of them. A stretch of around 10 kms on the way to Yumthang Valley is full of Rhododendrons - Yumthang valley is called 'Valley of Flowers'.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by daisyb

All of the below are Rhododendrons (except for one) in and around Yumthang valley. We could see Rhododendrons only at Yumthang valley. There are various colors of Rhododendrons, could capture only few of them. A stretch of around 10 kms on the way to Yumthang Valley is full of Rhododendrons - Yumthang valley is called 'Valley of Flowers'.

Fantastic pics Daisyb. Good way to start the day. Though, not original, but flowers on my desk!

Thanks,
Saket

[2000rpm]

Originally Posted by daisyb

Rudra, The amount of oxygen in Gurudongmar lake is less. As kids and old people have delicate health and are succeptible, I believe these precautions are being taken.

Zero point (Another place in North Sikkim) is also around 17,000 ft altitude, but there is no such restriction there.

Pictures of flowers we clicked, some from flower show. Dont know hte names though

Hey man, Awesome pics!

Am planning a trip around mid-December, please let me know if there is anything / any place which I should definitiely visit / specifically eliminate based on the season (i.e. December)

[daisyb]

Originally Posted by 2000rpm

Hey man, Awesome pics!

Am planning a trip around mid-December, please let me know if there is anything / any place which I should definitiely visit / specifically eliminate based on the season (i.e. December)

Whether December is a good time to visit depends on how you intend to spend your holiday in Sikkim. It snows very heavily in Dec. Some of the places like North Sikkim are likely to be closed. If you want to enjoy the snow, go for it. However if you intend to visit places, travel a lot, go around, Apr - May is a good time to visit.

[speed_edge]

Originally Posted by daisyb

However if you intend to visit places, travel a lot, go around, Apr - May is a good time to visit.

Hi Daisyb,

Thank you for sharing this wonderful travelogue. I'm planning a trip to Sikkim in Apr-May-2015 and need your advice. I'll be traveling with family and have 2 kids aged 9 and 4. My son wanted to see places with snow. Can you please advice on which part of Sikkim we get a chance to touch and play with snow? Also assume if we have 10 days to spend at Sikkim, which all places you recommend to cover. Thanks again.

Please note that I'm in discussion with few friends and if one more couple join us then we can happily hire one SUV to travel around sikkim.

Regards
SE

[daisyb]

Originally Posted by speed_edge

Hi Daisyb,

Thank you for sharing this wonderful travelogue. I'm planning a trip to Sikkim in Apr-May-2015 and need your advice. I'll be traveling with family and have 2 kids aged 9 and 4. My son wanted to see places with snow. Can you please advice on which part of Sikkim we get a chance to touch and play with snow? Also assume if we have 10 days to spend at Sikkim, which all places you recommend to cover. Thanks again.

Please note that I'm in discussion with few friends and if one more couple join us then we can happily hire one SUV to travel around sikkim.

Regards
SE

Apr to Mid-May is the best time to visit North Sikkim. Flowering season will come to an end by mid May. If you want to see snow clad mountains and play with snow - you can visit Lachung, Yumthung valley and from there proceed to Zero point, where you can get on to snow mountain and play with the snow.

10 days is a decent time to cover Sikkim - I would recommend North Sikkim which will cover Gurudongmar lake, Yumthang and zero point, Gangtok and surrounding areas, Nathula pass (we did not do this due to lack of time), Pelling. Nathula pass and North Sikkim will need permits. Please plan a relaxed trip with enough time between places because travel in Sikkim is very tiring due to the ghat, and also sudden land slides and road blockage.

[Caadmara]

Originally Posted by daisyb

Apr to Mid-May is the best time to visit North Sikkim. Flowering season will come to an end by mid May. If you want to see snow clad mountains and play with snow - you can visit Lachung, Yumthung valley and from there proceed to Zero point, where you can get on to snow mountain and play with the snow.

10 days is a decent time to cover Sikkim - I would recommend North Sikkim which will cover Gurudongmar lake, Yumthang and zero point, Gangtok and surrounding areas, Nathula pass (we did not do this due to lack of time), Pelling. Nathula pass and North Sikkim will need permits. Please plan a relaxed trip with enough time between places because travel in Sikkim is very tiring due to the ghat, and also sudden land slides and road blockage.

Hello daisyb- First of all thank you for putting up this great travelogue! I am planning to visit Sikkim with my family mid-may of 2015. I have put together the below itinerary and would appreciate your inputs on it. Is it doable or too ambitious?

Day1- Land at Bagdogra & drive from airport to Gangtok (Stay overnight-Gangtok)

Day 2- Drive to Lachen (stay overnight- Lachen)

Day 3- Drive to Gurudongmar Lake and then proceed to Lachung (stay overnight- Lachung)

Day 4- Full Day at Lachung-Zero point, Yum than valley (stay overnight- Lachung)

Day 5- Leave for Gangtok. Local site seeing (stay overnight- Gangtok)

Day 6- Visit Pelling and other areas around Gangtok (stay overnight- Pelling)

Day 7- Drive from Pelling to Bagdogra airport

[barcalad]

Originally Posted by Caadmara

Is it doable or too ambitious?

Day1- Land at Bagdogra & drive from airport to Gangtok (Stay overnight-Gangtok)

Day 2- Drive to Lachen (stay overnight- Lachen)

Day 3- Drive to Gurudongmar Lake and then proceed to Lachung (stay overnight- Lachung)

Day 4- Full Day at Lachung-Zero point, Yum than valley (stay overnight- Lachung)

Day 5- Leave for Gangtok. Local site seeing (stay overnight- Gangtok)

Day 6- Visit Pelling and other areas around Gangtok (stay overnight- Pelling)

Day 7- Drive from Pelling to Bagdogra airport

May I offer my inputs since I've spent a majority of my life living in those parts.

For Day 4, you don't need an entire day to spend at Zero Point. You can very well return to Gangtok by evening after spending adequate time at ZP and Lachung. I'd recommend Mayfair, Gangtok as the best accommodation in the town.

For Day 5, you can visit Tchangu Lake - Nathu La in the morning (subject to weather), return and have lunch and then visit Rumtek monastery and do some shopping on MG Road, Gangtok. Leave for Pelling by evening and stay at Elgin Mount Pandim (my recommendation).

Day 6, you enjoy the early morning sunrise and heavenly sights and push off for Darjeeling, to reach by lunch. Spend the entire second half doing local sight seeing (plenty to do see!). Take a walk at The Mall post dinner. It's bliss. Recommend Mayfair/Windamere as the best accommodation.

Day 7, see the sunrise at Tiger Hill and drive down to Bagdogra VIA Mirik post breakfast, so that you can enjoy the beautiful woods and famous Mirik lake. I'd suggest to take the last flight out if IXB.

Do let me know if you need any more suggestions!

[Caadmara]

Originally Posted by barcalad

Do let me know if you need any more suggestions!

Thanks a ton barcalad! This is really useful and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to pen this down. I will rework my itinerary and incorporate your suggestions. Thanks again mate.

[barcalad]

Originally Posted by Caadmara

Thanks a ton barcalad! This is really useful and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to pen this down. I will rework my itinerary and incorporate your suggestions. Thanks again mate.

My pleasure, mate! Always available to suggest and help you out even more.

[rahul_sinha]

Originally Posted by barcalad

My pleasure, mate! Always available to suggest and help you out even more.

Hello barcalad,

I will be going to Club Mahindra Gangtok in May for 5 days, and have planned the following itinerary.

Day 1: NJP station (8am) to CM Gangtok (2pm?), Gondola ride, Gangtok Ropeway - Gangtok city, MG Road evening

Day 2: Himalayan wildlife sanctuary (9am - 4pm), Ganesh tok, Orchid Gardens, Hanuman Tok, Ipecac Garden, Chopper ride, Rumtek Monastery - get permits for zero point, nathu la

Day 3: Lachung - Zero Point and back

Day 4: Tsong Ma lake, Nathu La pass, Menmecho Lake, Baba mandir, Kyongmosla Water falls

Day 5: Lachen - Kanchenjunga view point

Day 6: CM Gangtok to New Jalpaiguri station

I guess I cannot visit Gurudongmar lake and as it is the schedule looks quite tight, will be there with my wife and kid (9 yrs).

Please let me know your views as well.

regards,
Rahul