Wellness · Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
A gentle high-road day for seniors
How we plan Tsomgo and Baba Mandir for older travellers and anyone worried about altitude: a later start, more stops, short visits at the top and a quiet afternoon. Simple steps that make the high road comfortable for most healthy people.
Photo: Indrajit Das · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Going from Gangtok's 1,650 m to about 4,000 m in three hours is a big jump. For older travellers we always plan at least two nights in Gangtok first, then a reserved car rather than a shared jeep, so we control the pace. We start around 8 am instead of 7, after a light breakfast, with water and simple snacks in the car.
On the way up we stop at Kyongnosla for a short break, then go straight to Baba Mandir and keep the visit there to about 30 minutes, helping with the shrine steps. On the way down we stop at Tsomgo, which is lower, for tea and a short lakeside walk, before heading back to Gangtok.
Anyone with heart disease, high blood pressure, lung problems or recent surgery should consult a doctor before the trip. Carry regular medicines and a warm layer. Watch for severe headache, breathlessness at rest or confusion, and descend at once if they appear. We skip Nathu La for seniors unless they feel strong.
Good for
Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Is Baba Mandir safe for elderly travellers?
Many healthy seniors visit without problems, but about 4,000 m is high. Spend two nights in Gangtok first, keep the visit short, climb the steps slowly and avoid exertion. Anyone with heart or lung disease should consult a doctor first. We plan gentler days for older guests on request.
Should we carry oxygen to Tsomgo and Baba Mandir?
Small canned oxygen is sold in Gangtok and some drivers carry it, but it gives only brief relief and is not a treatment. The real remedy for altitude sickness is going down. Acclimatise in Gangtok, go slowly and keep visits short. Consult a doctor if you have health concerns.
What are the signs of altitude sickness?
Common early signs are headache, nausea, dizziness, tiredness and poor sleep. Danger signs are severe headache, vomiting, breathlessness at rest, confusion or unsteady walking. If these appear, descend immediately and seek medical help. On a Tsomgo day trip, simply driving down usually brings quick relief.
Also in Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
More hours worth planning
Monasteries and shrines
Visit the shrine of Baba Harbhajan Singh
Pay respects at the Army-run shrine to Sepoy Harbhajan Singh, who died near Nathu La in 1968 at 22. See his quarters …
Culture
The old Baba Mandir bunker on the Silk Route
On the Old Silk Route side, beyond the new shrine, stands the original Baba Mandir, built at Harbhajan Singh's bunker. It is …
Nature
Photographing the high road to Baba Mandir
The 18 km from Tsomgo to Baba Mandir climbs through some of the most open country on the Gangtok road: switchbacks, snowfields, …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartGet my price
Tell us your dates and your budget
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
- No payment to start
- Permits handled through registered partners
- Every hotel, car and fee listed