Nathu La is a mountain pass at 4,310 m on the India–China border, about 54 km from Gangtok. Indian nationals can visit with a permit arranged a day ahead, usually Wednesday to Sunday, combined with Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir. Foreigners are not allowed. Snow often closes it in winter.
Tibetan nameNathu LaMeans: Traditionally 'the listening ears pass'; 'la' means passSource: Wikipedia: Nathu La
Best months
April–June and October–November
Nights we suggest
Day trip from Gangtok
From Gangtok
≈ 54 km · 2.5–3 h
Altitude
4,310 m
Known for
India–China border, Silk Route history, snow
Permit
Indian nationals only; ≈ ₹200 via registered agent, a day ahead
Nathu La crosses the Dongkya range between Sikkim and the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, about 54 km east of Gangtok on NH310. For centuries it was one of the main trade routes between Tibet and India: mule trains carried wool, salt and borax south and cloth, grain and manufactured goods north. It was sealed after the 1962 war and reopened for border trade on 6 July 2006.
Today, Indian visitors drive up from Gangtok through Tsomgo, past Baba Mandir, to a parking area just below the border. From there, steps lead to a viewing area where Indian and Chinese posts face each other across the wire. Army staff manage the site, and the atmosphere is disciplined. Visits are short, usually 30–45 minutes, because of the height and the security rules.
Nathu La is open only to Indian nationals, with a permit of about ₹200 per person applied through a registered agent a day ahead, with ID and photos. It is usually open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and snow can close it for days between December and March. At 4,310 m, altitude sickness is a real risk. Check current status before you travel.
Highlights
What to see and do
Standing on the border
From the viewing area you look directly across to Chinese border posts a few metres away, with the Chumbi Valley dropping beyond. Few places in India put you so close to an international border. Photography rules are set by the Army on the day; follow them exactly.
The Silk Route's old crossing
Mule caravans used Nathu La for centuries, carrying wool and salt south and cloth and grain north. The 1903–04 Younghusband expedition crossed here. Standing at the top in the wind, it is easy to see why the trade only ran in the warmer months.
Snow from October to May
Nathu La is often snowbound from late autumn to spring, and even in May there can be drifts beside the road. For many Indian visitors it is the highest point they have ever stood. Bring warm, waterproof layers and sunglasses.
Sherathang trade mart
Below the pass, on the road up, is Sherathang, the Indian trade mart opened when border trade resumed in 2006. Traders with special permits cross from here on trading days. It is a reminder that this is still a working border, not just a viewpoint.
A full day of high places
Nathu La is usually combined with Tsomgo Lake (3,753 m) and Baba Mandir (about 4,000 m) in a 7–9 hour day from Gangtok. It is a long, high day, so we keep the pace gentle, with tea stops and enough water.
The story of Nathu La
Forty-four years shut, reopened in July 2006
In 1873 the British official J.W. Edgar surveyed Nathu La and recorded a busy trade over it. Thirty years later, in 1903–04, Francis Younghusband's expedition to Lhasa used Nathu La and the neighbouring Jelep La, and Nathu La became the main communication route between India and Lhasa. Mule caravans used it until the Sino-Indian war of 1962, when the pass was sealed. In September 1967 it saw serious clashes between Indian and Chinese troops, followed on 1 October by fighting at Cho La, a few kilometres north. For 44 years nothing crossed. Then, on 6 July 2006, India and China reopened Nathu La for border trade, with marts at Sherathang on the Indian side and Renqinggang on the Chinese side. Since 2015 it has also been a route for Indian pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Trade volumes have stayed modest, limited to certain days and to the warmer months.
Source: Wikipedia: Nathu La; Nathu La and Cho La clashes
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
Since 2015, Nathu La has been one of the two official routes for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra organised by India's Ministry of External Affairs; the route is motorable most of the way.
Nathu La is one of the official Border Personnel Meeting points where Indian and Chinese army officers hold scheduled meetings and ceremonies.
Source: Wikipedia: Nathu La
Border trade through Nathu La takes place only on set weekdays and only in the warmer months, roughly May to November, through the Sherathang trade mart below the pass.
Shared tours to Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La run from Gangtok on open days, with seats sold by agents for about ₹1,200–1,800 per person including the shared vehicle. You must hand in ID and photos the day before. Only Indian nationals can join the Nathu La part.
Private car
A reserved SUV from Gangtok for Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La costs about ₹6,500–9,000. Only Sikkim-registered tourist vehicles with the right permit can go up. Leave by 7 am; permits require you to start back by early afternoon.
From Bagdogra / NJP
Nathu La is a day trip from Gangtok only. You need at least one night in Gangtok to get the permit, which is issued the evening before, and to acclimatise. Allow 4–5 hours from Bagdogra or NJP to Gangtok on NH10, which closes in the monsoon. Check current status before you travel.
Indian travellers need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek, Lingdum, Martam or Sang. Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir need a protected-area permit through a registered agent, usually filed the day before with ID and photos. Nathu La is for Indian nationals only, about ₹200 per person, usually Wednesday to Sunday. Cho La opened to domestic tourists in September 2025 on limited, escorted trips. Foreigners need the Sikkim restricted area permit, applied online on the e-FRRO portal, and may visit Tsomgo on a one-day pass in a group of two or more. Sikkim also charges a ₹50 tourist fee at hotels. Check current status before you travel.
There is no accommodation near Nathu La for tourists. Stay in Gangtok and go up for the day. Central hotels make the 7 am start easier: Hotel Tibet, The Chumbi Residency and Elgin Nor-Khill are all close to the taxi pickup points, and Mintokling Guest House and Hotel Sonam Delek suit budget travellers. If you want to sleep high on a separate trip, the Old Silk Route homestays at Kupup, Gnathang and Zuluk in Pakyong district are open to Indian nationals with a Silk Route permit.
From the Gangtok desk
Tips we give friends
Nathu La is for Indian nationals only; foreign members of a group must stop at Tsomgo or Baba Mandir.
It is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and after heavy snow; plan it for a Wednesday to Sunday.
Spend at least one night in Gangtok first, walk slowly at the top and stay no more than 30–45 minutes.
Carry original ID; the Army may check it at the top.
Photography rules change; never photograph troops or installations unless told you may.
Month by month
When to visit Nathu La
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BestGoodAvoid or closed
Nathu La is at 4,310 m. Spend a night lower down first, climb slowly and drink water. Headache, nausea or breathlessness at rest mean go down. The altitude ladder.
Only Indian nationals can visit Nathu La, with a permit of about ₹200 per person arranged through a registered agent a day ahead with ID and photos. Foreigners, including OCI cardholders, are not allowed. Check current status before you travel, as rules change with security conditions.
How do we get a Nathu La permit?
Give your registered agent or hotel a government photo ID and two passport photos the day before, usually by midday. The agent applies, and the permit is issued in the evening together with the Tsomgo permit. You cannot apply yourself at the pass. Carry the original ID on the day.
How high is Nathu La?
Nathu La is at 4,310 m (14,140 ft). That is high enough for altitude sickness in people who come up quickly from the plains. Sleep at least one night in Gangtok first, walk slowly, keep the visit short and descend if anyone feels very unwell.
Is Nathu La open in winter?
It is officially open on permitted days, but snowfall often closes it between December and March, sometimes for several days. April to June and October to November are the most reliable months. Keep a spare day if Nathu La is important to you. Check current status before you travel.
How much does a Nathu La trip cost from Gangtok?
A reserved SUV for Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La costs about ₹6,500–9,000 per car in 2026, plus permit fees of about ₹200 for Nathu La and ₹200–400 for Tsomgo per person. A shared seat on the same circuit costs about ₹1,200–1,800. Prices are indicative.
Can we photograph at Nathu La?
Rules are set by the Army on the day. Sometimes scenic photos are allowed, sometimes all photography is banned. Never photograph soldiers, bunkers or installations. Ask before taking out a phone or camera, and delete images if asked. Drones are strictly prohibited.
Is Nathu La safe for senior citizens?
Many fit seniors visit without trouble, but 4,310 m puts real strain on the heart and lungs. Anyone with heart disease, high blood pressure, COPD or recent surgery should consult a doctor first. Use the steps slowly, keep the visit short and carry any regular medicines.
What is the history of Nathu La?
Nathu La was a major Tibet–India trade route for centuries and was used by the 1903–04 Younghusband expedition. It was sealed after the 1962 war, saw clashes in September 1967 and reopened for border trade on 6 July 2006. Since 2015 it has also served Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims.
Can we visit Nathu La and Tsomgo on the same day?
Yes, that is the standard plan. Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu La are on the same road, and one permit request covers all three for Indian nationals. Allow 7–9 hours from Gangtok. The trip is usually possible Wednesday to Sunday.
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