Sang is a farming village on the slopes south-west of Rumtek, roughly 35–40 km and 1.5–2 hours from Gangtok at about 1,450 m. Its Karma Dubgyu Chokhorling monastery, built in 1912, keeps stone prints said to be the hand and footprint of the Tibetan teacher Phaya Lama. Few tourists come. No permit needed.
Best months
October–November and March–May
Nights we suggest
Day trip, or 1 night in nearby Martam
From Gangtok
≈ 35–40 km · 1.5–2 h via Ranipool and Rumtek
Altitude
≈ 1,450 m
Known for
1912 Kagyu monastery, Phaya Lama's stone prints, village life
Beyond Rumtek and Martam, the road along the western side of the Ranikhola valley carries on through hamlets and farmland to Sang. It is a working village, not a resort: houses with kitchen gardens, terraced fields of rice, maize and vegetables, cardamom in the shady gullies, and a small bazaar of shops and tea stalls. The slopes of Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary rise to the north-west.
Sang's landmark is its monastery, the Karma Dubgyu Chokhorling. Wikipedia records that it was built in 1912 and belongs to the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, like Rumtek. It keeps two flat stones, each bearing a footprint and a handprint attributed to Phaya Lama, a teacher from Tibet who stayed here for some years and meditated in a cave in a ravine nearby.
We send guests to Sang when they want something slower than the Gangtok circuit: a night in a Martam homestay with a morning drive or walk to Sang, a visit to the monastery while the village goes about its day, and tea at a roadside stall. Facilities are basic, signage is limited, and English is less widely spoken than in Gangtok, which is part of the charm.
Highlights
What to see and do
Karma Dubgyu Chokhorling
Sang's Kagyu monastery, built in 1912, is a modest, working monastery rather than a showpiece. Remove shoes, walk clockwise and sit quietly if prayers are on. Mornings are the best time to find the hall open and monks about.
Phaya Lama's hand and foot prints
Two flat stones in the monastery each carry a footprint and a handprint attributed to Phaya Lama, a Tibetan teacher who stayed here. Ask a monk to show them, and follow the lead of local visitors in how to approach them.
The meditation cave
In a ravine near the village is the cave where Phaya Lama is said to have meditated. Reaching it means a steep, unmarked path, so go only with a local guide arranged through the monastery or your host, and only in dry weather.
A village that is not on the circuit
Sang sees few tourists. Drink tea at a stall in the bazaar, watch the school day start and end, and walk the lanes between fields. It is a good counterweight to Gangtok's crowds, a short drive from Martam.
The western valley road
The drive from Gangtok via Ranipool, Rumtek and Martam runs along the western side of the Ranikhola valley, with views back to Gangtok on its ridge and down into terraced side valleys. Combine Sang with Rumtek and a Martam lunch for a full day.
The story of Sang
Phaya Lama's prints in stone
Many Himalayan monasteries keep a rock said to bear the mark of a great teacher, and Sang has two. According to Wikipedia's article on Sang Monastery, the Karma Dubgyu Chokhorling, built in 1912 and belonging to the Kagyu school, houses two flat stones, each with a footprint and a handprint of Phaya Lama, a prominent lama from Tibet who stayed at the monastery for a few years. He is also remembered for spending time in meditation in a cave in a ravine near the village. In Tibetan Buddhist practice, prints left in rock by realised teachers are treated as relics, signs of a presence that remains in the place, and pilgrims touch their foreheads to them as a blessing. We have not found a detailed written biography of Phaya Lama in English, and the stories told about him in the village go further than the written record; as told locally, the cave is still visited by people from Sang. Ask a monk to show you the stones, and if you would like to see the cave, ask the monastery or your homestay host to arrange a local guide: the path is steep and not marked.
Source: Wikipedia: Sang Monastery
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
Sang Monastery's formal name is Karma Dubgyu Chokhorling; it was built in 1912 and follows the Kagyu school, the same broad tradition as nearby Rumtek.
Source: Wikipedia: Sang Monastery
The monastery keeps two flat stones, each bearing a footprint and a handprint attributed to Phaya Lama, a teacher from Tibet who stayed in Sang for a few years.
Source: Wikipedia: Sang Monastery
Phaya Lama is said to have meditated in a cave in a ravine near the monastery; the path to it is steep and unmarked, so go only with a local guide.
Source: Wikipedia: Sang Monastery; as told locally
A few shared jeeps run between Gangtok and Sang, mainly for villagers, for about ₹100–150 a seat. They leave early and return in the afternoon, and timings change, so ask your hotel for the current stand and confirm the return before you set off.
Private car
A reserved small car from Gangtok to Sang and back, with Rumtek on the way, costs about ₹3,000–4,000 for the day, indicatively. The road via Ranipool and Rumtek is about 35–40 km, 1.5–2 hours each way, narrow and slow after rain.
From Bagdogra / NJP
Turn off NH10 at Ranipool and continue via Rumtek, about 5 hours from Bagdogra (IXB) or NJP. NH10 closes after monsoon slides; the alternative is via Kalimpong or Algarah. Most visitors stay in Gangtok or Martam first. Check current status before you travel.
Permits in East Sikkim
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.
Sang has very few places for visitors to stay, and we do not list any by name. The easiest base is a family homestay in Martam, a short drive away on the same road, at about ₹1,500–2,500 per person a night with meals; we list these as Martam village homestays. Otherwise stay in Gangtok, about 1.5–2 hours away, at Mintokling Guest House on a budget, Netuk House for value or The Chumbi Residency for comfort, and visit Sang on a full-day drive with Rumtek.
Sang is a village in Gangtok district (East Sikkim), on the western side of the Ranikhola valley beyond Rumtek and Martam, roughly 35–40 km by road from Gangtok. It is not the same as Sang in other states. Drivers usually go via Ranipool and Rumtek.
How do we reach Sang from Gangtok?
By reserved car via Ranipool and Rumtek, about 1.5–2 hours, costing about ₹3,000–4,000 for a day trip with Rumtek. A few shared jeeps run for villagers at about ₹100–150 a seat, but times change and returns are early. Check current status before you travel.
What is there to see in Sang?
The main sight is Sang Monastery, a Kagyu monastery built in 1912 that keeps stones bearing Phaya Lama's hand and foot prints. Add the cave where he meditated, reached with a local guide, and a walk around the bazaar and fields.
Is Sang worth visiting?
For travellers who want quiet village Sikkim and have already seen Gangtok's main sights, yes. It is not a scenic highlight like Tsomgo Lake. Pair it with Rumtek and Martam for a full day, or a homestay night, rather than making a long trip just for Sang.
Are there hotels in Sang?
Very few, and we do not list any by name. The easiest base is a family homestay in Martam nearby, about ₹1,500–2,500 per person a night with meals, or a hotel in Gangtok, 1.5–2 hours away. Book Martam homestays a few days ahead in October and May.
Do we need a permit for Sang?
No. Sang lies outside the protected areas, so Indian travellers need no permit, and foreigners only need the Sikkim restricted area permit for entering the state. Carry ID if you also visit Rumtek, where there is a security check. There are no check posts on the way.
What is the altitude of Sang?
About 1,450 m, a little lower than Gangtok. Days are mild for most of the year, and nights in December and January are cool, around 5–8 °C. Altitude is not a concern. In April and May days reach the mid-20s °C, and the monsoon months are warm and humid.
When is the best time to visit Sang?
October and November for clear skies and harvest activity, and March to May for mild weather. The monsoon, from June to September, brings slow roads, mud and leeches. December to February is dry and cool, with some hazy days. Mornings are clearest in every season.
Can we combine Sang with Fambong Lho?
Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the ridge to the north-west, but access is usually from the Ranka side and needs forest permission and a guide. Doing both in one day is a stretch. We usually suggest Fambong Lho as a separate day trip from Gangtok.
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