Adventure · Tsomgo Lake
Tsomgo and Baba Mandir day trip
The classic Gangtok day trip: up through Kyongnosla to Tsomgo Lake at 3,753 m, on to the Baba Harbhajan Singh shrine, and back by mid-afternoon. We explain timing, permits, costs and how to keep everyone well at altitude.
Photo: Sandeep.barkaley · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Permits are arranged the day before through a registered agent: hand over your ID and two passport photos by about midday, and the permit is issued in the evening. Cars leave Gangtok from about 7 am. The drive to Tsomgo takes around two hours, with a stop at the check post where police verify permits.
After an hour at the lake, the road climbs another 18 km or so to the new Baba Mandir, the shrine to Sepoy Harbhajan Singh of the Punjab Regiment, who died near Nathu La in 1968. The shrine stands at around 4,000 m. Spend 30–45 minutes there, then drive back, with a tea stop at the lake or at Kyongnosla.
Expect to be back in Gangtok by about 3–4 pm. A reserved car costs about ₹4,500–6,500, more with Nathu La added for Indian travellers. Eat a light breakfast, carry water and snacks, and dress in layers. Nathu La is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
How much does a Tsomgo and Baba Mandir taxi cost in 2026?
Expect about ₹4,500–6,500 for a reserved car, usually an SUV, for Tsomgo and Baba Mandir, and about ₹6,500–9,000 with Nathu La added. Shared seats cost about ₹800–1,200 per person. Permit and conservation fees of about ₹200–400 per person are extra. Prices are indicative.
What documents do we need for the Tsomgo permit?
Indians need a government photo ID, such as Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence, and two passport-size photos. Foreigners need their passport, the Sikkim Restricted Area Permit and photos, and must travel in a group of two or more. Your registered agent applies the day before.
Can we do Tsomgo on the day we arrive in Gangtok?
No. Permits are issued the evening before, and it is wiser to sleep at least one night at Gangtok's 1,650 m before going up to 3,753 m. Plan Tsomgo on your second or third day, and use your arrival day for rest or easy sightseeing in town.
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