Wellness · Chungthang
Chungthang as your altitude safety net
At about 1,600 m, Chungthang is the lowest point between the high valleys. If someone develops altitude sickness at Gurudongmar or Zero Point, descending here, with the army medical centre nearby, is a key part of any safety plan.
Photo: PARTHA SAKHA ADHIKARY · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Altitude sickness rarely troubles people at Chungthang's height, but it can strike higher up, at Gurudongmar Lake at about 5,150 m or Zero Point at about 4,660 m. The most effective treatment is to go down. Chungthang, more than 1,000 m below Lachen and Lachung, is the natural place to head for, and the Indian Army base there has a medical centre.
Know the warning signs: a headache that does not go away, vomiting, unusual breathlessness at rest, confusion or stumbling. Any of these means turning the vehicle round and descending at once. Your driver knows the way and the people to call.
We build this into every North Sikkim plan: a phone number for your agent, a driver who knows the route, and no pressure to go higher if someone is unwell. Children under five are not permitted in North Sikkim protected areas, partly for this reason.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Is there a hospital near Lachen and Lachung?
The nearest significant medical help for many travellers is the Indian Army medical centre at Chungthang, with primary health facilities in Lachen and Lachung and the district hospital in Mangan. For serious cases, descending quickly is the priority. Your driver and agent will know whom to call.
What should we do if someone gets altitude sickness?
Stop going higher and descend as soon as possible, ideally towards Chungthang. Keep the person warm, give water and do not let them sleep off severe symptoms at altitude. Seek medical help for vomiting, confusion or breathlessness at rest. Mild headaches often ease with rest and fluids.
What altitude is Chungthang?
Chungthang's valley floor near the confluence is about 1,600 m, though Wikipedia gives the town an elevation of 1,790 m. Either way it is more than 1,000 m lower than Lachen and Lachung and over 3,000 m lower than Gurudongmar, which makes it the natural place to descend to.
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