Morning walk to Lachung Monastery

Lachung Monastery sits on the slope across the river from the main road. From most hotels it is a 20–30 minute walk down to the footbridge and a short, steady climb up the other side. Go slowly: even fit visitors feel the altitude on the first morning. On the way you pass houses with stacked firewood, prayer wheels and small fields, the everyday Lachung that most tourists see only through a jeep window.

The monastery belongs to the Nyingma school, the oldest of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the one most closely linked with Guru Padmasambhava in Sikkim. It was established in 1880. If monks are at prayer, wait outside or sit quietly at the back. Walk clockwise around the building and any chortens, take off shoes and hats inside, and ask before taking photographs.

This walk fits best on your second morning in Lachung, after Yumthang, or on a buffer day when snow closes the road. A local guide can explain the murals and the village's links with the monastery, and point out the annual masked dance date if your trip comes close to it.