Wellness · Singhik
A Mangan and Singhik morning loop
On a night in Mangan, spend the next morning on an easy loop to Singhik and back, by taxi or partly on foot, for the view, tea and fresh air before driving north. A gentle way to start a North Sikkim trip.
Photo: walter callens · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
If you stay in Mangan, Singhik makes an easy morning outing. Take a local taxi up at first light for the view, then walk part of the way back down the highway, about 4 km in all, with the gorge on one side and the village and fields on the other. It is gentle and mostly downhill if you start from Singhik.
Stop for tea in Singhik, look for birds in the trees along the road, and watch the valley clear as the sun climbs. Back in Mangan, have breakfast before setting off for Lachung, Lachen or Dzongu, with time in hand for the Toong check post.
Walk facing traffic and avoid the busiest hours. In the monsoon, wet roads and slides make walking unsafe, so take the taxi both ways.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Can I walk from Mangan to Singhik?
Yes, it is about 4 km along the North Sikkim Highway, with some climb. Many people take a taxi up and walk back down. Walk facing traffic, keep to the edge, and avoid it in heavy rain or after dark. Allow about an hour each way on foot.
Is a night in Mangan worth it for Singhik?
If you love mountain views or are travelling slowly, yes. A night in Mangan lets you reach Singhik at first light, when the peaks are most likely to be clear, and splits the long drive north. If you are short of time, a daytime stop on the way works too.
Are there birds to see around Singhik?
Yes, the forest edges and gardens along the highway hold common hill birds such as bulbuls, laughingthrushes, sunbirds and drongos, especially in early morning. Bring binoculars. For serious birding, Dzongu's forests across the river are richer.
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