Thangu is a small settlement at about 3,900 m, 30 km and 1.5 hours above Lachen, where vehicles stop for breakfast on the way to Gurudongmar Lake. Around it lie the summer yak pastures of the Lachen valley and the Chopta meadows. Indian travellers visit on a Lachen permit; foreigners ask us.
Thangu sits where the Lachen valley opens out above the forest, a cluster of houses, army buildings and simple eateries at about 3,900 m. For most travellers it is a half-hour stop in the dark or at first light on the way to Gurudongmar: tea, a paratha or noodles, a toilet, and a first look at the bare, high country ahead.
Thangu deserves more attention than that. It marks the change from the forested valleys of Sikkim to the high pastures and moraine of the plateau. Yak and sheep herds graze around it in summer, and the Chopta Valley meadows lie just beyond. In June and July wildflowers cover the slopes, though the monsoon makes the road unreliable then.
At about 3,900 m, Thangu is high. It is about 1,150 m above Lachen, and most people feel the thin air when they step out of the vehicle. It is also the natural turnaround point for anyone who feels unwell before the final climb to the lake. Daytime temperatures stay low even in summer, often 4–12 °C.
Highlights
What to see and do
Breakfast before the lake
Simple eateries at Thangu open early for Gurudongmar traffic, serving tea, parathas, noodles and eggs. A warm meal here helps you cope with the cold and altitude at the lake.
Where the forest ends
Around Thangu the trees give way to grassland and moraine. The change is striking at first light, as the valley widens and the plateau country appears ahead.
Yak pastures
Yak and sheep herds graze around Thangu from late spring to autumn. Watch from the road, keep your distance and ask herders before photographing them.
Summer wildflowers
In June and July the slopes around Thangu and Chopta flower with primulas, poppies and other alpine plants. It is the monsoon season, so roads are unreliable.
A safe turnaround point
If anyone feels unwell on the way up, Thangu is the place to stop and wait in a warm eatery while the others visit the lake, rather than climbing another 1,250 m.
The story of Thangu
The herders of the high pastures
The grasslands around Thangu and the valleys beyond, Lashar, Lhonak and Muguthang among them, have been summer pastures for generations. Lachenpa families and the Dokpa (or Drokpa), herders of Tibetan origin who live in the high valleys north of Lachen, drive yak and sheep up as the snow melts and bring them down before winter. Wikipedia's article on Lachen notes that the Dokpa of the Lashar valley celebrate a traditional festival known as Drukpa Tsechi with a local yak race. Researchers at ICIMOD, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, have documented how yak pastoralism in the Lhonak valley is changing, with fewer young people taking up herding and new pressures from roads, border rules and a warming climate. The 2023 flood that began at South Lhonak Lake came out of these same high valleys. Most of the herders' country lies in restricted areas that tourists cannot enter. What you can see, from Thangu and the road above, are their herds on the slopes and their stone shelters. Watch quietly and ask before you photograph.
Source: Wikipedia, Lachen, Sikkim; ICIMOD, Yak pastoralism in transition in Lhonak Valley, Sikkim
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
Wikipedia notes that daytime temperatures at Thangu stay around 4–12 °C even in June and July, the warmest months.
Source: Wikipedia, Lachen, Sikkim
The Dokpa herders of the Lashar valley, north of Thangu, hold a festival called Drukpa Tsechi that features a local yak race.
Source: Wikipedia, Lachen, Sikkim
Thangu lies about 30 km north of Lachen and roughly 30–40 km south of Gurudongmar Lake along NH310C.
Source: Wikipedia, Thangu Valley and Gurudongmar Lake
Every Gurudongmar trip passes through Thangu, about 30 km and 1.5 hours above Lachen. Most vehicles stop here for breakfast on the way up.
Private car
In a private registered SUV booked through an agent, you can stop longer at Thangu or add Chopta Valley, if permitted on the day.
From Bagdogra / NJP
Drive to Gangtok (4.5–5 hours by NH10, or via Kalimpong when NH10 is closed), stay a night, drive to Lachen the next day and reach Thangu early the following morning.
Permits in North Sikkim
Indian travellers need a protected area permit for Lachung, Yumthang, Zero Point, Lachen, Thangu and Gurudongmar, issued only through Sikkim Tourism-registered agents and tied to a registered tourist vehicle; operators require a minimum two-night stay. Dzongu needs its own permit, usually obtained in Mangan. Children under five are not permitted in North Sikkim protected areas. Foreign nationals need the online Sikkim restricted area permit and may visit Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point on a group permit, but not Gurudongmar; for Lachen and Thangu, ask us. Check current status before you travel.
Thangu has very basic lodging, but we do not recommend sleeping at about 3,900 m without proper acclimatisation, and tourist itineraries rarely allow it. Stay in Lachen, 30 km below, and pass through Thangu on the morning drive. Lachenpa family homestays are the budget option, and Summit Gangchen is the comfort choice, with heated beds and early breakfasts for Gurudongmar starts.
Eat something at Thangu even if you are not hungry; it helps at the lake.
Use the toilets here; facilities at Gurudongmar are minimal.
If you feel unwell at Thangu, stay here and let the others go on.
Ask before photographing army areas, herders or shelters; some are off limits.
Carry cash in small notes for eateries; cards rarely work.
Month by month
When to visit Thangu
JFMAMJJASOND
BestGoodAvoid or closed
Thangu is at 3,900 m. Spend a night lower down first, climb slowly and drink water. Headache, nausea or breathlessness at rest mean go down. The altitude ladder.
Thangu is in Mangan district (North Sikkim), about 30 km north of Lachen on the road to Gurudongmar Lake, at about 3,900 m. It is the last settlement before the lake and the usual breakfast stop on the Gurudongmar trip.
What is the altitude of Thangu?
About 3,900 m (12,800 ft), though some sources give up to 4,000 m or more. It is roughly 1,150 m higher than Lachen and about 1,250 m lower than Gurudongmar Lake, so most people feel the thin air when they step out.
Can I stay overnight in Thangu?
Basic lodging exists, but tourist itineraries rarely include a night here, and sleeping at about 3,900 m without acclimatisation is risky. Stay in Lachen and pass through Thangu on the morning drive to Gurudongmar.
Do I need a permit for Thangu?
Yes. Thangu is covered by the protected area permit for Lachen and Gurudongmar, issued through a Sikkim Tourism-registered agent with a registered vehicle. Rules for foreign nationals in Lachen and Thangu are unclear, so ask us. Check current status before you travel.
Is Thangu open in 2026?
Thangu opens and closes with the Lachen road. As we understand it, permits for Lachen and Gurudongmar resumed around 11–12 September 2026 after road repairs. Snow can close the road from December. Check current status before you travel.
How cold is Thangu?
Cold all year. Summer days are around 4–12 °C, and October–November mornings are well below freezing. In winter it is often under snow and the road may close. Wear thermals, a down jacket, cap and gloves on the Gurudongmar trip.
What is the difference between Thangu and Chopta Valley?
Thangu is the small settlement on the Gurudongmar road. Chopta Valley is a high meadow nearby, at about 4,000 m, along the Lachen river, sometimes visited as a short add-on. The names are often combined as Thangu-Chopta Valley.
Can children stop at Thangu?
Children aged five and over may travel to Thangu; children under five are not permitted in North Sikkim protected areas. Thangu is a good place for older children to wait if Gurudongmar seems too high for them. Keep them warm and watch for symptoms.
Are there shops or ATMs in Thangu?
Only a few eateries and small shops, and no reliable ATM. Carry cash in small notes from Gangtok or Lachen for breakfast, tea and snacks. Mobile signal is patchy, so let someone know your plans in advance.
Every cost shownRooms, car, permits and our fee, itemised
One person to callFrom Bagdogra or NJP until you are back
No payment to startA deposit only when you book
Get my price
Want Thangu in your plan?
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and roughly what you want to spend. We reply within one working day with a day-by-day route and an itemised price.
No payment to start
Permits handled through registered partners
Every hotel, car and fee listed
Price my Sikkim trip
Tell us dates, people and budget. You get a day-by-day plan and an itemised price within one working day.
