Nature · Kupup
Lake Menmecho, source of the Rangpo
On the road down from Kupup, look out over Lake Menmecho, a deep mountain lake below Jelep La that feeds the Rangpo river. The same water you see here reaches the Teesta at Rangpo, the gateway town of Sikkim.
Photo: Thebrowniris · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Menmecho is larger than Elephant Lake and lies lower, along the road between Kupup and Tsomgo. Wikipedia notes that it is the source of the Rangpo river, a tributary of the Teesta, and the nineteenth-century explorer J. W. Edgar described it as especially beautiful. In autumn it is deep blue under brown slopes; in mid-winter it freezes.
It is a satisfying connection on a Silk Route trip: the river that rises here flows down past Rolep and Rongli, where you collected your permit, through Rorathang and on to Rangpo, where it meets the Teesta. If you came up from Rongli, you have followed it most of the way.
Viewing is from the road, as the lake lies in an area with army presence and a steep descent. Keep stops short at this altitude, especially if you came up from Gangtok in the morning. Check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Where is Lake Menmecho?
Below Jelep La, along the road between Kupup and Tsomgo Lake in Gangtok district, about 20 km beyond Tsomgo. It is usually seen from the road on the Silk Route circuit. Indian nationals need the restricted-area permit arranged through a registered agent.
Is Menmecho the source of the Rangpo river?
Yes. Wikipedia describes Lake Menmecho as the source of the Rangpo river, which flows through Pakyong district past Rolep and Rongli to Rorathang and joins the Teesta at Rangpo. The lake sits below Jelep La near the old trade route.
Can we fish or camp at Menmecho?
Not as tourists on a standard trip. The lake lies in a restricted border area with army presence, and camping or fishing would need special permission that we do not arrange. Enjoy it from the road and keep the stop short.
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