West Sikkim · Road guide
Yuksom to Tashiding
Yuksom to Tashiding is about 19 km and 1 hour by road, down towards the Rathong Chu. It links Sikkim's first capital with its most sacred monastery and makes a natural half-day or onward route to Legship.
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Your options
How to make the trip
Shared jeep
1–1.5 h · ≈ ₹100–150 a seat
Shared jeeps on the Yuksom–Tashiding–Legship line run a few times a day, mostly in the morning. They are cheap and used by villagers, so expect a full vehicle. From Tashiding bazaar the monastery is a 30–40 minute walk uphill, or a short ride where the road reaches near the top.
Private car
45 min–1 h · ≈ ₹1,500–2,500 one way
A reserved car is the easy way, especially if you continue to Legship, Ravangla or Gangtok the same day. The road drops through forest and cardamom fields towards the Rathong Chu. Allow 1.5–2 hours at Tashiding Monastery for the chortens, mani stones and the views down to the river confluence.
Fares are indicative. Landslides, snow and check-post timings change journeys: check current status before you travel.
On the way
Stops worth the time
- Rathong Chu valley
- Tashiding bazaar
- Tashiding Monastery
Pair Yuksom and Tashiding on the same day by starting with Dubdi at 7 am and reaching Tashiding by early afternoon.
Questions travellers ask
Yuksom to Tashiding: questions
How far is Tashiding from Yuksom?
About 19 km by road, around 45 minutes to 1 hour by car. Tashiding Monastery sits on a hilltop above the village at about 1,465 m, between the Rathong Chu and Rangeet rivers. From Tashiding it is another 20 km or so to Legship and the road to Gangtok or Pelling.
Can I walk from Yuksom to Tashiding?
There are old footpaths through villages and forest between Yuksom and Tashiding, used for generations before the road. They are not waymarked and involve big drops and climbs, so walk only with a local guide. Most travellers take the road and save their legs for the climb to the monastery.
Is it worth visiting Tashiding from Yuksom?
Yes. Tashiding is among the most sacred monasteries in Sikkim, linked to Guru Padmasambhava and home to the Bumchu sacred-vase ritual. Its chortens and carved mani stones are unlike Pelling's monasteries. From Yuksom it is a short drive, and you can carry on to Legship and Gangtok the same day.
Is there a place to stay in Tashiding?
Tashiding has a few simple guesthouses and homestays, but rooms are limited and fill during Bumchu in February or March. Most travellers stay in Yuksom or Pelling and visit Tashiding as a stop. Check current status before you travel, especially on festival dates.
Get my price
Tell us your dates and your budget
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
- No payment to start
- Permits handled through registered partners
- Every hotel, car and fee listed