Food · Sombaria
Breakfast and supplies in Sombaria bazaar
Stop in Sombaria bazaar for momos, puri-sabzi or a thali, sweet milky tea and the last supplies before Okhrey and Hilley. A practical hour that saves you trouble later, and a look at a western Sikkim market town at work.
Photo: Kanad Sanyal · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sombaria is the place to eat and shop before the road gets quiet. Small eateries along the main street serve momos, chowmein, puri with potato curry and rice-dal thalis, with tea, for about ₹100–250. In the morning the bazaar is busy with jeeps loading and unloading, school children, farmers bringing vegetables, and drivers from Okhrey and Hilley waiting for passengers.
Use the stop well. Draw cash: Wikipedia lists a State Bank of Sikkim branch here, and Okhrey and Hilley have no machines you should rely on. Buy biscuits, dry fruit and chocolate for the Barsey walk, spare batteries or a power bank, and a rain cover or poncho if you lack one. Pharmacies stock basic medicines, but bring any prescription medicine from home.
If you have time, walk to the end of the bazaar for the view west towards the Singalila ridge, which is clearest in the early morning from October to April. Ask before photographing shopkeepers, and keep small notes, as UPI depends on the mobile signal. This is not a sight in itself, but a good stop makes the next two days easier.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Is there an ATM in Sombaria?
Wikipedia lists a State Bank of Sikkim branch at Sombaria, and the bazaar is the last place on this road where you can reasonably expect banking. Machines can run out of cash on holidays, so carry a reserve from Jorethang or Siliguri as well. Okhrey and Hilley have no ATMs we would rely on.
What should I buy in Sombaria before going to Okhrey and Barsey?
Cash for homestays and cars, trail snacks, water, a rain cover or poncho, spare batteries or a power bank, and any basic medicines you might need. Okhrey has small shops, Hilley very few, and prices rise with every kilometre up the road.
What food is available in Sombaria?
Simple and cheap: momos, chowmein, puri with potato curry, rice-dal thalis and tea, for about ₹100–250 a meal. Vegetarian options are easy. Eat early, as some places close by mid-afternoon once the jeep traffic slows.
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