Borong is a farming village at about 1,770 m on the slope below Maenam hill, roughly 17 km and an hour beyond Ravangla past Ralang Monastery. People come for quiet homestays, wide views of Kangchenjunga and the Borong Tsachu, a hot spring on the Rangeet that is used mainly from December to February.
Best months
Oct–Dec and Mar–Apr; Dec–Feb for the hot spring
Nights we suggest
2
From Gangtok
≈ 82 km · 3.5–4 h
Altitude
≈ 1,770 m (hot spring far lower, by the Rangeet)
Known for
Borong Tsachu hot spring, homestays, Kangchenjunga views
Permit
Not needed for Indians; foreigners need the Sikkim RAP
About Borong
What to know before you go
Borong sits at the end of the narrow road that leaves Ravangla, passes Ralang Monastery and then contours across the slope above the Rangeet river. Farmhouses are scattered down the hill among terraces of maize, vegetables and, in the damp gullies, large cardamom under alder trees. Across the valley rise the hills of Gyalshing district (West Sikkim), and on clear mornings Kangchenjunga, Pandim and Narsing stand above them to the north-west. There is no real market, no big hotel and very little traffic after dark.
Two things bring visitors. The first is the Borong Tsachu, a hot spring beside the Rangeet a steep walk below the village. Tsachu simply means hot water in Sikkimese and Tibetan. In winter local families camp beside it for days at a time, as they have for generations. The second is the village itself: a handful of households host guests in spare rooms and cottages, and a night or two here shows you the farming year of South Sikkim at an unhurried pace.
Borong suits travellers who want quiet more than amenities. It pairs naturally with Ravangla, 17 km up the road, and with Ralang Monastery, 5 km back towards town. Walkers can come the long way, over the Maenam ridge from Ravangla with a local guide. Plan at least two nights so you have one full day without a drive, and carry cash: there is no ATM in the village. Mornings are for walking and views; afternoons are for tea in the courtyard and early nights.
Highlights
What to see and do
Borong Tsachu hot spring
Warm sulphur water collected in simple pools beside the Rangeet, reached by a road drive and a steep footpath of about 45 minutes down. It is a local institution used mainly from December to February, when families camp beside it. In the monsoon the river floods the pools.
Kangchenjunga from the village
On clear mornings from October to February, the Kangchenjunga range, with Pandim and Narsing, rises above the West Sikkim hills directly across the Rangeet valley. Homestay courtyards make the best seats; step out with tea just after sunrise.
A night in a farm home
A few households host guests in spare rooms or small cottages beside the family house. You eat what the family eats, rice, dal, seasonal greens and home pickles, and can walk the fields with your hosts. Expect about ₹1,200–2,000 per person a night with meals.
Ralang Monastery on the way
The Kagyu monastery of Ralang, founded in 1768 and rebuilt with a large new institute in 1995, lies 5 km back towards Ravangla. Stop on the drive in or out, and check whether a cham dance falls during your stay.
Over the Maenam ridge
Fit walkers can reach Borong on foot from Ravangla over the Maenam ridge, through oak and rhododendron forest in the sanctuary. It is a long, guided day with a steep descent; most people do it from October to December or in April.
The story of Borong
Winter at the tsachu: a hot spring as a village institution
Sikkim has several hot springs, all called tsachu, and most of them are not spas but seasonal gathering places. Borong's, which Sikkim Tourism lists among the state's hot springs, sits on the bank of the Rangeet below the village. As told locally, families from across South and West Sikkim come down in the dry months, roughly December to February, when the river is low and the pools beside it are usable. Some stay a week or more in simple huts, cooking their own food and bathing several times a day in the belief that the sulphur water eases skin complaints, aching joints and the tiredness of the farming year. Villagers walk down to sell vegetables, eggs and firewood. When the monsoon swells the Rangeet in June, the river floods the pools and the spring is left to itself until the next winter. We repeat the healing claims as local belief, not medical advice. What is certain is the rhythm: a farming village that turns, for three months each year, into host to a small riverside winter camp.
Source: Sikkim Tourism hot springs listing (sikkimtourism.gov.in); as told locally in Borong
Little known
Things most visitors never hear
Ralang, 5 km back towards Ravangla, has its own hot spring, the Ralang Tsachu, also on the Rangeet and also used mainly in winter, so some families visit both in one season.
Source: Sikkim Tourism hot springs listing
Borong lies below the Maenam ridge, protected since 1987 as Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary; with a guide, walkers can cross from Ravangla over the ridge and descend to the village in a long day.
Source: Wikipedia: Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
Large cardamom, Sikkim's main cash crop, grows in the shaded gullies around Borong. Sikkim is India's largest producer of large cardamom, harvested from about August to November.
A few shared jeeps run between Ravangla and Borong each day, mostly early morning and mid-afternoon, for about ₹80–150 a seat. Your homestay host will know the current times. From Gangtok, take a shared jeep to Ravangla (about 3 hours, ₹250–400) and change. Fares are indicative; check current status before you travel.
Private car
A reserved small car from Ravangla costs about ₹1,500–2,000 one way for the 17 km, roughly an hour, via Ralang. From Gangtok, a car straight to Borong costs about ₹4,500–5,500. The last stretch is narrow and broken in places, so allow extra time after rain.
From Bagdogra / NJP
Allow 5–5.5 hours for about 140 km via NH10, Melli, Namchi and Ravangla, at around ₹6,500–8,000 for a reserved car. When NH10 is closed by monsoon slides, drivers use the road through Darjeeling district and Jorethang. Most guests break the journey with a night in Namchi or Ravangla.
Permits in South Sikkim
Indian nationals need no permit anywhere in Namchi district. Foreign nationals need the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online through the e-FRRO portal after arriving in India since 12 January 2026, with approval usually in 24–48 hours; no extra protected-area permit is needed for South Sikkim as we understand it. Sikkim collects a ₹50 per tourist entry fee at hotels, valid 30 days, with under-fives exempt. Forest department rules and fees may apply in Maenam and Kitam sanctuaries. Check current status before you travel.
Stay in Borong itself if you want the village and the hot spring: a handful of family homestays across upper Borong offer simple, clean rooms with home-cooked meals for about ₹1,200–2,000 per person a night. We book these as a cluster and match guests to hosts we know. If you prefer a hotel, base yourself in Ravangla, an hour away, at Mt. Narsing Village Resort or The Barfung Retreat, and visit Borong and the spring as a long day trip.
Yes, if you want a quiet farm village rather than a resort town. Borong offers simple homestays, wide Kangchenjunga views on clear mornings and, in winter, the Borong Tsachu hot spring by the Rangeet. It is not a sightseeing hub: there is little to tick off. Two nights, combined with Ravangla and Ralang, is the right pace.
How far is Borong from Ravangla?
About 17 km, roughly an hour by car, via Ralang Monastery. A reserved small car costs about ₹1,500–2,000 one way, and a few shared jeeps run each day for around ₹80–150 a seat. The last section of road is narrow, so allow extra time after rain.
When is the best time to visit the Borong hot spring?
December to February. The Rangeet is low and clear, the riverside pools are usable and local families camp beside the spring. From June to September the river floods the pools, and in October it is often still high. Conditions vary each year, so check current status before you travel.
Where can we stay in Borong?
In family homestays scattered across upper Borong, at about ₹1,200–2,000 per person a night with meals. Rooms are simple and clean, usually with attached bathrooms and hot water by geyser or bucket. There is no large hotel. If you want hotel comfort, stay in Ravangla and visit Borong as a day trip.
How do we get to Borong from Gangtok?
Drive about 82 km via Singtam and Ravangla, roughly 3.5–4 hours, for around ₹4,500–5,500 in a reserved small car. On a budget, take a shared jeep to Ravangla, about ₹250–400 a seat, then a local jeep or taxi to Borong. Fares are indicative; check current status before you travel.
What is the weather like in Borong?
At about 1,770 m Borong is mild. Expect roughly 15–24 °C by day in spring and autumn, and cold winter nights of about 3–6 °C with clear sunny days. Snow is rare. The monsoon, from June to September, brings heavy rain, leeches and occasional road slips.
Do we need a permit for Borong?
Indian nationals do not need a permit for Borong or anywhere in Namchi district. Foreign nationals need the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online through the e-FRRO portal since January 2026, but no extra protected-area permit. Hosts collect Sikkim's ₹50 entry fee. Check current status before you travel.
Is there mobile network and an ATM in Borong?
Mobile signal is patchy and depends on your network and where your homestay stands; data may be slow or absent. There is no ATM in the village and few places take cards. Withdraw enough cash in Ravangla or Namchi for your homestay, transport and small purchases.
Can we walk to Borong from Ravangla?
Yes, two ways. The easy option is to walk down the road via Ralang, about 17 km, with a car meeting you partway. The hard option crosses the Maenam ridge through the wildlife sanctuary, a long day with a steep descent that needs a local guide and an early start.
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