Budget homestay · Dzongu
Mayal Lyang Homestay
A Lepcha family homestay at Passingdang in Upper Dzongu, run by Gyatso Lepcha and his family, one of the first in Dzongu. Wooden rooms, farm food from the family's own fields, and walks, birding and river camping with village guides.
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Lepcha family homestay at Passingdang in Upper Dzongu, run by Gyatso Lepcha and his family, one of the first in Dzongu. Wooden rooms, farm food from the family's own fields, and walks, birding and river camping with village guides.
Mayal Lyang means hidden land in Lepcha, the name of the sacred homeland from which, in Lepcha belief, the people come and to which they return. The homestay sits on the slope at Passingdang above the Rongyong river, about 30 minutes from Mangan bazaar in good conditions. It is run by Gyatso Lepcha, one of the young Dzongu Lepchas who took part in the 2007–08 protests against hydropower projects in the reserve, and who then helped start homestay tourism as a local livelihood.
The house is built in the traditional way with wooden floors, and toilets sit outside the main house, as Lepcha custom keeps them apart from the home. Meals are cooked on a wood stove from Dzongu produce. Check current status before you travel.
Why we book it
What it does well
- One of Dzongu's founding homestays, run by a Lepcha family
- Farm-to-plate meals cooked on the wood stove
- Village walks, birding and river camping with local guides
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Mayal Lyang Homestay
Do I need a permit to stay at Mayal Lyang in Dzongu?
Yes. Dzongu is a reserved Lepcha area, and outsiders need a permit to enter. Indian travellers usually get it at Mangan with ID and photos, often with help from the homestay host. Foreign nationals face tighter rules: ask us before you plan. Rules change, so check current status before you travel.
Does Mayal Lyang have attached bathrooms?
No. The house follows Lepcha tradition, in which toilets are not part of the home, so bathrooms sit a short walk away. They are kept clean, and hot water is provided. If an attached bathroom matters to you, tell us, and we will suggest another Dzongu homestay or a night in Mangan instead.
How many nights should we spend at Mayal Lyang?
Two nights is the minimum we suggest, three if you want to walk. One full day lets you hike to neighbouring villages, visit a cardamom field and sit by the Rongyong. A second day allows a river camp or a longer walk towards Lingthem or Lingzya. Dzongu is about slowing down, not ticking sights.
Packages
Trips that use this stay
Budget
Top1,500M
Dzongu Lepcha village escape
Dzongu
Value
Top5,183M
Dzongu homestay and North Sikkim
Gangtok · Dzongu · Lachen · Lachung · Gangtok
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Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
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An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartGet my price
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