Adventure · Uttarey
Half-day walk up towards the Singalila Ridge
Climb from Uttarey through oak and rhododendron forest on the trail towards Chewabhanjang, to about 2,300 m for wide views over the valley, with a local guide, and return the same day without crossing the border.
Photo: Kayal Vizhi · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Singalila Ridge runs north–south along the Sikkim–Nepal border, and Uttarey sits on its lower northern slopes. The trail towards Chewabhanjang, a pass about 10 km above the village, climbs steadily through mixed forest that becomes dense rhododendron as you gain height.
With a local guide, a half-day walk takes you to around 2,300 m, to clearings with views back over Uttarey and across to Dentam and the ridges towards Pelling. In March and April the rhododendrons here are thick with red and pink blossom; from October to December the air is clear and you may see the Kangchenjunga range to the north.
The route depends on weather and season, and cloud can close in quickly. Carry water, snacks, a warm layer and a rain jacket. This is a forest walk, not a border crossing: turn back well before the pass unless you have the right permissions. Check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
How far is Chewabhanjang from Uttarey?
The district administration gives about 10 km. It is a steady climb through forest on a trail, best done as a full day with a local guide. Most of our guests walk part of the way, to about 2,300 m, and return. Rules near the border change, so check current status before you travel.
Can I cross into Nepal at Chewabhanjang?
Not as a foreign traveller: it is not an official crossing for foreigners. Indian and Nepali nationals have traditionally used local paths here, but rules and security checks change, and we do not plan crossings. Treat the trail as a forest walk and turn back before the border.
Will I see rhododendrons on the Uttarey ridge walk?
Yes, in season. The forest above Uttarey has many rhododendron trees, which usually flower from late March to early May, peaking in April at around 2,300–2,800 m. Timing varies with the year's weather. Ask us or your host close to your dates.
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