Lachung valley

Lachung is a small town and exquisite villages in the valleys of North Sikkim at an altitude of 9600 ft is frequented by travellers intending to visit the Yumthang, Katao, Yumasamdong area of North Sikkim. Lachung with resplendent snow-capped mountains, dazzling waterfalls and sparkling streams has been described as the "most picturesque village of Sikkim" by British explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker in his definitive, The Himalayan Journal (1855). This valley gets a completely different look in winter when wrapped by thick layer of snow and in summer when bloomed with several species of flowers. Lachung has a small market and due to heavy tourist influx several small and medium hotels have come up.

Lachung is also famous for Rhododendron Valley Trek which starts from Yumthang Valley and ends at Lachen Valley. Tourists come from all over the world to visit the town mostly on their way to the Yumthang Valley, Yumesamdong /Zero Point and the Lachung Monastery. Most of Lachung's inhabitants are of Bhutia and Tibetan descent. Languages spoken here are Nepali, Lepcha and Bhutia. Before the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1950, Lachung was a trading post between Sikkim and Tibet, after which it was closed down.

Distance:
Gangtok to Lachung valley : 125 kms.
Lachung to Yumthang valley : 24 kms.
Yumthang valley to Yumasamdong: 28 kms.

Accomodation:
Due to heavy tourist influx several small and medium hotels have come up in lachung valley.

Permit and Entry Rules

Indian : Indian tourists visiting Yumthang Valley require special permit to visit Yumthang valley. This special permit are provided by Travel Agents in Sikkim, Goverment Authority to visit Yumthang valley. To create permit the visiter has to provide below documents:
Passport Size Photo : Two Passport Size photo for each members above 5 years.
ID with Address Proof : An ID with valid ID proof xerox copy is require to create permit. for each members above 5 years. (for eg. Aadhar card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License with Address part)

Foreigner : Indian tourists visiting Yumthang Valley require special permit to visit Yumthang valley. This special permit are provided by Travel Agents in Sikkim, Goverment Authority to visit Yumthang valley. To create permit the visiter has to provide below documents:
Passport Size Photo : Four Passport Size photo for each members above 5 years.
Passport : Two Xerox copy of Passport is required.
Visa : Two Xerox copy of Visa is required.
Inner Line Permit (ILP) : Two Xero x copy of ILP is required also required. This ILP is created in sikkim border either in Rangpho or Melli before entering sikkim.

Yumasemdong / Zero Point : Both Indian and Foreigner are allowed to visit Yumasamdong / Zero Point with the same permit created for Yumthang. Any visiter travelling to Yumasamdong / Zero point have to pay Extra Rs 2,500 to Rs. 3,500 to driver or to travel agents for high altitude driving depending on vehicle type and time to visit.
Katau : Both Indian and Foreigner are allowed to visit Yumasamdong / Zero Point with the same permit created for Yumthang. Any visiter travelling to Yumasamdong / Zero point have to pay Extra Rs 2,500 to Rs. 3,500 to driver or to travel agents for high altitude driving depending on vehicle type and time to visit.

Best time to Visit Lachung valley
Best time to visit sikkim is during the months of March, April, May, June, October, Nov. Most of the roads remains closed during the month of July, August due to heavy rainfall and landslides. Also some of the tourists don't prefer to visit Sikkim in the months of December, January and Febrary due to cold climates.