S1 E28 | Nathula Pass and Tsomgo Lake tour in Sikkim

Good morning from Sikkim! Today, we set out on a chilly adventure to Nathula Pass, one of the most famous Indo-China border points. Our day started with a quick breakfast stop—since the local momos weren’t ready yet, we grabbed some snacks and tea (INR 60).

We hit the road early, taking a taxi to Vajra Stand (INR 100). We joined a shared trip in an MUV to visit Nathula Pass. We paid INR 2,040 for Nathula Pass day trip (for us both) after negotiating – it could go down further.

We started around 8 am. And the climb up was no joke. My ears got blocked almost immediately, and the drizzle made it even colder. Luckily, we found a small shop midway to rent jackets (INR 200). Layering up with multiple shirts, pants, socks, shoes, and a topi, I finally felt ready to face the freezing winds.

Reaching Nathula Pass was breathtaking. We got to see the Indian and Chinese sides of the border, and even received certificates for visiting the pass (INR 50)—a nice little souvenir. Standing there, I couldn’t help but admire the soldiers who guard this harsh, windy terrain all year long.

Our next stop was the Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, a small but revered shrine along the way. A quick visit here was interesting and a little pause before heading back down.

On the way back, we stopped at Tsomgo Lake, about 20 minutes downhill from the area. The place was crowded with tourists, but stepping past the throngs revealed a calm, green valley and a serene lake surrounded by prayer flags. The yaks decorated for photos added a cultural touch, even if we tried to be respectful about it.

The day was long and chilly, but the landscapes made it unforgettable. We ended our evening back in Gangtok at Snow Drop (stay INR 700, dinner INR 330), enjoying some snacks and coffee to warm up. The experience of walking along one of India’s most iconic borders, visiting the shrine, and soaking in the Himalayan scenery was surreal.