Lachung is a town and hill station in northeast Sikkim, India. It is located in the North Sikkim district near the border with Tibet. Lachung is at an elevation of about 9,600 feet (2,900 m) and at the confluence of the Lachen and Lachung Rivers, both tributaries of the River Teesta. The word Lachung means "small pass". The town is approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) from the capital Gangtok.
The Indian Army has a forward base in the town. Before the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, Lachung was a trading post between Sikkim and Tibet, after which it was closed down. The town's economy has been boosted by tourism in recent years as the region has been opened up by the Indian government. Tourists come from all over the world to visit the town between October and May, mostly on their way to the Yumthang Valley and the Lachung Monastery. Most of Lachung's inhabitants are of Lepcha and Tibetan descent. Languages spoken here are Nepali, Lepcha and Bhutia. During winter the town is usually covered in snow. Lachung is also the base camp for Rhododendron Valley Trek which starts from Yumthang Valley and ends at Lachen Valley.
Lachung has been described as the "most picturesque village of Sikkim" by British explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker in his definitive, The Himalayan Journal (1855). Skiing is conducted in Phuni near this town.
Most hotels are vegetarian here but those belonging to the locals of Lachung, giving you a more authentic experience offer non-vegetarian options as well which are usually prepared completely separately keeping religious sentiments in mind. Check out the restaurants at Fortuna for strictly vegetarian and Etho Metho by RIghtClique and Yarlam for a more relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Great food at all these places.
While there are many options to stay in Lachung, it would be wise to ensure your hotel has clean, comfortable linen, heater and hygienically prepared food. There are lodges, homestays, homestays that call themselves hotels, travel agent run hotels that are usually forced upon travellers and then you have the better accommodation offering a much better experience than the others such as Yarlam and Etho Metho by RightClique. The previous, set the initial bar of hospitality in 2011 while the second is the new kid on the block.
Due to Lachung proximity to Nepal and the military presence, entry to North Sikkim is only possible on a guided tour, and a travel permit must be organised in Gangtok 1-2 days prior to travel.
Although the distance from Gangtok to Lachung is only 120 km, travel takes 5-6 hours on account of the mountainous terrain. Nevertheless, the journey into the valley is stunning. All travel is by 4-wheel-drive as the roads are subject to frequent landslides.
You can easily explore the town by foot.
Lachung is the most popular tourist destination of North Sikkim and serves as a base for visits of Yumthang, Katao and Yumasamdong areas. Lachung is situated at an altitude of 8610 ft, at 27.54° latitude and 88.64° longitude. It has been described as the "most picturesque village of Sikkim" by Joseph Salton Hooker in his Himalayan Journal (1855). The weather is rather cold with temperatures between 12-20° C in summer and below freezing point in winter.
