North sikkim & snow fall

Hi, My name is Ratna and I am new to this forum.
Thanks for all of you giving your valuable inputs by spending your valuable time. This is helping me a lot.
I am planning to sikkim tour (ofcourse date not yet finalised). We are of 5 adults and 2 kids(both of 4 years age). I would like to see all the gangtok and north sikkim Lachen – Gurudongmar - Lachung - Yumthung Valley – Zero Point - etc without anything missing. Preferably I also like to be at snow fall directly (not only the snow which was already there).

1)So can anyone please suggest me the best month to visit these all without skipping anything.
2)Where can I get the snowfall in that month?
3)Suggest some care taking tips for the kids. Kindly dont suggest to skip the kids (skipping of particular place is not an issue) or skip of Gurudongmar.

Kindly give your valuable suggestions and inputs.

Friendly
Ratna

1) If you are looking to visit sikkim this year, october-november is a great time to be. Clear skies, less rain but you would get to see snow only in mid - late november.

2) I'm not sure about snowfall. But you can get to touch and play with snow in places like Katao and Zero point near lachung - Yumthang

3) Please go through the different threads about AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) in this forum. That should give you a fair idea about precautions to take.

Hi Ratna,

I have been to Sikkim last December end and had been to Yumthang Valley and Zero Point via stay at Lachung, but at that time its very cold out there. Literally, enjoyed the journey. Above all, u can visit Katao Snow Point, about 30 km from Lachung and that you have to pay extra money to the driver but it will not be part of the package. That place is really out of world, can expect snow any time of the year. As you are taking children, have to take all precauations reg clothing(winter clothes, woolen socks, jackets, hand gloves, full cap). You should be lucky at that time as some days road gets blocked due to snowfall, as during that time we cannot visit Nathula Pass/Baba Mandir/Changu Lake which are also places not to miss. U can also go to South Sikkim(Timi Tea Gardens, Namchi and Chaar Dham yet to completed).

Hi Gautam,

What abt nov? Is it possible to encounter more snow as well as possible to go to places (read no major roadblocks, etc)- any idea?

Hi Sharan,

So far, I have heard fm many that October to November is best time to experience the winters in and around sikkim. U will surely experience snow in and around North Sikkim(Katao Snow Point, Yumthang valley, etc.)

I was in sikkim during Dec 2008.
I visited Chomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathu La, Tukala and Baba bunker on 18 Dec 2008. Sky was clear and sun was very bright like summer and no trace of snow.
We could see and touch little snow near tukala.

But some of my friends visited sikkim one week afterward and what they experienced was totally opposite. The could only reach Chomgo lake and could not see baba mandir, nathu-la forget about tukala or baba bunker.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sushil.n...31713954923810

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SpXBynMisiE/Sg...2/000_0352.JPG

please let me know whether it is advisable to go for North Sikkim trip in last week of December

As I have written in the previous post, I visited places till china border and no snow was there. But it is highly unlikely to happen every year.
By the middle of Dec snowfall starts and if you have small kids in family then take care of them. Hoping that you are from plains so will like to see snow, it will be good fun.

You can also go to pelling that I missed but is very beautiful. Better than gantok.

For a quick but complete tour you need:
1. One and half Day of sightseeing for Gantok and around.
2. One full day to changu lake, nathu la, baba temple, baba bunker.
3. One or Two day for pelling and around.
Travel time extra.

Till gantok you can go at any time of year. Dec or Jan as you wish.

For exact details of snowfall you can contact some hotels to check before leaving.

Hi Sushil,

Thanks for the speedy feedback.

I am planning to reach Gangtok on December 26, 2009 and planning to take the return train fron NJP/Siliguri on January 1, 2010. It will be a 5 member team (with 2 elderly people and one 5 year kid)

Based on the valuable information provided by all of you, I have prepared the basic iteniary:

Saturday, December 26, 2009 Gangtok
Sunday, December 27, 2009 Gangtok - Changu - Baba Mandir - Nathula - Gangtok
Monday, December 28, 2009 Gangtok-Lachen
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 Lachen-Gurudongmar-Lachen-Lachung
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 Lachung-Yumthungvaleey-Lachung- Gangtok

I required guidance/advice from you on the following:

a) Considering the team composition, whether the aforesaid schedule is managable or it will be too hectic
b) Since, I will have a spare day (December 31, 2009) can I cover Pelling and straightway come down to NJP by making some chnge in my iteniary?

Regards,

Santanu

You have to add half day of travel from one city to another between visits.

I have seen pelling in photos on picasaweb, it looks good.

You have missed the monasteries around gantok, Rumtek monastery will take half day. In gantok kids will like a ride on Ropeway over the city ( about 2 hrs ), A waterfall and parks around it to visited during sunlight (we got late reaching there). All these things will take one full day by taxi.

Charges of taxi from Siliguri to Gantok about Rs 2200.
Full day travel about 500-600
Nathu-La cost will be about Rs 2000

Hotels you can bargain from 500 to 1000.

Nathu-La (you will require Passport size photos of all and Identify card of all members (photocopy only will be submitted with form that will be helped by taxi person, you will do this at least one day before going to Nathu-La subject to climate)

Near nathu-la, air is very thin and breathing is difficult. In taxi u will not feel anything but when you walk you will feel weak and little headache. Do Baba Ramdev Pranayam for breathing exercise in taxi before walking and walk less.

Apart from Mountain, River(Teesta on way) you should see the monasteries also.

Dear IM friends,

Have anyone been to Phalung any time? I have seen in the web that Marco polo world travels used to make a one night stay (in tent)and 3hr yak safari trip to Phalung from the Chopta valley of North sikkim. Its really amazing to hear that one. But unfortunately when I contacted them they told me that they had stopped that package. Do anybody have any idea about any other travel agent doing similar trips....

http://www.worldmarcopolo.com/phalung_tour.html

considering the fact that North Sikkim may be inaccessible in last week of December, i would like to keep a back-up plan for covering Gangtok and west sikkim.

I will reach Gangtok on 26th December (Saturday)and like to catch return train from NJP on January 1, 2010 (Friday). Can anybody help me to prepare the itiniary?

Thanks in anticipation.

Regards,

Santanu

Dear Santanu

Now its over 3 years. I happened to visit the thread.

How was your visit to Sikkim.

regards

Sushil

I have just come from Sikkim . The snow is pretty heavy still and we were not able to reach katau/baba mandir /nathula etc.
Regarding gurudongmar I was with my kids aged 4 and 8. Just befor the lake my little one stated feeling uneasy and I turned back considering that going back from the lake to the army checkpost for medical attentio. Will take time.
So please weigh the pros and cons before taking either children below 5 or elderly along with you...

Hi

You are right.

I felt the same few years back, mentioned above in the thread.
I was not able to walk and had little headache when tried.

But after deep breathing it was ok, then I was even able to run for short spans.


regards

Sushil