Skipping Rumtek for North Sikkim

newtraveller · Feb 23rd, 2007, 18:52

Hello everyone,

I saw a very informative post by Jyotirmaya which mentioned in detail his North Sikkim trip (5D/4N). We had plans for a 4D/3N trip but I feel like changing my mind after I read his post

I would need to skip my first day trip of Gangtok sight seeing and Rumtek if I want to spend another day in North Sikkim.
Will I miss something if I skip Rumtek ? Or can it be done on the way to Ravangla ? The other option is to reduce a day in Pelling, but I do not want to do that.

1) What is the ideal duration for a north sikkim trip if I want to visit Lachung,Yumthang,Zero Point, Lachen,Thangu,Chopta,Gurudongm ar...(Did I miss anything

?) The plan is to go there in April. Is it 4D/3N or 5D/4N ?
2) If I reach Gangtok at night, will it be possible to arrange a next day trip to Changu/Nathu-la ?
I read in another post about Changu being closed on some days of the week. That sounds hard to believe. Is it true ?

Tks !!!

Zeppy · Feb 24th, 2007, 05:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtraveller

Will I miss something if I skip Rumtek ?

Rumtek was the most breathtaking thing I saw in Sikkim, because I arrived when they were holding a religious ceremony. It was amazing. It's a huge monastery, and all the monks were there; they prayed, struck gongs and sounded their Tibetan ceremonial horns. Normally they have ceremonies only at 6am and 6pm (not times of day when most visitors go there), but on that day they had one at 3pm because of a Buddhist holiday.

dzibead · Feb 24th, 2007, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeppy

Rumtek was the most breathtaking thing I saw in Sikkim, because I arrived when they were holding a religious ceremony. It was amazing. It's a huge monastery, and all the monks were there; they prayed, struck gongs and sounded their Tibetan ceremonial horns. Normally they have ceremonies only at 6am and 6pm (not times of day when most visitors go there), but on that day they had one at 3pm because of a Buddhist holiday.

But if they aren't doing a big ceremony, it's just another monastery. My vote would be for going to North Sikkim.

greenman · Feb 25th, 2007, 21:30

Theres a monastery almost as large a Rumtek quite close to Ravangla(think its called Ralang) that holds very large pray meetings in the morning plus it doesnt have anything like the same level of security or tourism around it.

I'd say your better off leaving as much time as possible for North Sikkim incase of road/permit/weather holdups.

Smita_1977 · Feb 25th, 2007, 23:21

Hi there,

I have just returned from sikkim.

I did the north sikkim trip in 3D/2N, covering lachen, chopta valley, thangu, gurudongmar lake, lachung , yumthang , yumsadoeng and zero point. You cant get the permit for Nathula if you are reaching gangtok at night. But you can always contact a tour operator he will arrange the permit for you. Also Rumtem monestary can be covered while doing the local siteseeing.
Please let me know incase you need the phone no. of our guide out there as we got a good deal 1) We did nathula pass, babamandir and tsongo lake in Rs. 325 per person 2) We did local siteseeing covering 10-12 points in Rs 250 per person 3) The entire north tour in Rs11,500 exclusive vehile.

newtraveller · Feb 26th, 2007, 17:27

Wow !! That's really useful info. I'll PM you and get the info needed. Hope you had a nice trip.
I have heard that prices do go up in April since it is the peak season.

Smita_1977 · Feb 27th, 2007, 09:05

I enjoyed during the entire stay in North Sikkim and Gangtok.
The prices go up in April since it is the peak season when the flowers bloom out there.

moondrita2004 · May 2nd, 2007, 18:28

Can you please remember the name of the tour operator who arranged the north sikkim tour.

Regards
MAdhu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smita_1977

Hi there,

I have just returned from sikkim.

I did the north sikkim trip in 3D/2N, covering lachen, chopta valley, thangu, gurudongmar lake, lachung , yumthang , yumsadoeng and zero point. You cant get the permit for Nathula if you are reaching gangtok at night. But you can always contact a tour operator he will arrange the permit for you. Also Rumtem monestary can be covered while doing the local siteseeing.
Please let me know incase you need the phone no. of our guide out there as we got a good deal 1) We did nathula pass, babamandir and tsongo lake in Rs. 325 per person 2) We did local siteseeing covering 10-12 points in Rs 250 per person 3) The entire north tour in Rs11,500 exclusive vehile.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 18:52	#1
newtraveller Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4	Skipping Rumtek for North Sikkim Hello everyone, I saw a very informative post by Jyotirmaya which mentioned in detail his North Sikkim trip (5D/4N). We had plans for a 4D/3N trip but I feel like changing my mind after I read his post I would need to skip my first day trip of Gangtok sight seeing and Rumtek if I want to spend another day in North Sikkim. Will I miss something if I skip Rumtek ? Or can it be done on the way to Ravangla ? The other option is to reduce a day in Pelling, but I do not want to do that. 1) What is the ideal duration for a north sikkim trip if I want to visit Lachung,Yumthang,Zero Point, Lachen,Thangu,Chopta,Gurudongm ar...(Did I miss anything ?) The plan is to go there in April. Is it 4D/3N or 5D/4N ? 2) If I reach Gangtok at night, will it be possible to arrange a next day trip to Changu/Nathu-la ? I read in another post about Changu being closed on some days of the week. That sounds hard to believe. Is it true ? Tks !!!

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Feb 25th, 2007, 21:30	#4
greenman Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: England Posts: 31	Theres a monastery almost as large a Rumtek quite close to Ravangla(think its called Ralang) that holds very large pray meetings in the morning plus it doesnt have anything like the same level of security or tourism around it. I'd say your better off leaving as much time as possible for North Sikkim incase of road/permit/weather holdups.

Feb 25th, 2007, 23:21	#5
Smita_1977 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: india Posts: 7	Hi there, I have just returned from sikkim. I did the north sikkim trip in 3D/2N, covering lachen, chopta valley, thangu, gurudongmar lake, lachung , yumthang , yumsadoeng and zero point. You cant get the permit for Nathula if you are reaching gangtok at night. But you can always contact a tour operator he will arrange the permit for you. Also Rumtem monestary can be covered while doing the local siteseeing. Please let me know incase you need the phone no. of our guide out there as we got a good deal 1) We did nathula pass, babamandir and tsongo lake in Rs. 325 per person 2) We did local siteseeing covering 10-12 points in Rs 250 per person 3) The entire north tour in Rs11,500 exclusive vehile.

Feb 26th, 2007, 17:27	#6
newtraveller Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4	Wow !! That's really useful info. I'll PM you and get the info needed. Hope you had a nice trip. I have heard that prices do go up in April since it is the peak season.

Feb 27th, 2007, 09:05	#7
Smita_1977 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: india Posts: 7	I enjoyed during the entire stay in North Sikkim and Gangtok. The prices go up in April since it is the peak season when the flowers bloom out there.

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