World's Highest ATM at Thegu (Sikkim, India)?

mridula · Jan 9th, 2007, 17:14

Just a little before Nathu-La (India-China border in Sikkim), at a small place called Thegu, I saw a sign saying "High Altitude ATM." It belongs to UTI Bank(Unit Trust of India) and my hunch is that the people from the Indian army are its only users. The sign gave the height of the spot as 13200 feet (4023 meter). It crossed my mind that it could be the highest ATM in the world. Because even though Leh (J&K, India) has a SBI ATM (State Bank of India) the altitude of Leh is less than Thegu at 11500 feet (3500 m).

Unfortunately, our jeep did not stop there, anyway the movement on that road is regulated so I did not even think of requesting the driver to make a stop so that I could take a picture of the ATM. But here is a good one that I found on the internet.

When I searched for world's highest ATM I got this article in Taipei Times (read under the heading India, the article is dated June 16, 2004)) saying the Thegu ATM in Sikkim is indeed the highest ATM in the world. Do you know of any ATMS higher than this?

Rogue Two · Jan 9th, 2007, 17:30

Could be an interesting alternative to the 'six peaks challenge' - how many high-altitude ATMs can you bag?

mridula · Jan 9th, 2007, 19:08

Rogue Two what is 'six peaks challenge?'

vistet · Jan 9th, 2007, 19:28

Hate to burst the bubble , but Nakchu/Naqu in Tibet is at around 4500 meters , and VISA´s ATM locator mentions two ATM´s there.

mridula · Jan 9th, 2007, 19:38

Vistet, thanks for the information. Indeed there are two ATMs listed at Naqu but I found them under China, the Visa ATM locator does not list Tibet as an option.

I suspected that something might be higer or the Thegu sign could have proclaimed world's highest ATM but had no clue where it would be. My hunch was there might be an ATM at Everest Base Camp

vistet · Jan 9th, 2007, 19:48

My first thought was that the railway workers would have the same needs as the Indian Army, so that´s why I looked up Nakchu ("black river" in Tibetan) . There could even be a ATM at Tangula Station , at 5072 meters , but from the pictures it looks more like a propaganda display than a working station.

mridula · Jan 9th, 2007, 19:54

Vistet, I have never been to Tibet and know very little about it. But yes, it makes sense to have an ATM for railway workers. I have to google what is the height of Everest base camp and if one day there would an ATM there

vistet · Jan 9th, 2007, 20:00

5360 meters , on the Nepali side. The base camp on the Tibetan side is lower , I think. No ATM yet , but I´ve read about one group who carried up a espresso machine.

mridula · Jan 9th, 2007, 20:07

Namche Bazar is lower than Naqu 3446 m. So, unless they come up with an ATM at the base camp itself, Naqu has to be the highest.

Thanks for the interesting conversation Vistet. Espresso machine indeed! Now who could have thought of that.

vistet · Jan 9th, 2007, 20:23

In a weird way the espresso machine makes sense , since the water is boiled & released under pressure you will have better coffee than from the potboiled coffe water at 79.4 degrees.
But the picture that comes to mind is still absurd.

Nick-H · Jan 9th, 2007, 21:09

My account is with UTI bank!

I don't know if I will ever visit that area, but it would be great to have the ATM slip as a souvenir

mridula · Jan 9th, 2007, 21:44

Vistet, I thought people would worry for other things rather than their coffee, but it takes all kind I guess.

Nick, that would be a nice souvenir to have.

vistet · Jan 9th, 2007, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by mridula

Vistet, I thought people would worry for other things rather than their coffee, but it takes all kind I guess.

Success in in important matters start with the small details : if you cant get the coffee right how will you be able to run the oxygen equipment ?

robotvoice · Jan 10th, 2007, 00:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by vistet

In a weird way the espresso machine makes sense , since the water is boiled & released under pressure you will have better coffee than from the potboiled coffe water at 79.4 degrees.
But the picture that comes to mind is still absurd.

they make 'em pretty small though...

mridula · Jan 10th, 2007, 09:56

That is an interesting image, gives me a perspective Robotvoice.

Vistet have you been to Tibet?

Jan 9th, 2007, 17:14	#1
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,283	World's Highest ATM at Thegu (Sikkim, India)? Just a little before Nathu-La (India-China border in Sikkim), at a small place called Thegu, I saw a sign saying "High Altitude ATM." It belongs to UTI Bank(Unit Trust of India) and my hunch is that the people from the Indian army are its only users. The sign gave the height of the spot as 13200 feet (4023 meter). It crossed my mind that it could be the highest ATM in the world. Because even though Leh (J&K, India) has a SBI ATM (State Bank of India) the altitude of Leh is less than Thegu at 11500 feet (3500 m). Unfortunately, our jeep did not stop there, anyway the movement on that road is regulated so I did not even think of requesting the driver to make a stop so that I could take a picture of the ATM. But here is a good one that I found on the internet. When I searched for world's highest ATM I got this article in Taipei Times (read under the heading India, the article is dated June 16, 2004)) saying the Thegu ATM in Sikkim is indeed the highest ATM in the world. Do you know of any ATMS higher than this? __________________ mridula http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

Jan 9th, 2007, 17:30	#2
Rogue Two n00b Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 77	Could be an interesting alternative to the 'six peaks challenge' - how many high-altitude ATMs can you bag? __________________ Seeking solace at the centre of attention is like seeking sustenance at the centre of a doughnut...

Jan 9th, 2007, 21:09	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,960	My account is with UTI bank! I don't know if I will ever visit that area, but it would be great to have the ATM slip as a souvenir __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Jan 9th, 2007, 19:08	#3
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,283	Rogue Two what is 'six peaks challenge?'

Jan 9th, 2007, 19:28	#4
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,736	Hate to burst the bubble , but Nakchu/Naqu in Tibet is at around 4500 meters , and VISA´s ATM locator mentions two ATM´s there.

Jan 9th, 2007, 19:38	#5
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,283	Vistet, thanks for the information. Indeed there are two ATMs listed at Naqu but I found them under China, the Visa ATM locator does not list Tibet as an option. I suspected that something might be higer or the Thegu sign could have proclaimed world's highest ATM but had no clue where it would be. My hunch was there might be an ATM at Everest Base Camp

Jan 9th, 2007, 19:48	#6
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,736	My first thought was that the railway workers would have the same needs as the Indian Army, so that´s why I looked up Nakchu ("black river" in Tibetan) . There could even be a ATM at Tangula Station , at 5072 meters , but from the pictures it looks more like a propaganda display than a working station.

Jan 9th, 2007, 19:54	#7
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,283	Vistet, I have never been to Tibet and know very little about it. But yes, it makes sense to have an ATM for railway workers. I have to google what is the height of Everest base camp and if one day there would an ATM there

Jan 9th, 2007, 20:00	#8
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,736	5360 meters , on the Nepali side. The base camp on the Tibetan side is lower , I think. No ATM yet , but I´ve read about one group who carried up a espresso machine.

Jan 9th, 2007, 20:07	#9
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,283	Namche Bazar is lower than Naqu 3446 m. So, unless they come up with an ATM at the base camp itself, Naqu has to be the highest. Thanks for the interesting conversation Vistet. Espresso machine indeed! Now who could have thought of that.

Jan 9th, 2007, 20:23	#10
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,736	In a weird way the espresso machine makes sense , since the water is boiled & released under pressure you will have better coffee than from the potboiled coffe water at 79.4 degrees. But the picture that comes to mind is still absurd.

Jan 9th, 2007, 21:44	#12
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,283	Vistet, I thought people would worry for other things rather than their coffee, but it takes all kind I guess. Nick, that would be a nice souvenir to have.

Jan 10th, 2007, 09:56	#15
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,283	That is an interesting image, gives me a perspective Robotvoice. Vistet have you been to Tibet?

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