Opening of Nathula Pass

rangers

Good news for adventure again at Sikkim.
The ancient SILK ROUTE reopened on 6th July after 44 years of closure by Indian and Chinese Governments.
Among the expectations of billateral trade the scope for traveler like us to explore MORE in the Himalyan Strip.
Sherthan 7 Kms from Nathula is renovated to a modern small town which is poised as a new destination.Its heard that this small hill top on 14.500 ft high has internet cafes and clean good staying places.( atleast to keep our bikes fit in those hills,they have good garages too).
Who knows the road link to Lhasa is INVITING.
So here we are..can make our dream come true to be at Mount Kailash and lake Manosorovar some day..coz is not a cut off place any more.

THE NEWS:
Nathula Pass means Pass of listening ears in tibetian.
The newly developed trade marts where traders from both the countries will meet is SHERTHANG in Indian side and RENGINGGAN in Tibet side.
4 days a week from Monday to Thursday security staffs from botrh the sides will ferry eachothers traders..looks like a change of work for military personnel.
No of traders allowed : 100 from each side max.
No of trucks allowed: 60 trucks from each side.
Timeing:7.30 AM to 3.30 PM

I am sue few IMER will be there soon so as I.
happy dreaming
sanjay

jens

I don't think the pass is open to tourists now, only limited border trade.

rangers

Yes u r right.
But it will take few time for tourist.Days are not far off..

sirensongs

Indian or SAARC tourists maybe...but I'm sure they'll make it either off limits or horribly expensive (read: off limits) for "foreigners."

Anyway, Tibet is not cut off, and hasn't been for ages! You can go by bus from Kathmandu;
through Pithoragarh if you're Indian (last time I checked) for the Kailash yatra;
or through China (the cheapest way and the one that affords the longest visa).

I'm here in KTM investigating independent ways to do the Kailash Yatra. Evidently you can arrange the group visa here, then split off once over the border. For $500 US you can rent a Land Cruiser for the Kailash Yatra. Since 4 people fit in the LC it's easily shared. I will let you know as I find out more details....

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