Lungchok – A paradise for bird watchers and adventure enthusiasts

Our next offbeat destination after Rolep was Lungchok, a little-known village in Sikkim, not far from Rolep and situated at an altitude of about 7000 feet. Hearing that this village has a wonderful view of Kanchenjunga, our interest increased. Our car was already ready, so after breakfast at the Rolep tribal homestay, we said goodbye to everyone and left for our new destination. Instead of going to Rongli, we took a short path through the jungle and reached Lungchok in about 40 minutes, and on the way, we saw many unknown mountain waterfalls and small villages in the distance. 

The road condition of the entry into Lungchok was very rocky and somewhat broken. So, we felt the rocking of the ship in the car which was painful. In fact, this type of road condition is seen in many parts of the hills after monsoon.

It is a small, quiet, charming Himalayan village surrounded by green forests of pine and fir. It is a bird-watcher’s paradise. Magnificent views of Kanchenjunga, a serene environment, and various types of colorful blooming flowers, these are the characteristics of Lungchok. Of course, this valley is a popular trekking destination for adventure-loving travelers.

Where is Lungchok Located?

Altitude & Location: At around 7,000 ft above the sea level. This offbeat is located in the East District of Sikkim state, India and belongs to the Rongli Subdivision.

Essential Information of Lungchok

Nearest Airport:
International: Bagdogra Airport (IXB), WB
Domestic:  Pakyong Airport (PKY), Sikkim

Nearest Main Railway Station: NJP
Nearest Bus Terminal: Rongli

Distance of Lungchok (Approx. Measurement)

Remember: Nearest ATMs are available in Rongli.

Local Medical Facilities

The nearest health centers are in Rhenock & is Rongli.  The nearest hospital is located at Rhenock bazar. Before travel, please carry some common medicines for common high-altitude issues & others. Also, a retired doctor is the owner of one of the homestays in Lungchok.

How to Reach

You can reach here directly from the airport, NJP, or by reserved car from Siliguri. Sikkim Government operated bus services and shared jeeps are available from SNT Bus Terminal in Siliguri to Rongli via Rhenock. Before travelling, please check bus timings and fares on Sikkim State Transport website (https://sntonline.sikkim.gov.in). Our experience with Sikkim State Transport while returning from Gangtok to Siliguri was very good. Travelers can also reach Lungchok from Rongli or Rangpo by a shared or reserved car. But we took a shortcut through the forest from Rolep to Lungchok which took about an hour in a reserved vehicle. All our transport arrangements (Rangpo→Rolep→Lungchok→Gangtok) were arranged by the owner of Rolep Tribal Homestay, which was really hassle free.

Local People & their language

Sherpa (Sharpa) and Chhetri communities live here. But Sherpa people are seen more in number.
The Sherpa community is an ethnic group of the Eastern Himalayas that migrated from eastern Tibet and now mainly lives in Sikkim, Nepal, Darjeeling, and Bhutan. The Sherpa community is one of the indigenous communities found in Sikkim, and they practice Buddhism traditionally.

In Tibetan language, SHAR means East and PA means People. Hence the word Sharpa or Sherpa, meaning People from the East.

The language of the Sherpas, known as Sherpa or Sherpali, is a dialect of Tibet, but has influences from other surrounding languages. It belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch. Sherpa has no written system, but many Sherpas can speak Tibetan, Nepali, Hindi or English.
The Government of Sikkim recognized Sherpa as one of the official languages of Sikkim in the year 1997.
The name Chettri is derived from the word Warrior. They basically migrated from Nepal. The Chettri people practice Hinduism. They usually speak Nepali and read and write in Devanagari.

Livelihood

Apart from tourism, the main occupations of Sherpas are agriculture, grazing, and small business. Almost everyone grows a variety of vegetables in their home garden, including turnip-sized radishes, potatoes, and carrots. Many people run homestays these days. Since Sherpas are known to be good climbers, many also work as guides and trekkers. Educated Sherpas are working in various government institutions. There are also doctors, college professors, and schoolteachers.
Cultivation, agricultural laborers, and government and private sector employees are the main occupations of the Chettri community.

Local Delicacy

Sherpas are generally non-violent people who do not kill animals. But they are allowed to eat meat and fish. They also eat rice, potatoes, and other vegetables. Through the fermentation process, they are capable of preserving a lot of non-seasonal vegetables, and this is quite a traditional thing. The Gyalbo Homestay served us some local organic food that was both delicious and healthy and that we had never eaten before. Those delicious foods were prepared from backyard garden. Below are some special sherpa & Chettri foods.

• Traditional Local Thali with Bee Vegetable Fry: This is a lime-sized vegetable native to the Eastern Himalayan region. It’s locally known as ‘Bee’. It is fried with little cooking oil which is delicious to eat. This thali consists of rice, lentils, egg curry or desi chicken, a variety of local pickles (pickles) such as pea-radish pickles (Motor Muli Achar), soy chunk fries, and stir-fried greens (e.g., Simrayo Saag, Lai Patta or Mustard Greens) with papad. Salads can also be made with local lemons, cucumbers, and carrots.
  Papad is an Indian thin, crisp bread or wafer made from lentil flour and typically flavored with pepper and other spices. It is served fried or roasted.

• The Chhetri community is very fond of Dal-Bhaat (lentil soup and boiled rice) with Tarkari (a vegetable curry) or Masu (meat) called as masu accompanied by various types of chutneys. Another specialty of theirs is Selroti.

• Shyaphale:This is another favourite food of Sherpas and is very popular as a snack. It’s bread or dough stuffed with minced meat, cabbage, and spices.
• Khapse or Khabjee: is a fried snack normally eaten in the evenings and mornings with cups of warm tea. for Tibetan New Year
• Kur (Tibetean Bread): It is widely made in Sherpa households. These flatbreads are made by cooking the thick dough of flour with baking powder in a frying pan. Sherpas eat Kur with chili sauce, or butter, or potato soup.
• Tsampa: It is a staple cuisine that Sherpas have been having since their days in Tibet five hundred years ago. It is locally roasted barley flour and can be prepared easily. The most common way to eat this traditional dish is to mix it with butter tea and yak cheese to make a thick batter.
• Chang (Chhaang): It is an alcoholic beverage that is made of millet or Barley or rice. This is consumed at most social and festive occasions, and this is favorite beverage among this sherpa community. It has considerable symbolic and ritual significance in Sherpa community.

• Tibetan Tea (Su Chya): It is a tea made with salt and butter that Sherpas consume daily.
• Tibetan dishes Momo and Thukpa are the favorites of Sherpas. Nowadays these two dishes are very much popular & part of world gastronomy.

Where to Stay

In here, homestay is only for staying & food. Homestays are available for accommodation and food; those are run by locals. The homestay owner can arrange transportation if it is required. Also, they can arrange nearest short treks and sightseeing as well.
If you are interested, they can arrange barbeque or any special food dishes obviously you have to pay more. but for this you can easily get the latest information from various online booking sites.
Below are the contact details for some homestays for the latest tariffs and other valid information.

My experience at Gyalbo Homestay

Θ Gyalbo Homestay
Lungchok Village
Owner: Mr. Nima Sherpa
Phone: +91-9734921312(Whatsapp)
+91-8101438569
Amenities: Barbecue, Bonfire, and Car Parking

We stayed at this homestay and the owner of the homestay belongs to the Sherpa community. The ambience of this newly built homestay was excellent, and the rooms were clean and well maintained. As per my experience, the best part of the property was the lawn area, where travelers can enjoy outdoor activities like bonfires and barbecues. Mr. Nima Sherpa and his wife took care of their guests. The organic food served was so delicious and healthy because most of the green vegetables came from their own backyard garden. We were impressed by their hospitality.

Θ Lungchok Top Nature View Homestay
Contact: Mr. Nim Dawa Sherpa
Phone(s): +91 8016294972, +91-97333-25972(Whatsapp)
Website: https://www.attichomestay.com
This is first homestay in here and located at the top of this village.

Θ Attic Homestay
This homestay owned by a retired Doctor
Phone(s): +91-9933519377,7318717882
Website: https://www.attichomestay.com

What to do 

• Village Walk: This is best option to feel the surrounding beauties and know the local. Walk through the village to see colorful, blooming Himalayan flowers and experience the serenity of nature. Enjoy the stunning view of Kanchenjunga Mountain. Talk to the villagers to learn about their culture, rituals, and some unknown local stories. Immerse yourself in the solitude of nature. A Flower Exhibition Center is being built by the government’s tourism department, but it is not yet operational. From here you can see the Pakyong Airport.

• Watching Birds: Different species of birds can be seen here. This offbeat village is home to numerous Himalayan birds. So, you can see various types of birds with binoculars and the naked eye, as well as hear various types of bird sounds. If you are interested, you can capture some great photos of rare birds.

• Lungchok Viewpoint: This is the most popular landmark in Lungchok. From this viewpoint, travelers can enjoy a long-range view. Many popular tourist destinations like Kalimpong, Pedong, Aritar, Mankhim, Dzuluk, Nathang valley etc. can be seen. From here, you can see many crooked spiral roads that connect various small and big mountain villages, but also from here, you can see the game of clouds, which you will never forget.
• Sunrise & Sunset Point: This village has a flat area from where you can witness the mesmerizing sunrise and sunset. There is a temple of Kali Mata (Hindu Goddess Mother Kali), which is known as a place of deep respect and faith among the local people and there are many myths about this temple.

• 360 Degree Viewpoint: This is the highest point of the village, from where you can see 360-degree views of the surroundings.

• Sightseeing: Lungchok is located near the Old Silk Route in Sikkim. So, from here, you can easily reach the popular points of the old silk route like Pedong, Aritar, Nathang Valley, and other popular tourist attractions in East Sikkim like Rolep, Mulkarkha Pokhri, etc. For details, you can review my previous posts on the Old Silk Route of Sikkim. Since Lungchok is located close to Rolep, click on the below link to get more information about Rolep’s popular points.

Rolep – A Hidden Gem of East Sikkim

Trekking & Hiking

The valley is also a well-known trekking site for adventure enthusiasts. There are some amazing trekking routes located near the Lungchok Valley which heading to Lokdara and Chujachen which are located near this valley.
For more information about trekking routes, contact homestay owners and locals, as they will help you in the best way. Some wild orchids, rare species of butterflies, red pandas, and various types of birds can be seen on these trails, which will make your experience unforgettable. I have already mentioned some popular trekking routes in my previous posts, and please review those blog posts, which are created based on the old Silk Route. Please click on below links for adventurous trekking routes.

My Historic Old Silk Route (Sikkim) Journey – Part I

My Historic Old Silk Route (Sikkim) Journey – Part II

My Historic Old Silk Route (Sikkim) Journey – Part III

Local Festivals

In Lungchok, the Sherpa and Chhetri communities celebrate the festival almost throughout the year. Losar is the main festival of the Sherpa community, whereas the Chhetri community celebrates Holi, Dashain (Durga Puja), Chaite Dashain or Chhota Dashain (Ramanavami), and Diwali (The Festival of Lights).

Losar: As per the Tibetan language, LO means YEAR and SAR means NEW, so it is a New Year’s festival. It is also known as Gyalpo Losar and is one of the most vibrant festivals in Sikkim. This harvest festival marks the celebration of farmers’ hard work. The reason behind this is that this festival is celebrated because of the land, the harvest, and the local Buddhist community. As per the Tibetan calendar, Sherpas celebrate the 15-days festival of Losar, usually in February. Singing, dancing, feasting, and archery competitions are also held. The main attraction of the Losar ritual is that the locals pray at the monasteries in Sikkim. Rumtek Monastery and Phodong Monastery have huge Losar celebrations and attract many tourists.
Apart from Sikkim, Losar is also celebrated in other Indian states like Ladakh, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.

Weather & Best time to Visit

Summer (March to May) is considered the best season to visit Lungchok as the weather is quite pleasant and the majestic Kanchenjunga is visible as there is no fog. Except during the monsoon season, you can visit this offbeat destination at any time of year. Road conditions deteriorate during the monsoons, but adventurous travelers can enjoy the unique green valley landscape of the monsoons. In the winter, there is some light snowfall.

I have only shared with you my memorable experiences with homestay owners, drivers, or tour guides while traveling, but your experience may not be the same as mine. Hence, I have no responsibility in that case. I am just sharing information only.

Lungchok is truly a quiet village in Sikkim whose natural beauty will charm any tourist. This place is not only a great view of Kanchenjunga but also has a lot of natural beauty that will amaze you. You can sit all day at the viewpoint and enjoy the play of clouds, enjoy the beauty of the valley and take a short trek along the unknown forest road. In fact, the trip to Lungchok was much more than we expected.
It goes without saying that the homestays here are really good. The Gyalbo Homestay is one of them. Their service and hospitality are unmatched. Check out some of my photos and videos on Instagram and Facebook.
Special thanks to Mr. Nima Sherpa, owner of the Gyalbo Homestay, Lungchok (A state Government Employee), for sharing his own culture, traditions, and local food culture, as well as many unknown facts about this new offbeat destination.

You can see some selected stunning photos & videos by clicking on the blog’s Instagram, Facebook and X(Twitter). Also, click the Gallery Section of this blog for only photos. I hope you will like those.

• A famous Sherpa personality: On 29 May 1953, a Sherpa named Tenzing Norgay became one of the first two people to climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, the other being Edmund Hillary of New Zealand.
• A famous Chhetri personality: Sunil Chhetri, captain of Indian football team who is very popular in India.
• Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first female Sherpa to summit the highest peak in the world, Everest.