Northern Sikkim

The territory of Dzongu in North Sikkim was set up in 1975 to house the original inhabitants of Sikkim, the Lepcha community. It borders the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve offering panoramic views of Mount Khangchendzonga.

It is a land where pristine glacial streams thread their way through thick virgin forest. Countless waterfalls cascade down the steep cliff-sides and hot-springs bubble inside the hidden caves. The area is very remote, and is surrounded by sharply tilted verdant mountains that are stacked on top of each other at a forbidden angle. The elevation ranges from 500m to 6000m, and these extremes have nurtured an amazing diversity of plants and wildlife.

Because of the altitudinal variation of Dzongu, visitors can view warm sub tropical forests, temperate deciduous forests, and alpine zones in the higher ridges.

Activities for the visitors include invigorating walks, crossing cane and bamboo bridges, bird watching and visiting thundering water falls and dense pristine forests. The mystic Tholung Gumpa located at the extreme end of Dzongu is worth a visit where every three years an important religious festival is held.

Dzongu is about 70 km north of Gangtok, three hours drive by jeep. It can also be approached directly from Siliguri via Singtam through the Dikchu road travelling 125 km north, which takes about five hours.