
The Old Silk Route of East Sikkim, nestled in the scenic landscapes of the Eastern Himalayas, bears witness to the historical trade routes that once connected the Indian subcontinent with Tibet and beyond. This ancient trade corridor, also known as the Silk Road of Sikkim, holds a rich tapestry of cultural and economic exchanges that shaped the heritage of the region.
Package Include:-
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ü Luxury Rooms (Family Wise).
ü Towel, Shampoo, Soap, Bathroom Slipper, Electric Kettle, Geyser.
ü 24 Hours Power Back- Up.
ü Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea & Snacks, Dinner.
ü Good Conditioned Reserved Car, Well-behaved Driver.
ü Old Silk Route Permission, Toll Tax, Parking Charges.
ü Big LED Screen at Lobby & Dining area.
Package Exclude:-
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ü Any Entry Fees.
ü Nathula (Extra Cost).
ü Room Heater.
ü Syndicate Charge at NJP / Siliguri (Rs 200/-) if charged.
ITINERERY
DAY 1 :Â Â Â Â Â Â
§ Pick up from NJP Railway Station / Siliguri / Bagdogra Airport (Addl. Charge) to Lingtam.
Ø NJP Railway Station to Lingtam Distance =      118.4 km via NH10. Time: 4 hr 16 min.
Ø Siliguri to Lingtam Distance =                            112.4 km via NH10. Time: 4 hr 4 min.
Ø Bagdogra to Lingtam Distance =                        121.3 km via NH10. Time: 4 hr 19 min.
Enroute visit to
Sevokeshwari Kali Mandir.Â
Teesta Hydro Electric Power Project.
Coronation Bridge at Sevok.
RangpokholaÂ
Rongli Bazar.
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-: Night Stay at our hotel KeaTel Crans Retreat, Lingtam (Altitude 5082 feet above sea level):-
DAY 2 :
§ Early Breakfast at hotel & start for old silk route.
Ø Quekhola Falls: Just 2 min. From our hotel. The Quekhola Falls, also spelled as Kuekhola Falls, is a stunning waterfall located near Lingtam in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It's a popular tourist attraction known for its natural beauty and serene surroundings.
Ø Padamchen: (Altitude: 7000 feet. 12 km from Lingtam) — Scenic Himalayan village with a small monastery and a handful of hotels and home stays. Permits of the Silk Route are checked here for the second time.Â
Padamchen is a small village situated in the eastern Himalayan region of India, specifically in the state of Sikkim. It's known for its breathtaking natural beauty, lush greenery, and panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. The village is located in the eastern part of Sikkim, near the popular tourist destination of Zuluk.
Ø Zuluk: Distance from our hotel is 17.1 km (41 min.) approx. Zuluk is situated at an elevation of approximately 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) above sea level in the eastern Himalayas. It is part of the old Silk Route and is close to the border with China.
The beauty of Zuluk lies in its serene and untouched landscapes. The region is known for its winding roads, sharp bends, lush green valleys, and panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. The journey to Zuluk is as mesmerizing as the destination itself. During the month of Dec to Feb, Zuluk is very cold and often experiences heavy snowfall. Please carry heavy woolen garments during winter.
Ø Thambi View Point: 11204 feet approx (3415 m), 13 km from Zuluk — According to local sources, Thambi View Point is named after the civil engineer, who constructed the road, offers an extraordinary view of the Kanchenjunga and its sister peaks. But the view of Zuluk along with the meandering zig - zag road is definitely no less an attraction.
Thambi View Point is particularly famous for its sunrise and sunset views. Tourists often gather here early in the morning to witness the first light of the day illuminating the Himalayan peaks, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Similarly, the sunset paints the mountains with a golden hue, offering a magical experience.
Ø Lungthung View Point: 13001 feet (3963 m), 4 km from Thambi View Point — The zig - zag road continues a little beyond the Thambi View point and after which it head almost straight to Lungthung View Point Lungthung View Point. This view point located closer and higher than the Thambi View Point offers a better and closer view of the Kanchenjunga and its adjoining peaks. A huge army barrack is located next to the view point. Being a border area the entire route has a heavy military presence.
Ø Nathang Valley: Nathang Valley is located in Pakyong District, Sikkim of India at an elevation of 13500 feet. It will take 15 minutes (5.5 km of distance) from Lungthung.  It is also called Ladakh of East Sikkim. It is a picturesque destination located in East Sikkim, India. It is part of the Himalayan mountain range. The valley is known for its breathtaking landscapes, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, meadows, and a tranquil atmosphere.
Ø Laxman Chawk: Just before the Gnathang valley the road bifurcates into two parts. The place is known as Laxman Chowk, and a memorial stands in memory of Lt. Col. Laxman Singh (Commanding Officer, 5 Mahar Borders) under whose command the unit pre-emptively secured the water shed opposite Chinese in General Area Dokala in 1965. The left road is the lower road and leads to the Gnathang valley and village. The upper road is on the right and leads to the Old Baba Mandir. Both the roads rejoin again just before the Kupup Lake.
Ø Old Baba Mandir: Being a border area, the entire Silk Route has a heavy army presence. Working in these harsh conditions is never easy and no wonder they have their share of legends. Harbhajan Singh is the legend of the Silk Route with two temples dedicated to his name. According to army records On Oct 4, 1968, Harbhajan Singh, while escorting a mule caravan in the silk route region, fell into a stream and was swept away. On the fifth day one of his fellow soldier had a dream, where Harbhajan Singh informed him about his tragic death and also about the location of his body. Incidentally a rescue operation recovered his body from the very position that was mentioned in the dream. Later a samadhi was built, in his honor, at the bunker, where Harbhajan Singh had his last posting.
Ø Kupup Lake (Elephant Lake): Altitude of 13123 feet (4000 m) approx and 6.4 km from Nathang) —The lake is located near the Kupup village and is locally known as Bitan Cho. It is shaped like an elephant, complete with a tail and trunk. Hence it is also popularly known as the Elephant Lake. It is one of the most sacred lakes of Sikkim and stunningly beautiful. The nearby Kupup village contains a golf course, which is said to be the highest in the world.
-:Night Stay at Keatel Crans Retreat, Lingtam:-
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DAY 3 :
Ø Following breakfast, check out and commence your journey towards NJP/ Siliguri/Bagdogra (Additional charges apply), carrying with you sweet memories that will last forever.
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Facts to remember before travel to Old Silk Route
Best Mobile Network Facilities with 5G Available in this route available til Our Premium Hotel is Jio & Airtel.
ü Do not expect modern facilities at all properties. As most of the places are remote villages and away from modern cities and amenities. Guests can get general facilities like western commode, running water, hot meals (mostly egg curry and local vegetables), etc but no luxury meals, furniture, TV, internet connection, cable channel, etc.
ü Staying in Nathang Valley is not recommended for children and elderly people. Situated at an altitude of 13,200 ft. Guests travelling Nathang Valley can experience dizziness, vomiting, headaches due to this extreme altitude and cold. Here to mention that night in Nathang is bitter cold and temperature can drop down to sub zero temperature. In that case NatureWings suggest elderly traveler to visit Nathang in daytime only and they must return to a lower altitude after spending some time there.
If possible a portable oxygen cylinder can be carried with them for safety.
ü Guests must carry original and photocopy of ID proof like voter card, driving license, passport along with at least 2 passport size colour photograph. Birth certificate or school id must be carried for the children or minor.
ü Guests must always carry enough dry fruits, nuts, chocolate and biscuits for emergency purposes as you don't know when adverse situation like road blocks, and heavy snow falls happens.
ü Must carry meedicines for Fever, Cold, Cough, Headache, Stomach Upset, and Paracetamol, Ointment, Band-Aid, Vaseline, Boroline, Volini Sprey etc.
ü Good amount of woolen clothes, gloves, hats, wind-protective glass, must be taken as in some places sub-zero temperature may prevail.
ü Guests must carry adequate cash in small denomination. There are not ATM facilities after Rongli. So, before travelling high altitude, make sure you have enough cash with you. It is better to withdraw cash from NJP or Bagdogra as there are many ATM'S. In high altitude sometime withdrawing cash may not be possible because of link failure and non-refilling of hard cash in ATM’s.
ü Bikers travelling to Silk Route need to carry valid documents for vehicles. If failed to produce valid paper, your Silk Route Tour adventure may be in trouble, so proper document of Bike is a strict compliance.
ü During your Silk Route Tour, KeaTel Crans Retreat will not suggest you to consume liquor at high altitude.
ü Please note that if unforeseen circumstances necessitate the cancellation or postponement of an ongoing tour, none of the package amount is refundable.
ü For smoker, try to avoid public areas for smoking because it is strictly prohibited in Sikkim. If you want you can carry own liquor with you as liquor shop is very limited during Silk Route journey.
ü Sikkim is a plastics free state. So please do not throw any plastic bags, bottles. You are requested to
"PLEASE TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES AND LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOT PRINTS".
1.     Summer (April to June): Daytime temperatures can range from about 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit), or even higher at lower altitudes. Nights can still be quite chilly, especially in higher altitudes.
2.     Monsoon (July to September): During the monsoon season, temperatures can remain cool, but the region experiences moderate to heavy rainfall.
3.     Autumn (October to November): Days are generally cool, with temperatures ranging from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius (41 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit). Nights can be quite cold, especially in higher elevations.
4.     Winter (December to March): This is the coldest period, with daytime temperatures often staying below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). Night-time temperatures can drop well below freezing, especially in the higher altitudes.
These are rough estimates, and actual temperatures can vary from year to year. It's advisable to check the specific weather forecast closer to your planned visit for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
PEAK SEASON | REST OF THE SEASON |
15 OCT TO 15 NOV | 16 NOV TO 19 DEC |
20 DEC TO 5TH JAN | 6 TH JAN TO 31 JAN |
1ST OCT TO 20TH OCT | 21ST OCT TO 19TH DEC |