North Sikkim: No fresh tourist permits for time being

With monsoon season in, North Sikkim is facing its share of problems mainly with flash floods and landslides. As per recent reports, thousands of tourists were stranded (now rescued and evacuated) in North Sikkim.

The worst-affected stretch was Chungthang in Mangan district. It is one of the major tourist destinations in North Sikkim. Now, with extensive road damage due to the weather conditions, it has become quite an unsafe place to be in. Keeping the weather condition and safety of all in mind, the district authorities have said that no fresh tourist permits will be issued for the region for the time being and till further notice.

The landslide in the area had caused severe damage to the main road which, in turn, led to thousands of tourists being stranded. If reports are to go by, the total number of stranded tourists were 2,464.



Chungthang town is a scenic destination located in the confluence of Lachen and Lachung rivers. For those who are in love with Mount Kanchendzonga and adventure activities like trekking and hiking, places like Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung are very important. For these reasons, it’s normal to see a high foot traffic, especially post winter.


The region is also an important destination for those on spiritual holidays. Chungthang is believed to be a holy place blessed by the patron saint of Sikkim Guru Padmasambhava. Chungthang is also the gateway to popular destinations like Yumthang Valley and Lachung.