Lachung
Gompha
or
Lachung
Monastery
is
the
center
of
all
religious
and
cultural
activity
in
the
village.
Built
in
1880,
the
Monastery
has
two
huge
prayer
wheels
and
original
murals
in
bright
colors
on
one
of
the
walls.
You
can
also
enjoy
a
splendid
view
of
the
mountains
and
Lachung
Gompha
from
Katao
road,
just
across
the
Yumthang
River.
Mt.
Katao
just
30
km.
away
is
a
popular
destination
but
only
open
for
Indian
tourists.
In
close
proximity
is
the
popular
Shingba
Rhododendron
Sanctuary,
where
you
can
take
a
pleasant
hike.
Other
activities
Apart
from
the
Monastery,
you
can
visit
the
local
handicraft
center,
where
the
local
girls
weave
beautiful
carpets.
Try
your
hand
at
fishing
and
just
enjoy
the
idyllic
beauty
of
the
place.
During
the
month
of
January,
the
monks
from
the
monastery
display
‘Chaam’
or
a
masked
traditional
dance
with
religious
significance,
marking
the
end
of
the
eleventh
Tibetan
month.
Lachung
or
‘small
mountain’
is
a
rural
town
located
at
an
altitude
of
9,600
ft
in
the
Northern
district
of
Sikkim.
The
scenic
village
is
situated
at
the
confluence
of
the
Rivers
Lachen
and
Lachung,
main
tributaries
of
the
River
Teesta.
Just
125
km
away
from
Gangtok,
there
is
a
permanent
army
base
in
Lachung
and
before
1950,
it
was
a
prominent
trading
center
between
Sikkim
and
Tibet.
The
small
town
has
been
able
to
preserve
its
natural
beauty,
traditions
and
culture
while
keeping
pace
with
modernization.The
splendor
of
Lachung
captivated
British
explorer,
John
D.
Hooker
and
he
described
it
as
the
‘most
picterisque
village
of
Sikkim’
that
rightly
summed
up
the
natural
beauty,
virgin
green
forests,
winter
snow
and
awe
inspiring
mountains.
Beautiful
fast
flowing
waterfalls,
snow
capped
mountains
and
the
serene
peaceful
ambience
in
the
hamlets,
makes
it
a
perfect
holiday
destination.
