The Valley of Flowers – Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim, India

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Sikkim abounds in natural beauty with picturesque mountains, scenic lakes and a beautiful green environment still untouched in many regions of the state. Although Sikkim has a lot to offer tourists, it must be noted that many parts of Sikkim are not open to foreign tourists while there are other places for which people need a permit to enter. Most tourists traveling to Sikkim generally visit Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and some of the surrounding areas, but there are other places that one can explore besides the capital.

North Sikkim is rich in environmental greenery and offers some enchanting scenery and gorgeous landscapes that still remains elusive to man. It is by far one of the most enthralling of the four regions in Sikkim. 140 km north of the capital city Gangtok, lies this beautiful valley with its base exploration starting at Lachung. At an altitude of 11,800 ft, the Yumthang Valley is situated in close proximity to Tibet. It is rightly called the ‘valley of flowers’, as during spring the area comes up in full bloom with rhododendrons and primulas marking the valley with vibrant colors.

The Yumthang Valley is also home to a number of hot springs that are considered to have therapeutic powers. These hot springs provide hot water even at freezing points and many people visit these Sulphur baths to cure their ailments. Also one can view the spectacular peaks such as the Shundu Tsenpa and Pauhunri in the distance. Although the valley is open to tourists, trekking is not allowed. Travelers visiting the Yumthang Valley have to stay at Lachung, which is an hour’s drive from it, as Yumthang does not offer any tourist accommodation facilities.

Getting to Yumthang is not difficult, as travelers can get here from Gangtok by car arranged through trip organizers. These are mainly group excursions as the valley lies in close proximity to China and therefore has many restricted areas. Until a few years ago the Yumthang Valley was closed to both national as well as international tourists. The best time to visit is from September to December, when the skies are clear, but if you wish to see the valley in full bloom February to May would be more favorable times.