Yumthang, the valley of flowers, is situated at an altitude of 11,800 ft. Lying close to the Tibetan border, it is around 140 km north of
Gangtok in
North Sikkim District. The valley is totally covered with snow during winter. There are several hot springs in the valley. It is surrounded by snow-clad vertical mountains. The entire valley is covered with rhododendron shrubs and trees. River Lachung Chu flows through the valley. Trek to
Yumthang begins from
Lachung. The
Lachung Monastery lies in the eastern part of the valley. Seven Sisters Waterfall,
Yumthang Hot Springs,
Bhim Nala Waterfalls, Singhik,
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary and
Phodong Monastery are nearby interesting locations.
The best time to visit this valley is from February to mid-June, when thousands of colorful flowers are in full bloom. September-December season is ideal for a brilliant view of snow-capped mountains. Accommodation is available at Lachung.
The nearest airport is at Bagdogra in West Bengal. The nearest railway stations are at New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri. It is connected by road to Lachung.
