Nature · Lachung, Sikkim
Where the Teesta begins at Chungthang
On the drive to Lachung, stop at Chungthang, where the Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu meet to form the Teesta, the river that runs through the length of Sikkim. The town marks the split between the Lachung and Lachen roads.
Photo: The original uploader was Jaiprakashsingh at E… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsChungthang is a small town at about 1,800 m where the road from Gangtok divides: the left fork follows the Lachen Chu to Lachen, the right follows the Lachung Chu to Lachung. Below the town the two rivers join to form the Teesta, which flows south past Mangan, Singtam and Rangpo into West Bengal and eventually Bangladesh.
Local tradition links Chungthang with Guru Rinpoche, and a rock and shrine near the town are associated with him. The town is also a supply and army post for the north, with tea stalls and small shops where tours stop for a break.
In October 2023, a glacial lake outburst from South Lhonak lake sent a flood down the Teesta that destroyed the Teesta Stage III dam at Chungthang and damaged roads and bridges along the valley. Reconstruction has continued since, and the route can be slow or closed; check current status before you travel.
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Do this on a trip
Each of these trips stops in Lachung. Tell us and we keep a slot for this day.
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Comfort
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Private SUV with driver
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Saver
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Seats on shared permit-tour vehicles
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Signature
Sikkim signature: Gangtok and the north
Private SUV with driver and local guide
Questions
Before you book
Where do the Lachen and Lachung rivers meet?
At Chungthang, about 95 km north of Gangtok, where the Lachen Chu and the Lachung Chu join to form the Teesta.
Is the road through Chungthang open?
It has been repaired in stages since the 2023 floods, but closures for landslides and works are common, especially in the monsoon. Check current status before you travel.
Can I stay in Chungthang?
There are a few basic lodges, but most North Sikkim tours do not stop overnight here. Lachung or Lachen are better places to sleep.