Adventure · Zuluk, Sikkim
The loops from Thambi viewpoint
Drive up from Zuluk in the dark to Thambi viewpoint, about 3,400 m, and watch daylight reveal the road below folding back on itself in dozens of hairpin bends. On clear days, Kangchenjunga stands to the west.
Photo: Jakub Michankow · CC BY 2.0 · CommonsThe road above Zuluk was built through steep terrain, and to gain height it zigzags in a long series of hairpins. From Thambi viewpoint, the bends are laid out below like a coiled rope. It is one of the most photographed road views in the eastern Himalaya.
Leave Zuluk around 4.30–5 am in October to December to reach Thambi or Lungthung for sunrise. The air is very cold before dawn, and frost or snow can make the road slippery. Your driver will know the best spots and how far to go depending on the day.
Stay well back from the road edge, and do not stop on blind bends. Drones and photography of army areas may be restricted; follow local instructions. After sunrise, continue to Nathang valley or return to Zuluk for breakfast.
Good for
Also in Zuluk
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Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Nathang valley on the high road
Continue beyond Thambi to the Nathang valley, a broad, high basin at about 4,000 m with a small village, grazing yaks, …
Photo: Jakub Michankow · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
A night in a Zuluk homestay
Spend a night with a family in Zuluk, eat home-cooked dal, rice and greens by a warm stove and wake before dawn for sun…
Questions
Before you book
What time should I leave Zuluk for sunrise at Thambi viewpoint?
Around 4.30–5 am from October to December, a little earlier in spring. Ask your homestay host or driver the evening before.
How many bends are on the Zuluk road?
The road above Zuluk has dozens of hairpin bends; counts vary by where you start and stop. The best view of them is from Thambi viewpoint.
Is the Zuluk road safe?
It is narrow and steep, with frost or snow in winter, but local drivers know it well. Travel only with a registered vehicle and avoid driving after dark.