THERE IS thrilling news for adventure tourists and
tour operators. The Indian Army has opened the holy Guru Dongmar
Lake to tourists for the first time ever.
The lifting of security restrictions
from the lake has come as a major boost for the state, which sustains
itself on tourism.
Tourists will now be allowed to visit the lake, albeit with some
restrictions. Only four agencies will be allowed to issue passes
for visiting the place. Previously, only select tourists were allowed
to visit the place, and that too at the discretion of the Army.Guru
Dongmar is an alpine lake at 18,000 ft and only a few kilometers
from the Tibet border. The lake has a very high religious significance
to the people Sikkim. Located on the Tibetan plateau, the lake is
preserved under the Sikkim Sacred Places Preservation Act.
The places is a four-hour thrilling drive from the remote Lachen
area, which itself is six hours from Gangtok. The path to Lachen
is resplendent in Primulas, Silver Fir, Rhododendrons and Red Panda,
but the landscape dramatically changes at Thangu, a small village
that houses the last Army settlement before Gurudongmar.The approach
to the lake has barren soil below, azure blue sky above and a ring
of snow peaks in the horizon. A temple at the lake site adds to
the serenity of the place. Interestingly, one portion of the lake
never freezes, event at subzero temperatures and in the height of
winter.
The Travel Agents' Association of Sikkim (TAAS) is extremely happy
with the development. They said it would greatly benefit the local people economically.
Almost coinciding with the opening of the Guru Dongmar Lake, TAAS
has set up a completely new search-and-rescue team to take care
accidents.
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