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Thangu

30kms beyond Lachen lies Thangu at an altitude of 13000ft. Months of May and June see this valley carpeted with alpine flowers which are replaced by snow from October up to March. The small picturesque hamlet with a scanty population Thangu has recently developed few accommodations with basic facilities. Tree lines disappear at Thangu and start a zone that can be compared only with the unreachable terrain on the Tibetan plateau.

Situated on the high alpine plateau, Thangu can be an ideal place for real nature lovers as it provides a base for fabulous trek routes to Chopta valley and Muguthang, a land of the nomadic people. One needs to be well acclimatized before planning a stay here.

Thangu has a large military base as the place is close to the Chinese border. On your way to Gurudongmar lake, this is the last civilian settlement. If you are not an Indian, your tour of the area will be limited to a visit to Chopta valley which is just a couple of Kilometers ahead from here.

Getting there

Thangu is about 27 kilometres from Lachen. It takes more than an hour to cover this short distance due to the high inclination of the road and regular landslides making maintenance a problem. From Gangtok, Lachen is about a 6 to 7 hours drive. Most tourists stay overnight at Lachen and visit Thangu on their way to the more famous Gurudongmar Lake visit.

Accommodation

There are a couple of basic accommodations available at Thangu. However, staying here requires special permission from the army which is not easy to come by. Besides, the high altitude will take its toll on you unless you are well prepared. For general tourists staying overnight at Thangu is not a good option.

Thangu Map

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