Aritar is a farming village at about 1,400 m in East Sikkim, near Rhenock. Its draw is Lampokhari, a long, narrow lake ringed by forest, with Mankhim, a Rai community shrine and viewpoint, on the ridge above. Homestays cost about ₹1,500–2,200 per person with meals, and it pairs well with Rongli and the Silk Route.
The local story
The long pond below the Rai shrine
Aritar lies in the hills between Rhenock and Rongli, close to the old Kalimpong–Lhasa trade road that ran from Pedong into Sikkim and on towards Jelep La. In the British period this was a route of traders, mule trains and officials, and a dak bungalow was built at Aritar for travellers on the road. The village itself is a mixed community of Nepali-speaking families, among them Rai, Chettri and Bahun households, with Lepcha and Bhutia neighbours, farming cardamom, maize, vegetables and oranges on the slopes around the lake.
The lake is called Lampokhari, from the Nepali for a long pond, and the name fits: it is a narrow, boot-shaped sheet of water lying in a fold of forest. It has long been treated with respect by the people who live around it, and the state government later developed it for visitors with a path, boats and a small fee. On the ridge above stands Mankhim, a shrine of the Rai community, whose word for a community place of worship gives the hill its name. From there, on clear mornings, the Kanchenjunga range rises far to the west above the folded hills of Sikkim.
Lampokhari, Aritar's lake, takes its name from Nepali words meaning a long pond, after its narrow, boot-like shape set in a fold of forest at about 1,400 m.
Mankhim, on the ridge above Aritar, is a shrine of the Rai community; mankhim is the Rai term for a community place of worship.
Aritar sits close to the Raj-era Kalimpong–Lhasa trade road, which entered Sikkim near Rhenock and ran on through Rongli and Zuluk to Jelep La.
About Aritar
Aritar is the gentle end of East Sikkim. There are no permits to arrange and no passes to cross; you come for a lake, a hilltop, a monastery and a couple of quiet nights in a village homestay. Lampokhari lies in a hollow of forest, with a walking path around it and paddle boats in season. Above it, a steep road or a stiffer walk leads to Mankhim, where the view stretches across the hills towards the Kanchenjunga range on a clear day. It is low enough, at about 1,400 m, to be comfortable in winter.
Aritar also fits neatly into a Silk Route trip. Rongli, where the permit is issued, is about an hour away, so many travellers sleep a night in Aritar on the way up or down, rather than rushing the whole circuit from Gangtok. Homestays cost roughly ₹1,500–2,200 per person with dinner and breakfast. From Siliguri, Aritar can be reached either via Rangpo or, when NH10 along the Teesta is closed, via Kalimpong and Rhenock. Check current status before you travel.
What to see and do
Lampokhari lake
A long, narrow lake in a forested hollow at about 1,400 m, with a footpath around the edge and paddle boats in season. Early morning, before groups arrive, is the best time, when mist lifts off the water and the reflections are clear.
Mankhim viewpoint
On the ridge above the lake, Mankhim is a shrine of the Rai community and the best viewpoint around Aritar. On clear mornings from October to March the Kanchenjunga range rises far to the west. Go early and treat the shrine with respect.
Aritar Gumpa
A Buddhist monastery stands in the village, a quiet place of prayer flags and butter lamps. Visit in the morning or late afternoon, walk clockwise, ask before photographing inside, and leave a small offering if you wish.
Village homestays
Aritar's homestays sit among farms of cardamom, maize, vegetables and oranges. You eat what the family eats, sleep in clean, simple rooms and wake to roosters rather than traffic. Two nights let you settle in properly.
A stop on the Silk Route
Rongli, where Indian travellers get the Silk Route permit, is about an hour away. Aritar makes a good first or last night of a Silk Route trip, breaking the long drive between Gangtok or Siliguri and Zuluk.
Winter at a comfortable height
At about 1,400 m, Aritar stays mild in December and January, with cool clear days and cold nights but no snow. Mountain views are often at their clearest then, which makes it a good winter break when the high passes are hard.
How to get there
Shared jeep via Rhenock
Shared jeeps run from Gangtok to Rhenock, about ₹200–300 a seat and 3 hours. From Rhenock a local taxi to Aritar costs a few hundred rupees. From Kalimpong, shared jeeps run to Rhenock via Pedong. Ask locally for current departure times.
Reserved car from Gangtok
A reserved car from Gangtok takes about 3 hours over 70–75 km via Ranipool, Pakyong and Rorathang, at roughly ₹3,500–4,500 one way. Many travellers combine it with Rongli and the Silk Route in a single car hire.
From Siliguri or NJP
Reserved cars from Siliguri or NJP take about 4 hours, either via Rangpo and Rorathang or via Kalimpong, Pedong and Rhenock. The second route is common when NH10 along the Teesta is closed, as it often has been since October 2023. Check current status before you travel.
Where to stay
Aritar has family homestays spread around the village and along the roads above Lampokhari, typically ₹1,500–2,200 per person with dinner and breakfast. Rooms are simple, clean and often in newer concrete houses with attached bathrooms and geysers. Food is home cooking: rice, dal, local greens, squash, chicken and pickles, with seasonal oranges in winter. There are also government-run tourist facilities near the lake, which change hands and condition, so ask about them when booking. If Aritar is full, Rhenock town below has simple lodges, and Rongli is an hour away for an early start on the Silk Route.
Local tips
Walk to Lampokhari before 8 am, when the water is still and the path is empty.
Go up to Mankhim on the first clear morning you get, rather than saving it for the last day.
Combine Aritar with Rongli and the Silk Route in one car hire to save on transfers.
Carry some cash, as UPI works only when the network does and small shops may not accept cards.
Remove shoes where asked at the Mankhim shrine and the monastery, and ask before photographing people at prayer.
Aritar is a village at about 1,400 m in East Sikkim near Rhenock, roughly 70–75 km from Gangtok. It is known for Lampokhari lake, the Mankhim viewpoint and village homestays, and is about an hour from Rongli, the start of the Silk Route.
How do I reach Aritar from Siliguri or NJP?
A reserved car takes about 4 hours, via Rangpo and Rorathang or via Kalimpong, Pedong and Rhenock. The second route is often used when NH10 along the Teesta is closed. By shared jeep, go to Rhenock and take a local taxi. Check current status before you travel.
Is Aritar worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quiet village, a lake walk and mountain views without permits or high altitude. It is not a place of many sights. Two nights with Lampokhari, Mankhim and a village walk is about right, or one night as part of a Silk Route trip.
What is the best time to visit Aritar?
October to December gives clear skies and the best mountain views, and February to April brings flowers and pleasant days. At about 1,400 m Aritar is mild in winter. June to September is the monsoon, with rain, leeches and landslide risk on the roads.
How much does a homestay in Aritar cost?
Expect about ₹1,500–2,200 per person a night with dinner and breakfast. Weekends and holiday periods are busier and slightly pricier. Agents may add a margin, so ask what is included, especially for hot water, heaters and pickups.
Can you see Kanchenjunga from Aritar?
Yes, from Mankhim, on the ridge above the lake, on clear mornings. The range is far to the west, so the view is distant but wide. October to March gives the best odds. From the lake itself the forest blocks most of the view.
Is Aritar good for a family trip?
Yes. The height of about 1,400 m is comfortable, the lake path is flat and easy, boating suits children, and homestays are friendly. Keep an eye on children near the water and on the steeper path up to Mankhim.
Does Aritar get snow?
No, snow is very rare at Aritar's height of about 1,400 m. Winters are cool and clear, with cold nights around December and January. If you want snow, combine Aritar with Zuluk or Gnathang on the Silk Route, where it falls most winters.
Can we combine Aritar with Zuluk?
Yes, and it is a good pairing. Aritar is about an hour from Rongli, where Indian travellers get the Silk Route permit, and Zuluk is about 32 km above Rongli. A typical plan is one night in Aritar, one or two in Zuluk or Padamchen, then back.
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