Adventure · Nathu La
A full day to Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La
The classic East Sikkim day: up past Tsomgo Lake to Nathu La at 4,310 m, back via the new Baba Mandir and a lakeside lunch. It is long, high and cold, and needs a permit arranged a day ahead. Split a reserved car between four or five to keep it cheap.
Book the day through a registered Gangtok operator at least a day ahead, handing over photo ID copies and passport photos for each person. Indian citizens only: if anyone in your group is a foreign national, plan Tsomgo instead. The car leaves Gangtok around 7 am, passes the Kyongnosla checkpost and climbs through the rhododendron forest to Tsomgo Lake. Most drivers go straight on to Nathu La first, to reach the pass before the afternoon weather.
Above Tsomgo the trees end and the road climbs through bare high country to the parking area below the pass. Spend 20–30 minutes at the viewing area, then descend to the new Baba Mandir for half an hour. Come back down to Tsomgo for a late lunch of thukpa or noodles at the stalls and a short walk along the shore, and reach Gangtok by about 4–5 pm.
Dress in layers, with a down jacket, gloves and a hat from October to May, and hire boots on the way in snowy months. Drink water through the day, eat light and avoid alcohol the night before. Do not do this trip on your first day in the hills. If snow closes the road beyond Tsomgo, operators usually offer Tsomgo and Baba Mandir only; ask how the price changes before you pay. Check current status before you travel.
Cost: ₹5,500–7,500 a reserved car
Questions people ask
Good to know
How much does a Nathu La trip cost from Gangtok?
A reserved car covering Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La costs about ₹5,500–7,500 in 2025–26, including permits arranged by the operator. Shared seats, when offered, cost about ₹1,500–2,500. Boot hire, food and the Tsomgo ropeway are extra. Prices rise in October and May.
What documents do we need for the Nathu La permit?
Indian citizens usually need a copy of a photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, voter ID or passport, plus two passport photos per person, given to a registered operator a day ahead. Carry the originals on the day. Children's ID rules vary, so ask the operator. Check current status before you travel.
What if Nathu La is closed on our day?
If snow, weather or army orders close Nathu La, operators usually run Tsomgo and Baba Mandir instead, with a lower price. Agree the refund or price difference before you book. Keep a spare day in Gangtok so you can try again on the next open day.
Also in Nathu La
More things to do
Viewpoints · 20–30 minutes at the topAt the fence on the India–China borderNathu La · Included in your car and permit
Culture and history · 30–45 minutesThe shrine of Baba Harbhajan SinghNathu La · Free · offerings optional
Culture and history · Woven through the day tripThe trade road and the 1967 clashesNathu La · Free