Viewpoints · Padamchen
A morning hop up to Zuluk and Thambi
From a Padamchen base, drive up early past Zuluk to Thambi View Point for the famous loops of the Silk Route road, then come back down or carry on. It turns Padamchen into a practical base for the whole lower circuit.
Padamchen works well as a base because the main sight of the lower Silk Route is close. Zuluk is less than an hour up the road, and Thambi View Point, at about 3,400 m, is a short drive beyond it. From Thambi you look down on the road folding back on itself in tier after tier of hairpins, the view that made this route famous. Leave Padamchen by about 7 am to arrive before cloud comes up from the valleys.
Many travellers make this the first leg of the second day: Padamchen to Thambi for the loops, on to Lungthung if time and weather allow, then back to Zuluk or Gnathang for the night. Others with only one night use it as a there-and-back trip before returning to Rongli and Gangtok. Either way, take it slowly, because you are gaining about 1,400 m in a morning.
Dress for wind and cold at Thambi in every month. Carry water and snacks, as stalls open only in the main seasons. The stop is covered by your Silk Route permit and your car hire; there is no entry fee. From December to March snow can close the upper road, and in the monsoon landslides may. Check current status before you travel.
Cost: Included in your Silk Route car
Questions people ask
Good to know
How far is Thambi View Point from Padamchen?
Thambi View Point is roughly 20–25 km above Padamchen, past Zuluk, usually about 1–1.5 hours by car depending on the road. It sits at about 3,400 m, so you climb around 1,400 m. Leave early, by about 7 am, to see the loops before cloud rises.
Can we see the Zuluk loops on a day trip from Padamchen?
Yes. Many travellers sleep at Padamchen, drive up to Thambi View Point early in the morning and come back the same day, or continue to Zuluk for a second night. The trip is covered by the Silk Route permit and your car hire, with no separate entry fee.
Is the road above Padamchen open in winter?
Often, but not always. Snow from December to March can close the road above Zuluk for days, and chains may be needed. Landslides are the main risk from June to September. Ask your homestay the evening before and check current status before you travel.
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