Adventure · Pakyong
The ridge road from Pakyong down to Rorathang
Drive the road from Pakyong down through farm villages to Rorathang in the Rangpo Chu valley, the link between Gangtok, Rangpo, Aritar and Rongli. A short, scenic stretch that most travellers pass without noticing.
South-east of Pakyong the road drops off the ridge in long loops towards Rorathang, a small bazaar in the valley of the Rangpo Chu. From there roads run on to Rongli and the Silk Route, to Aritar and Rhenock, and down the valley to Rangpo on the West Bengal border. It is the crossroads of lower East Sikkim, and Pakyong sits at the top of it.
The drive is short, but it shows the shape of the land well. You leave the airport ridge, pass terraces of maize and vegetables and patches of forest, and see the valley open below with Rongli's hills beyond. In clear winter weather the high ridges towards Zuluk and the Bhutan border can be seen to the east. Ask your driver to stop at a safe pull-in for a few minutes rather than shooting through a car window.
This road is also a useful alternative. When traffic jams at Ranipool or works on the Gangtok road slow things down, drivers between Rangpo and Gangtok sometimes come up through Rorathang and Pakyong instead. Expect narrow sections and occasional landslide repairs after the monsoon. Daylight driving is best. Check current status before you travel.
Cost: Part of your car hire
Questions people ask
Good to know
How do we get from Pakyong to Rongli?
From Pakyong the road drops to Rorathang in the Rangpo Chu valley and continues to Rongli, roughly 22–25 km and about an hour in all. Shared jeeps from Gangtok to Rongli pass through Pakyong, so you can join one there if seats are free.
Where is Rorathang?
Rorathang is a small bazaar in the Rangpo Chu valley below Pakyong, where roads meet from Gangtok, Rangpo, Rongli and Rhenock. It is a common tea stop for Silk Route cars and a turning point for routes to Aritar.
Is the Pakyong road a good alternative to NH10?
For parts of the journey, yes. Drivers between Rangpo and Gangtok sometimes use the Rorathang–Pakyong road when the main road is jammed or under repair. It does not replace NH10 between Siliguri and Rangpo. Check current status before you travel.
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