Viewpoints · Chungthang
Where the Lachen and Lachung become the Teesta
At Chungthang the Lachen Chu and the Lachung Chu meet to form the Teesta, the river that runs past Mangan, Gangtok's valley and Siliguri to Bangladesh. Stop near the bridges, find the two streams and see how the 2023 flood reshaped the riverbed.
The Teesta is the river of Sikkim. It rises from glacial lakes such as Tso Lhamo on the northern plateau, and its two main upper branches come down the Lachen and Lachung valleys. At Chungthang they meet. From here the Teesta flows south past Mangan, Dikchu, Singtam and Rangpo, through the Darjeeling hills and Siliguri, and on into Bangladesh.
Before 2023 the confluence was a narrow meeting of two rushing streams. The October 2023 flood came down the Lachen Chu side and changed everything: the bed is now broad, grey and full of boulders and silt, with new channels and embankments. You can still see the two waters join, often slightly different in colour.
Ask your driver to stop near the bridge for five to ten minutes. Stand well back from the edge; banks here can be unstable. Avoid photographing army posts and the dam site's security areas. It is a short stop, but it explains the whole valley you have been driving up.
Cost: Free
Questions people ask
Good to know
Where does the Teesta River start?
The Teesta begins from glacial lakes and streams on the high plateau of North Sikkim, including Tso Lhamo, fed partly by streams from near Gurudongmar. Its two upper branches, the Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu, meet at Chungthang, which is usually called the start of the Teesta proper.
Can I stop at Chungthang on a North Sikkim tour?
Yes. Most tours stop at Chungthang for tea, toilets and the permit check, often for 15–30 minutes. Ask the driver to stop near the confluence for a few minutes. On the classic loop you pass through twice, so there is usually a chance.
Is it safe to go near the river at Chungthang?
Stay well back. After the 2023 flood the banks are loose in places, and water levels can rise quickly after rain upstream. Watch from the road or bridge, not the water's edge, and keep children close.
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