Wildlife and birds · Gurudongmar Lake
Blue sheep and yaks on the high plateau
Between Thangu and the lake the road crosses open plateau where yaks graze and blue sheep, or bharal, feed on the slopes. Ask your driver to slow down at sunrise, scan the hillsides, and stay in or beside the vehicle when you stop.
The country around Gurudongmar is high plateau, more like Tibet than the rest of Sikkim: dry, open, with grass, cushion plants and rock. It supports yaks, kept by herders from Lachen and the Dokpa herding families, and wild animals adapted to cold and height. The most common is the bharal, or blue sheep, whose grey-blue coat blends with the slopes.
Look on the hillsides beside the road in the first hour after sunrise, when animals are feeding. Bharal move in groups and are easiest to spot when they move. Marmots and birds of the high plateau also appear in summer. Herds of yaks are common near Thangu and on the lower plateau.
Ask your driver politely to slow down when you see animals; most are happy to. Stay in or right beside the vehicle, as this is a border area and walking off the road is not allowed. Do not chase or feed animals, and keep noise down. A pair of binoculars makes a big difference.
Cost: Free
Questions people ask
Good to know
What wildlife can I see near Gurudongmar?
Yaks are almost certain, kept by local herders. Blue sheep, or bharal, are often seen on the slopes between Thangu and the lake, especially early in the morning. Marmots and high-altitude birds appear in summer. Sightings depend on season, time and luck.
Can I walk on the plateau near Gurudongmar?
No. This is a sensitive border area under army control, and visitors must stay on the road and at the lake shore. Stop only where your driver stops, stay close to the vehicle, and never walk toward army posts or across open ground.
What are blue sheep?
Blue sheep, or bharal, are wild caprids of the high Himalaya and Tibetan plateau, with grey-blue coats and curved horns. Despite the name they are closer to goats. They live on open slopes near cliffs and are a main prey of snow leopards.
Also in Gurudongmar Lake
More things to do
Viewpoints · 7–8 hours returnThe dawn run from Lachen to the lakeGurudongmar Lake · Included in Lachen tours
Culture and history · 30 minutesThe Guru Rinpoche legend on the shoreGurudongmar Lake · Free
Adventure · Whole morningHow to visit at 5,000 m without getting illGurudongmar Lake · Oxygen can ₹500–900 (optional)