North Sikkim: Lachung & Lachen · village

Kabi Lungchok

Where a Lepcha seer and a Tibetan prince swore blood brotherhood

Altitude1,500m Nights0 BestOct – May

Photo: walter callens · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

In brief

Kabi Lungchok is a historic site 17 km north of Gangtok on the North Sikkim road, where the Lepcha chief Thekong Tek and the Tibetan prince Khye Bumsa swore blood brotherhood in the 13th century. Stone pillars and statues mark it. No permit for Indians; an easy half-day by shared jeep.

The local story

The stone erected by our blood

Sikkim's migration narratives tell of Khye Bumsa, a 13th-century prince of the Minyak house in Kham, eastern Tibet, who settled in the Chumbi valley. After three childless years, he crossed the passes into Sikkim to seek the blessing of a Lepcha holy man, Thekong Tek, who lived in a bamboo hut among his people. With the seer's blessing, the story goes, Khye Bumsa had three sons, and Thekong Tek foretold that his descendants would rule the land.

Khye Bumsa returned to give thanks, and the two men sealed an alliance at Kabi with a solemn oath of blood brotherhood, invoking the mountain gods and Kanchenjunga as witness: Lepchas and Bhutias would be as one family. Animals were sacrificed, and stones were set up to mark the pact. The name is often explained as stone erected by our blood. In 1642 Phuntsog Namgyal, counted as Khye Bumsa's descendant, became the first Chogyal of Sikkim. Today life-size statues of the two blood brothers stand at the site.

Kabi Lungchok is 17 km north of Gangtok on the North Sikkim Highway, and it gives its name to one of Mangan district's three assembly constituencies.

Some accounts say the pact at Kabi brought together three peoples: the Lepchas (Mon), the Limbus (Tsong) and the Bhutias (Lho).

Kabi village had 1,590 people in 323 households at the 2011 census.

About Kabi Lungchok

Kabi Lungchok is a short stop with a long story. Just off the North Sikkim road, a path leads to a quiet site among trees where standing stones mark the place of the oath, with a memorial, prayer flags and statues of Thekong Tek and Khye Bumsa. It takes half an hour to see, and a lifetime for Sikkimese to explain.

Most North Sikkim tours drive past without stopping, which is a pity. If you are travelling independently, take a shared jeep from Gangtok, spend the morning at Kabi and nearby Phensang Monastery, and continue to Phodong or back to Gangtok. No permit is needed for Indian nationals. Foreign nationals on a North Sikkim permit can usually stop here too.

What to see and do

The oath stones

Standing stones mark where Thekong Tek and Khye Bumsa swore blood brotherhood in the 13th century. Walk round slowly, read the boards and think about how much Sikkim's later history rests on this spot.

Statues of the blood brothers

Life-size figures of the Lepcha seer and the Tibetan prince stand at the site, a modern memorial to an old pact. A good place to explain the story to children.

Phensang Monastery

A Nyingma monastery on the same road, established in 1721 in the time of Jigme Pawo. Combine it with Kabi for a morning of early Sikkimese history.

An easy half-day from Gangtok

Only 17 km out, with shared jeeps from the Vajra stand. Ideal for an acclimatisation day before North Sikkim or a quiet morning away from MG Marg.

On the way north

If you are on a North Sikkim tour, ask the driver for 20 minutes here. Many agree if you ask in Gangtok before leaving.

How to get there

Shared jeep: Take any shared jeep from Gangtok's Vajra stand heading for Mangan, Phodong or Kabi and ask to be dropped at Kabi Lungchok, about ₹80–150 and 45 minutes to an hour. To return, wave down a jeep heading to Gangtok; they are frequent until early afternoon.
Reserved taxi: A taxi from Gangtok to Kabi, Phensang and Phodong and back costs about ₹2,500–3,500 for a half to full day. Agree the stops and waiting time in advance.
North Sikkim tour: Tours to Lachung and Lachen pass Kabi about an hour after leaving Gangtok. Ask your agent to include a 20-minute stop; it costs nothing extra.

Where to stay

Most people visit Kabi as a half-day trip from Gangtok, which has rooms at every budget. If you want to stay north of the city, Phodong, about 20 km further, has a few small guesthouses and homestays, and Singhik and Mangan, about two hours on, have lodges and budget hotels. There are some homestays in the villages around Kabi; ask in Gangtok or locally, and check what is currently operating.

Local tips

Go in the morning, when shared jeeps are frequent in both directions.
Combine Kabi with Phensang Monastery and Phodong for a full day of early Sikkim history.
Treat the site as sacred: no climbing on the stones, no loud music.
Ask your North Sikkim tour driver in Gangtok, not on the road, for a stop here.
Carry small notes for jeep fares and tea.

02,7005,400

Altitude1,500 m

Hill-station height: cool evenings, a sweater most of the year.

What it costs here

Shared jeep seat from Gangtok (Vajra stand)₹80–150

Reserved taxi Gangtok–Kabi–Phodong and back₹2,500–3,500 a car

Entry to the siteFree

Tea and momos on the highway₹80–150

Sha phaley or thukpa lunch₹100–180

Indicative, 2025–26. Check current status before you travel.

Best months: Oct – May
Nights we suggest: 0 (half-day stop)
From Gangtok: ≈ 17 km · 45 min–1 h
Altitude: ≈ 1,500 m
Known for: Lepcha–Bhutia blood-brotherhood stones, 13th century
Network: Jio, Airtel and BSNL usually work

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BestGoodAvoid or closed

Things to do

Four things to do in Kabi Lungchok

Culture and history · 45 minutesThe oath stones of Thekong Tek and Khye BumsaKabi Lungchok · Free

Monasteries · 1 hourPhensang Monastery on the North Sikkim roadKabi Lungchok · Free · donation welcome

Treks and walks · 2 hoursA morning walk through Kabi's farm villagesKabi Lungchok · Free

Food · 45 minutesSha phaley and tea on the North Sikkim roadKabi Lungchok · ₹100–200

On the map

Kabi Lungchok and its neighbours

Drawn by Darjeeling Himalayas from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Close by

Nearby places

monastery town1,500 m Phodong Two monasteries above Sikkim's third capital

market town956 m Mangan District town of North Sikkim and its large cardamom

viewpoint1,560 m Singhik Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu across the Teesta gorge

Ways to travel

Long weekends Solo and backpacking Family trips Monasteries

Questions people ask

Questions about Kabi Lungchok

How far is Kabi Lungchok from Gangtok?

Kabi Lungchok is about 17 km north of Gangtok on the North Sikkim Highway, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road. Shared jeeps from the Vajra stand toward Mangan or Phodong pass it, and a seat costs about ₹80–150.

Why is Kabi Lungchok important?

It is where, according to Sikkimese and Tibetan narratives, the Lepcha chief Thekong Tek and the Tibetan prince Khye Bumsa swore blood brotherhood in the 13th century, uniting Lepchas and Bhutias. The Chogyal dynasty that ruled Sikkim from 1642 traced its descent from Khye Bumsa.

Do I need a permit for Kabi Lungchok?

Indian nationals do not need a permit for Kabi Lungchok. Foreign nationals need the Protected Area Permit for North Sikkim; Kabi is usually visited on the way north with that permit. Check current status before you travel.

How much time do I need at Kabi Lungchok?

About 30–45 minutes for the site itself. Add an hour for Phensang Monastery and two hours for a village walk. A half-day trip from Gangtok covers Kabi and Phensang; a full day adds Phodong and Labrang monasteries.

Can I visit Kabi Lungchok on a North Sikkim tour?

Yes, if you ask. Tours to Lachung and Lachen pass Kabi about an hour after leaving Gangtok. Ask your agent in Gangtok to include a 20-minute stop, and remind the driver when you set off. Most agree.

What does Kabi Lungchok mean?

The name is commonly explained as stone erected by our blood, referring to the stones set up to mark the blood-brotherhood oath. It is also spelled Kabi Longstok. The meaning is a popular interpretation; scholars may give other derivations.

Is Kabi Lungchok good for children?

Yes. It is short, safe and close to Gangtok, and the statues of the two blood brothers make the story easy to tell. Combine it with a stop at a roadside eatery and Phensang Monastery for an easy half-day.

What is the best time to visit Kabi Lungchok?

Any time from October to May, in the morning or early afternoon. The monsoon, June to September, brings rain and occasional landslides on the North Sikkim road but the site itself stays open. Check current status before you travel.

Is Kabi Lungchok connected to Pang Lhabsol?

Yes, in tradition. Pang Lhabsol, a Sikkimese festival in late summer that honours Kanchenjunga as guardian deity, is also linked to the memory of the blood-brotherhood oath. Its main masked dances are held in Gangtok and elsewhere, not at Kabi itself.