North Sikkim: Lachung & Lachen · viewpoint

Singhik

Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu across the Teesta gorge

Altitude1,560m Nights1 BestOct – Apr

Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

In brief

Singhik is a mostly Lepcha village at about 1,560 m, 4 km above Mangan and roughly 70 km from Gangtok, known for its view across the Teesta gorge to Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu. It needs no permit for Indians and makes a calm, cheap first night on the way north. Check current status before you travel.

The local story

The most beautiful snow mountain in the world

Singhik's fame rests on one view. Across the Teesta valley to the west rise the Kanchenjunga massif, 8,586 m, and, closer and sharper, Siniolchu, 6,888 m. In 1899 the English mountaineer Douglas Freshfield made his tour round Kanchenjunga, and he called Siniolchu the most superb triumph of mountain architecture and the most beautiful snow mountain in the world. The summit was first reached in 1936 by the German climbers Karl Wien and Adi Göttner. Later the Sikkimese Everest climber Sonam Gyatso also stood on top.

The village itself belongs mostly to Lepchas, who make up nearly 80% of the people here, with Bhutia and Nepali families too. For Lepchas, Kanchenjunga is not a view but a guardian. Lepcha elders tell that the creator mother, Itbu-moo, made the first man and woman, Fudongthing and Nazaong Nyu, from the snows of Kongchen Konglo, their name for Kanchenjunga. Watching the mountain from a Lepcha village at dawn, with that story in mind, is a different experience from a hotel window in Gangtok.

Siniolchu, 6,888 m, seen from Singhik, was first climbed in 1936 by the German climbers Karl Wien and Adi Göttner.

Lepchas make up nearly 80% of Singhik's population; Bhutia and Nepali families make up the rest.

Singhik is about 4 km from Mangan and around 600 m higher, at roughly 1,560 m.

About Singhik

Singhik is small: a road, a few houses, a school, a viewpoint and a government tourist lodge, strung along a ridge above the Teesta. North Sikkim tour vehicles pass it around lunchtime and many stop for five minutes at the viewpoint. Stay the night instead, and you get the view at sunrise, which is when it matters.

From October to April, clear mornings show the whole Kanchenjunga massif and Siniolchu's spire across the gorge, with the Teesta far below. Later in the day, clouds usually rise. The village is quiet, the air mild at about 1,560 m, and prices low. It is a good first night for families, letting you split the long drive to Lachung or Lachen. Check current status before you travel.

What to see and do

Kanchenjunga at sunrise

On clear mornings from October to April, the Kanchenjunga massif turns pink, then gold, across the Teesta gorge. Be at the viewpoint 20 minutes before sunrise.

Siniolchu's spire

The sharp, symmetrical peak Douglas Freshfield praised in 1899. Ask a local to point it out among the snow peaks; it is closer and steeper than Kanchenjunga.

A Lepcha village

Most families here are Lepcha. Walk the village paths, see the cardamom and vegetable plots, and ask about Kongchen Konglo, the Lepcha name and story of Kanchenjunga.

A gentle first night north

At about 1,560 m, Singhik breaks the long drive to Lachung or Lachen into two shorter days and lets your body start climbing gradually.

The Teesta gorge

From the ridge you look down on the Teesta far below. In the afternoon, watch light and cloud move through the gorge.

How to get there

Shared jeep and taxi: Take a shared jeep from Gangtok's Vajra stand to Mangan, about ₹200–300 and 2.5–3 hours, then a local taxi 4 km up to Singhik for ₹200–400. Some Chungthang-bound jeeps pass through Singhik; ask at Vajra.
Reserved car: A small car from Gangtok to Singhik costs about ₹3,000–4,000 one way, with stops at Kabi Lungchok and Phodong. Agents can also arrange for your North Sikkim tour vehicle to collect you here next day.
On foot from Mangan: If you are already in Mangan, walk the 4 km road uphill in about 1–1.5 hours. Do it at dawn for the sunrise.

Where to stay

Singhik has a Sikkim Tourism tourist lodge on the ridge, whose main draw is the view toward Kanchenjunga, and a small number of homestays in the village. Rooms are simple and mid-priced, at about ₹1,500–3,000 a room. Ask for a room facing west. If Singhik is full, Mangan, 4 km below, has more small hotels at ₹1,200–2,500. For a Lepcha homestay with all meals, cross into Dzongu with a permit.

government lodgeSinghik Singhik Tourist Lodge ₹1,500–3,000 a room (indicative)

Local tips

Be at the viewpoint 20 minutes before sunrise from October to April.
Spend two nights if Kanchenjunga matters to you; cloud can hide it for a whole day.
Use Singhik as the first night of a North Sikkim tour to reduce the long drive and altitude jump.
Carry cash; the nearest ATMs are in Mangan.
Ask before photographing people in the village, and keep to paths around fields.

02,7005,400

Altitude1,560 m

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

What it costs here

Shared jeep Gangtok to Mangan, then taxi₹200–300 + ₹200–400

Tourist lodge or homestay room₹1,500–3,000 a room (indicative)

Homestay dinner and breakfast₹500–800 pp

Tea at the viewpoint₹20–40

Simple lunch in Mangan₹120–200

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

Best months: Oct – Apr
Nights we suggest: 1
From Gangtok: ≈ 70 km · 3 h
Altitude: ≈ 1,560 m
Known for: Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu views, Lepcha village
Network: Jio and BSNL usually work

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BestGoodAvoid or closed

Things to do

Four things to do in Singhik

Viewpoints · 1 hourKanchenjunga sunrise from SinghikSinghik · Free

Viewpoints · 30 minutesFinding Siniolchu, the mountain Freshfield praisedSinghik · Free

Culture and history · 1.5–2 hoursA Lepcha village walk and the Kongchen storySinghik · Free · ₹200–400 tip for a local guide

Wildlife and birds · 2 hoursBirds of the Singhik ridge at first lightSinghik · Free

On the map

Singhik and its neighbours

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

Trips that stop here

Go to Singhik on a ticket

Value North Sikkim4 nights · Reserved car Lachung with the family, four sharing a car Singhik · Lachung · Mangan ₹15,000per person
about ₹3,000 a day

Comfort North Sikkim4 nights · Reserved car Lachung and Yumthang in comfort, three nights up Singhik · Lachung ₹27,500per person
about ₹5,500 a day

Comfort North Sikkim5 nights · Reserved car North Sikkim at a safe pace, by private car Singhik · Lachen · Lachung ₹37,500per person
about ₹6,250 a day

Comfort North Sikkim8 nights · Reserved car North Sikkim end to end, slowly, in 8 nights Phodong · Singhik · Lachen · Lachung ₹48,000per person
about ₹5,350 a day

Value North Sikkim3 nights · Mixed Gurudongmar with a gentler climb Singhik · Lachen ₹13,000per person
about ₹3,250 a day

Shoestring North Sikkim2 nights · Shared jeeps Kabi, Phodong and Singhik: Sikkim's old story Phodong · Singhik ₹5,500per person
about ₹1,850 a day

Close by

Nearby places

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

forest village1,200 m Dzongu The Lepcha reserve across the Teesta, on its own permit

river town1,790 m Chungthang Where two rivers become the Teesta, and where the 2023 flood struck

Ways to travel

Kanchenjunga views Family trips Photography Homestays

Questions people ask

Questions about Singhik

Where is Singhik?

Singhik is a village in North Sikkim, about 4 km beyond Mangan and roughly 70 km from Gangtok, on the road to Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung. It sits on a ridge at about 1,560 m above the Teesta valley, facing Kanchenjunga.

Do I need a permit for Singhik?

Indian nationals do not need a permit for Singhik. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for North Sikkim. If you continue beyond Mangan toward Lachen or Lachung, you need the North Sikkim permit through a registered Gangtok operator. Check current status before you travel.

What is Singhik famous for?

For its view across the Teesta gorge to Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu, best at sunrise from October to April. It is also a mainly Lepcha village, quiet and cheap, and a convenient first night on the way to Lachung or Lachen.

Where can I stay in Singhik?

Singhik has a Sikkim Tourism tourist lodge on the ridge with views toward Kanchenjunga, and a few village homestays. Rooms cost roughly ₹1,500–3,000. Mangan, 4 km below, has more small hotels. Book ahead in October and April.

Is Singhik worth a night on a North Sikkim tour?

Yes, especially for families and older travellers. It splits the long Gangtok–Lachung or Gangtok–Lachen drive into two easier days, gives a gentler altitude step, and adds a Kanchenjunga sunrise. Ask your agent to collect you from Singhik on day two.

When is the best time to visit Singhik?

October to April for clear mountain views, with the clearest skies in October, November and February to March. December and January are cold at night but often very clear. Avoid June to September, when monsoon cloud hides the peaks and landslides affect roads.

How do I get to Singhik by shared jeep?

Take a shared jeep from Gangtok's Vajra stand to Mangan, about ₹200–300 and 2.5–3 hours, then a local taxi 4 km to Singhik for about ₹200–400. Some jeeps heading to Chungthang pass through Singhik; ask at the stand.

Is Singhik safe after the 2023 flood?

Singhik sits on a ridge well above the Teesta and was not directly in the flood's path. The roads in the valley, however, have had closures since 2023, especially after heavy rain. Check current status before you travel and avoid monsoon journeys.

Can I see Kanchenjunga from Singhik in summer?

Rarely. From June to September monsoon cloud usually hides the peaks, with occasional clear early mornings. For reliable views, come between October and April and plan two sunrises if the view is the main reason for your visit.